Wednesday, March 18, 2009
By Dr. Haim Reitan
A remarkable creative individuality
Shefki Hysa was born in Ersekë on July 20, 1957 in an intellectual family.
His father, Mazar, was a teacher for the minority vlleh at this time and followed their pastoral movement, passing the summer in "Gramoz" mountains in the region of Kolonje with Erseka as municipality, pending the winter so in Saranda, always concerned for the education of shepherds’ children. All his family lived in Shalës, Konispol.
The mother of Shefki, Bahrieja followed up her husband in his movements taking care of the family. Shefki belongs to an old patriot family settled in Konispol, Shales in the 18-th century, perhaps in the period of the Muslim influence in the region, since it is considered as one of the first seven founding families of Shales village, according to the popular memory. AS we can see, it was a rich family, who lived caring for livestock and agriculture, owns several timber, pasture and cropland, therefore they can be considered as real patriots and they were ready to be sacrificed to protect their homeland, La Patrie - Chameri, from the separatory intentions of Greek invasion.
The grandfather of Shefki, the well-known patriot Shefki Hoxha (they were religious for generations and that’s why they were called "Hoxha"), is known as one of the founders of the first patriots’ clubs of Konispol, Filat, as a donor of the first schools in the Albanian region Chameri (Konispol, Filat and Gumenicë), and as a tough critic of any power, such as Turkish and following the royal power of Zog The I-st . In the early 20-s, Shefki Hoxha was famous as a democrat, a great adherent of Noli and his reformist government, regardless of the fact that its properties could be affected. This was one of the reasons why he was imprisoned by the regime of Zog I. The popular poet of the region sang:
"Telegrams come and go, / gendarmes raise custody, / a rebellion was spoken for, / when the Chameri King denied, / deny Ahmet his majesty. / In Shales took Shefki, / Konispol, Maze Hami / and also Xhafo Pandalejmoni "…
Shefki Hoxha fell ill in prison in Lezha and died in 1936, because of unbearable pain of imprisonment.
The father of Shefki Hysa, Mazar, has been persecuted as anti-dictatorship, although their home in Shales was an important war support. In 1960 Mazar was fired from Education, because of his brother nationalist Sadedin, shot without trial by the Communists on November 13 of 1943 at the Partisan hospital of Theollogos. So, their family was involved in the blind mechanism of the war classes, which seriously affected even Shefki, after the death of his father, Mazar, in 1976. Mazar Hysa, the father of Shefki Hysa, left this world with the bitter taste of this life. Shefki has managed to survive thanks to the genes inherited from the grandparents.
Shefki has begun his studies in the village of Shalës, Konispol. He started high school, with agricultural profile, in 1972 and completed in 1976 at Konispol, Tchamëri . (The communist regime of the period had obliged him to attend the agricultural school, because of his "bad" biography, as a family of rich and anti-communist origin and for the fact that his uncle, Sadedin, was shot for political reasons). After ten years of surviving efforts, in 1985, Shefki is able to have the right of studying literature at the University of Tirana. Thanks to the insistence of the well-known Albanian writer Dritëro Agolli, his position as Chairman of the Union of Artists and Writers of Albania, allowed him to give Shefki the right to follow his university studies and also in other occasions, as in the case when to poet Namik Mane was denied the right of publications, he did his best to help him.
In 1989 he was graduated in language and literature at the Faculty of History and Philology, at the University of Tirana. Meanwhile he continued to write and published his first stories. So finally Shefki Hysa has been recognized and valued his talent for prose, characterized by a remarkable creative individuality as the critics expressed for his first lyrics, welcomed by the public and literary readers. "My dear teller, by strange comments and sensitive feelings; a writer always appreciated by me and others," so expressed Dritëro, enthusiastic for his literary future and he never would be disappointed. During 1991-97 he worked as a journalist for the newspaper "Çamëria" and as chief editor for newspapers "Kombi" and "Dielli". In the meantime he attended several specializations for journalism, publishing, public relations and international issues.
Since 1997, he continued working in the administration of the Parliament of Albania.
