Zhiti: There is no Kosovo identity

Albanian writer Visar Zhiti pointed out that Kosovo was progressing despite the problems it faced, but that there was no Kosovo identity and Kosovo culture, Koha reports.

Zhiti, who lives and works in Chicago, US, were recently awarded the "Mother Teresa" medal by the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, which Zhiti says, has weight.

The former prisoner from the communist regime pointed out that he had been honored that Osmani had found time for him during difficult days.

"It was a wonderful meeting, very impressive, it touched me, and I missed a lot. Among many jobs, the president found time and met with my needs. Either because of the character of Mother Teresa or because of my literary contribution, I feel very much honored. I felt highly valued because this medal bears the name of our Saint Mother Teresa, whose parents were from Kosovo," he said.

As he said, he had come to Kosovo with great longing.

"Even one of my first poems almost became emblematic and my friends tell me about one of my lines: "Longing took me without any existence". It seems a little paradoxical, but this is the truth. We Albanians grew up there with pain, with nostalgia for Kosovo, even if we hadn't seen it, we knew that it was idealistic. That's how longing for Kosovo gilds everything, I have friends, I have things to see, I have memories," he added.

According to him, despite the problems, Kosovo was in an increasingly better position.

"Today I had the opportunity to visit two institutions. First I was in the Municipality of Pristina, and then in the Presidency. It left a wonderful impression on me. Institutions are what preserve the country's identity. And during the conversation I had there, I also saw the staff, a group of advisers who were very cultured, with a lot of dignity. During the conversation with the mayor of the municipality, Perparim Rama, and the president, Vjosa Osmani, it seemed to me that their projects are the dreams of every citizen. I am satisfied as a citizen, as an Albanian who works, strives, and seeks to become the best. I do not want to deny the difficulties, problems, and sufferings with this," he said.

When asked if he thought that Albania, that is, the Albanian people, was not coming out of the lethargy of the past, Zhiti emphasized that this was not the case only with Albanians.

"It's a journey through almost the entire communist empire. Every now and then the still-visible Berlin Wall appears, or the Eiffel Tower or the deserts, or the Roman Coliseum. It's humanity that often runs into dead ends, but we need that light to guide us to overcome it," he added.

Zhiti added that his departure from Albania had been an escape.

"There is an eternal Albania. There is an Albania that, no matter what the governments are, does not cancel anything, does not shake anything, the Albania of dreams, the Albania of morals, the Albania of nameless, simple people, and in that sense I believe in this Albania and I am dedicated to this Albania. This is my Albania. Two days ago there was a Book Fair in Tirana and I had a new book there. A very high official of the Albanian state came, a very famous person. He approached me and shook my hand and I dared to tell him in front of everyone that our literature was much better than his Albania. In that sense, we have a better Albania than the politicians," Zhiti said, alluding to former Albanian president Ilir Meta.

Ziti pointed out that the attacks on him by the Albanian authorities had been immoral and unprincipled, but that this had not been the reason for his departure to the USA.

"I have my reasons; ideal Albania lives with me; the Albania that our Renaissance people dreamed of here in Kosovo and in Albania. In a way, Albania gave me a prison and a grave. I wanted to be a little further away from them, to be a little quiet," he emphasized.

He added that wherever he lived, language was a weapon for war, peace, and love.

According to him, the Kosovo identity did not exist.

"There is no literature from Kosovo. There is Albanian literature. And when it was divided, it was still Albanian literature. It was literature in two realities. Today we are trying, and perhaps we are getting closer to having literature of a common reality. It is a big mistake. There is no Kosovo identity, there is no Kosovo culture. I think Professor Qosja has been saying for a long time that Kosovo literature is like literature from Shkoder, literature from Valona, from Myzeqe, that's why it is one. The task is to better convey the book to each other. Cooperation should be more open. The book published in Tirana should also be present here, you should come here at the same time and the book published here should be present in Tirana. The fact that authors from Kosovo publish in Tirana and receive awards because it is such a competition that evaluates works published in that field and the fact that authors from Tirana publish here and receive awards means that there is an evolution, a change, a dreamy approach that invites us to do more," he said.

Zhiti stated that cooperation between Kosovo and Albania on culture often looked like "office work".