He founded and continues to run the Cultural Association "Bilal Xhaferri" and Publishing House "Bilal Xhaferri".
He is the Secretary of the Union of Writers and Artists of Albania.
Among his publications, he has "The bird and the devil," stories (1992), published by "Bilal Xhaferri" Publishing House.
“Peace Hostages" novel (1994), published by " Bilal Xhaferri" Publishing house"
"Dammed Paradise" novel (1997), published by "Bilal Xhaferri" Publishing House.
"Confessions of a thief," stories (1999), published by "Arbëria" Publishing House
"Chameri Flavor" stories (2004), published by "Bilal Xhaferri" Publishing House, ISBN 99927-960-1-4
"False Miracles," stories (2005) publication of the "Bilal Xhaferri" publishing house, ISBN 99927-960-0-6
Editor of the novel "The Prostitute worthy of respect" (1992), writer Jean Paul Sartre.
Editor of the romance "Fatal Love" (1992), writer Alfred de Musset.
Editor of the romance "Bloody Love (Beyond distances)" (1992), writer Bilal Xhaferri.
Editor of the romance "Krastakraus (Berat ceded)" (1993), writer Bilal Xhaferri.
Editor of the novel "Invasion of the Vikings" (1993), writer Pjetër Arbnori.
Editor of the romance "La belle with the shadow" (1994), writer Pjetër Arbnori.
Editor of poetry volume "The vine of Tears" (1995), poet Namik Mane.
Editor of stories volume "One ordinary night” (2003), author Namik Mane.
Editor of stories volume "White desert" (2007), author Jack London.
Editor's novel “We have traveled the World with our paws” (2007), writer Xhulia Xhekaj, and etc etc. Publications and literary essays edited and created by him and other authors.
Since 1995 publishes and edits as chief editor the monthly magazine "Eagle’s Wing", a political, cultural, literary and social magazine, published first in 1971, in two languages, Albanian and in English, as organ of Chame League in Chicago, the - US. Its first founder, editor and leader was Bilal Xhaferri, poet, prose-writer and a well-known dissident publicist, who was born on November 2, 1935 at Ninat, Konispol, and after an intense literary and publicist, died in exile (fleeing Albania in 1969 as anti-communist nationalist) on October 14, 1986 in Chicago, in the United States.
"The Eagle’s Wing" was a forum of free democratic thinking basically by anticommunist, anti -dictatorial and anti-enverists inclinations, which tended the union of all Albanian political forces in exile, the unification of thought, programs and their goals for a free Albania Pro-Western. The magazine dealt largely Albanian national issues, especially Chame issues, the problem of Kosova, and other territories left outside the legitimate borders of Albania, and also the problems of the Albanian communities everywhere in the world and Diaspora. Bilal Xhaferri was able to publish 39 editions.
Since 1995 and after "Eagle’s Wing" has continued to be published in Tirana, as the official journal of the Cultural Association "Bilal Xhaferri" (The Cultural Community of Chameri) founded and directed by journalist and well-known writer Shefki Hysa, who enabled the return of Bilal Xhaferri bones in Albania and to glorify the extraordinary values of this rare personality, persecuted and thrown into oblivion of the communist dictatorship in Albania. Shefki Hysa, acting as editor and chief editor of the monthly magazine, with its contributions and those of his friends, was able to publish 80 editions and continues insisting to glorify this pedestal of free thinking, following Bilal Xhaferri’s ideals.
His ideal: Chameri and ethnic Albania.
Dr. Haim Reitan, Diplomat,
Honorary President
of the Diplomatic Mission
Peace and Prosperity
A remarkable creative individuality
Shefki Hysa was born in Ersekë on July 20, 1957 in an intellectual family.
His father, Mazar, was a teacher for the minority vlleh at this time and followed their pastoral movement, passing the summer in "Gramoz" mountains in the region of Kolonje with Erseka as municipality, pending the winter so in Saranda, always concerned for the education of shepherds’ children. All his family lived in Shalës, Konispol.
The mother of Shefki, Bahrieja followed up her husband in his movements taking care of the family. Shefki belongs to an old patriot family settled in Konispol, Shales in the 18-th century, perhaps in the period of the Muslim influence in the region, since it is considered as one of the first seven founding families of Shales village, according to the popular memory. AS we can see, it was a rich family, who lived caring for livestock and agriculture, owns several timber, pasture and cropland, therefore they can be considered as real patriots and they were ready to be sacrificed to protect their homeland, La Patrie - Chameri, from the separatory intentions of Greek invasion.
The grandfather of Shefki, the well-known patriot Shefki Hoxha (they were religious for generations and that’s why they were called "Hoxha"), is known as one of the founders of the first patriots’ clubs of Konispol, Filat, as a donor of the first schools in the Albanian region Chameri (Konispol, Filat and Gumenicë), and as a tough critic of any power, such as Turkish and following the royal power of Zog The I-st . In the early 20-s, Shefki Hoxha was famous as a democrat, a great adherent of Noli and his reformist government, regardless of the fact that its properties could be affected. This was one of the reasons why he was imprisoned by the regime of Zog I. The popular poet of the region sang:
"Telegrams come and go, / gendarmes raise custody, / a rebellion was spoken for, / when the Chameri King denied, / deny Ahmet his majesty. / In Shales took Shefki, / Konispol, Maze Hami / and also Xhafo Pandalejmoni "…
Shefki Hoxha fell ill in prison in Lezha and died in 1936, because of unbearable pain of imprisonment.
The father of Shefki Hysa, Mazar, has been persecuted as anti-dictatorship, although their home in Shales was an important war support. In 1960 Mazar was fired from Education, because of his brother nationalist Sadedin, shot without trial by the Communists on November 13 of 1943 at the Partisan hospital of Theollogos. So, their family was involved in the blind mechanism of the war classes, which seriously affected even Shefki, after the death of his father, Mazar, in 1976. Mazar Hysa, the father of Shefki Hysa, left this world with the bitter taste of this life. Shefki has managed to survive thanks to the genes inherited from the grandparents.
Shefki has begun his studies in the village of Shalës, Konispol. He started high school, with agricultural profile, in 1972 and completed in 1976 at Konispol, Tchamëri . (The communist regime of the period had obliged him to attend the agricultural school, because of his "bad" biography, as a family of rich and anti-communist origin and for the fact that his uncle, Sadedin, was shot for political reasons). After ten years of surviving efforts, in 1985, Shefki is able to have the right of studying literature at the University of Tirana. Thanks to the insistence of the well-known Albanian writer Dritëro Agolli, his position as Chairman of the Union of Artists and Writers of Albania, allowed him to give Shefki the right to follow his university studies and also in other occasions, as in the case when to poet Namik Mane was denied the right of publications, he did his best to help him.
In 1989 he was graduated in language and literature at the Faculty of History and Philology, at the University of Tirana. Meanwhile he continued to write and published his first stories. So finally Shefki Hysa has been recognized and valued his talent for prose, characterized by a remarkable creative individuality as the critics expressed for his first lyrics, welcomed by the public and literary readers. "My dear teller, by strange comments and sensitive feelings; a writer always appreciated by me and others," so expressed Dritëro, enthusiastic for his literary future and he never would be disappointed. During 1991-97 he worked as a journalist for the newspaper "Çamëria" and as chief editor for newspapers "Kombi" and "Dielli". In the meantime he attended several specializations for journalism, publishing, public relations and international issues.
Since 1997, he continued working in the administration of the Parliament of Albania.
He founded and continues to run the Cultural Association "Bilal Xhaferri" and Publishing House "Bilal Xhaferri".
He is the Secretary of the Union of Writers and Artists of Albania.
Among his publications, he has "The bird and the devil," stories (1992), published by "Bilal Xhaferri" Publishing House.
“Peace Hostages" novel (1994), published by " Bilal Xhaferri" Publishing house"
"Dammed Paradise" novel (1997), published by "Bilal Xhaferri" Publishing House.
"Confessions of a thief," stories (1999), published by "Arbëria" Publishing House
"Chameri Flavor" stories (2004), published by "Bilal Xhaferri" Publishing House, ISBN 99927-960-1-4
"False Miracles," stories (2005) publication of the "Bilal Xhaferri" publishing house, ISBN 99927-960-0-6
Editor of the novel "The Prostitute worthy of respect" (1992), writer Jean Paul Sartre.
Editor of the romance "Fatal Love" (1992), writer Alfred de Musset.
Editor of the romance "Bloody Love (Beyond distances)" (1992), writer Bilal Xhaferri.
Editor of the romance "Krastakraus (Berat ceded)" (1993), writer Bilal Xhaferri.
Editor of the novel "Invasion of the Vikings" (1993), writer Pjetër Arbnori.
Editor of the romance "La belle with the shadow" (1994), writer Pjetër Arbnori.
Editor of poetry volume "The vine of Tears" (1995), poet Namik Mane.
Editor of stories volume "One ordinary night” (2003), author Namik Mane.
Editor of stories volume "White desert" (2007), author Jack London.
Editor's novel “We have traveled the World with our paws” (2007), writer Xhulia Xhekaj, and etc etc. Publications and literary essays edited and created by him and other authors.
Since 1995 publishes and edits as chief editor the monthly magazine "Eagle’s Wing", a political, cultural, literary and social magazine, published first in 1971, in two languages, Albanian and in English, as organ of Chame League in Chicago, the - US. Its first founder, editor and leader was Bilal Xhaferri, poet, prose-writer and a well-known dissident publicist, who was born on November 2, 1935 at Ninat, Konispol, and after an intense literary and publicist, died in exile (fleeing Albania in 1969 as anti-communist nationalist) on October 14, 1986 in Chicago, in the United States.
"The Eagle’s Wing" was a forum of free democratic thinking basically by anticommunist, anti -dictatorial and anti-enverists inclinations, which tended the union of all Albanian political forces in exile, the unification of thought, programs and their goals for a free Albania Pro-Western. The magazine dealt largely Albanian national issues, especially Chame issues, the problem of Kosova, and other territories left outside the legitimate borders of Albania, and also the problems of the Albanian communities everywhere in the world and Diaspora. Bilal Xhaferri was able to publish 39 editions.
Since 1995 and after "Eagle’s Wing" has continued to be published in Tirana, as the official journal of the Cultural Association "Bilal Xhaferri" (The Cultural Community of Chameri) founded and directed by journalist and well-known writer Shefki Hysa, who enabled the return of Bilal Xhaferri bones in Albania and to glorify the extraordinary values of this rare personality, persecuted and thrown into oblivion of the communist dictatorship in Albania. Shefki Hysa, acting as editor and chief editor of the monthly magazine, with its contributions and those of his friends, was able to publish 80 editions and continues insisting to glorify this pedestal of free thinking, following Bilal Xhaferri’s ideals.
His ideal: Chameri and ethnic Albania.
Dr. Haim Reitan, Diplomat,
Honorary President
of the Diplomatic Mission
Peace and Prosperity
By Dr. Haim Reitan
Chameria
Chameria is the southernmost part of the Albanian territorial lump. Thus it is the ancient ilyrical Thesprotia, the natural beauty and the Epiryc spirit, a jonian Territorial Seashore stretches of the deep Albanian southern from Saranda to Preveze which form Toskeria.
Its largest part, beyond Konispol’s boundary, at the Bota’s saddle and far on toward south, was unduly annexed by Greeks in 1913. Only konispol’s region with its round villages was remained from Tchame, inside the motherhood lump-Albania. From the ancient times Tchame is divided from Greece by the Narta’s gulf and by the Preveza’s narrow. It extends 100 km towards north, and rises to Dodona’s peak eastside.
Within this space it is précised over 4.000km2 terrene. Since Chame occupies the main place in Europe-Azia passages and since the infield (olive-groves, citrus, viticulture, arboriculture and farming) and its harbors (Gumenica, Preveza, Sallahora, Parga and Sajadha) are some of the main economical sources in the south Balkan.
It has been coveted, assaulted time after time by the easterners and westerners and often transformed in a battle field. Greeks were the invaders who consistently aimed not only the extinction of Albanians of these ethnical territories, but also the disintegration of “Chame” as a notion. Because of many wars the Chame population could never come up to over 115000. Maybe because of survival reasons over 65% of Chames enfolded the Islamic religion and others remained orthodoxies.Tchames suffered big losses in each of the fightings with different conquerors, but their biggest fatality was that caused from Greeks, after six month armed grappling. Just as they entered in Tchame (10-12 March 1913), the Greeks army began the extinction of the bravest men. Only near Paramithise, they shredded 100 from those they could capture. The next massive squall fulminated in the winter of the year 1921-1922, by the Greek invaders. Hundreds and hundreds Chames and Janines were killed, imprisoned, deported, clobbered; hundrets of women and ladies were ravished and massacred.
Another massive squall even more ravishing was shredded by the Greek rulers during year 1922-1926, who dispatched from Chame 30000 Islamic Albanian and other 40000 from Jeanine and Trans-Gramoz, with the most violent ways and means. Even more dreadful was the wash that they fulminated during Oct-Dec 1914 and Jan-April 1941. Initially they ravished from their hotbeds all the Islamic
Albanians from 14-15 and up and closed them in the death’s traps notably set in the Egeik waters. Not a few of them were barbarously killed during the craw lings on the roads, and more and more passed away among the above mentioned traps, similar to those of Aushvichit, Dakaut, Majdanikut etc. the final extinction of Islamic Albanians, Greek rulers had preprepared to be on April 1941, when they would shut all children and women in those traps. But God sailed in towards the Greek wolfs the German tigers. This gave the chance to be stopped the Greek monstrous and to return those who could survive in those traps and come back to Chame.
The thorough extinction of the Albanian musclemen from the enslaved Chameria, Greek did during the summer autumn of 1944and march of 1945. Thousand and thousand of them: men, women, children, were grinted.from all these population only 20 - 22000, running through the ball salvos managed to get into the Albanian land.
The main towns, central districts of Chameria are Gumenica which includes town-districts of lure and Narta.
Chameria has nearly 286 agricultural villages, mainly arboriculture and farming. It drenches from the jonians sea watermarks, and it’s a Mediterranean freshness clime and rank belt, a virgin nature, always green and far away from the industrial pollutions.
Dr. Haim Reitan, Diplomat,
Honorary President
of the Diplomatic Mission
Peace and Prosperity
Chameria
Chameria is the southernmost part of the Albanian territorial lump. Thus it is the ancient ilyrical Thesprotia, the natural beauty and the Epiryc spirit, a jonian Territorial Seashore stretches of the deep Albanian southern from Saranda to Preveze which form Toskeria.
Its largest part, beyond Konispol’s boundary, at the Bota’s saddle and far on toward south, was unduly annexed by Greeks in 1913. Only konispol’s region with its round villages was remained from Tchame, inside the motherhood lump-Albania. From the ancient times Tchame is divided from Greece by the Narta’s gulf and by the Preveza’s narrow. It extends 100 km towards north, and rises to Dodona’s peak eastside.
Within this space it is précised over 4.000km2 terrene. Since Chame occupies the main place in Europe-Azia passages and since the infield (olive-groves, citrus, viticulture, arboriculture and farming) and its harbors (Gumenica, Preveza, Sallahora, Parga and Sajadha) are some of the main economical sources in the south Balkan.
It has been coveted, assaulted time after time by the easterners and westerners and often transformed in a battle field. Greeks were the invaders who consistently aimed not only the extinction of Albanians of these ethnical territories, but also the disintegration of “Chame” as a notion. Because of many wars the Chame population could never come up to over 115000. Maybe because of survival reasons over 65% of Chames enfolded the Islamic religion and others remained orthodoxies.Tchames suffered big losses in each of the fightings with different conquerors, but their biggest fatality was that caused from Greeks, after six month armed grappling. Just as they entered in Tchame (10-12 March 1913), the Greeks army began the extinction of the bravest men. Only near Paramithise, they shredded 100 from those they could capture. The next massive squall fulminated in the winter of the year 1921-1922, by the Greek invaders. Hundreds and hundreds Chames and Janines were killed, imprisoned, deported, clobbered; hundrets of women and ladies were ravished and massacred.
Another massive squall even more ravishing was shredded by the Greek rulers during year 1922-1926, who dispatched from Chame 30000 Islamic Albanian and other 40000 from Jeanine and Trans-Gramoz, with the most violent ways and means. Even more dreadful was the wash that they fulminated during Oct-Dec 1914 and Jan-April 1941. Initially they ravished from their hotbeds all the Islamic
Albanians from 14-15 and up and closed them in the death’s traps notably set in the Egeik waters. Not a few of them were barbarously killed during the craw lings on the roads, and more and more passed away among the above mentioned traps, similar to those of Aushvichit, Dakaut, Majdanikut etc. the final extinction of Islamic Albanians, Greek rulers had preprepared to be on April 1941, when they would shut all children and women in those traps. But God sailed in towards the Greek wolfs the German tigers. This gave the chance to be stopped the Greek monstrous and to return those who could survive in those traps and come back to Chame.
The thorough extinction of the Albanian musclemen from the enslaved Chameria, Greek did during the summer autumn of 1944and march of 1945. Thousand and thousand of them: men, women, children, were grinted.from all these population only 20 - 22000, running through the ball salvos managed to get into the Albanian land.
The main towns, central districts of Chameria are Gumenica which includes town-districts of lure and Narta.
Chameria has nearly 286 agricultural villages, mainly arboriculture and farming. It drenches from the jonians sea watermarks, and it’s a Mediterranean freshness clime and rank belt, a virgin nature, always green and far away from the industrial pollutions.
Dr. Haim Reitan, Diplomat,
Honorary President
of the Diplomatic Mission
Peace and Prosperity
By Visar Zhiti
The Big Chame Concussion
Shefki Hysa is the author of many narrative and story books in which echoes the troublous Chame wind and where people’s fate is connected with their land like the roots thrust deeply into stones but also like the life fingers blooded as they are grasp reality. He likes realism and the truth no matter how thrilling is. That is the reason he becomes its historian, strong witness, feeder of collective memory. Aforetime I have written that meanwhile the massacres in Kosovo are a stone’s throw and still vivid, even thought “The Balkan’s executioner”, the Serbian Miloschevich, the last communist dictator keeps on being judged for anti-humanism crimes to the court of Hag (in TV programs was often presented the Byblitical outgo of Kosovo’s, their expatriation from dardany since the world was created), we are exposed to another expatriatation of Albanians in the south most ancient and cruel Ilyric, although it didn’t have international televisions as witnesses nor didn’t congregate the worlds army, NATO, to punish the worse.
And so the Chame nationalities were expatriotated from their epyrioth land, houses were set on fire. People were slaughtered in concert with live stocks, olive-groves and the future were destroyed; it was killed the national mythology. Their terror peregrinated towards mother-land and than came like another massacre the cruel dull obliteration. Even after three-thousand years no one could say anything, in the mythic Balkan, another Troia in modern times was set on fire. Meanwhile tchames found in their homeland a dictatorship, which way didn’t try to defend the rights of its fellow countrymen, but on contrary didn’t let them alone. Maybe it prosecuted them more than the others, invented enemies, and imprisoned them. In order to meet their dreams, Chame people among their motherland communist prisons joined to Kosovo’s people to elope from hither to thither. But… the only thing they were going to meet was the rusty manacle. In this way, meanwhile Albania was cruelly fragmented by the others; Albanians did fragment inside by themselves. Later on was difficult to remember Kosovo and tchame… nothing was says about in geographic scholastic prints, history didn’t dare, conscious was constrained…
Nonetheless collective memory which milled about like a subterranean river, hidey reinforced and hardened the right resistance. Literature achieved to bring out some anonymous songs about splited lands, any tremulous Cham wail or a blustery Kosovo elegy. Folk-dancing’s recalled apocalypse with their hullabaloo, while writers tried to create metaphoric possibilities or to say sth about Kosovo and Chame through Ezopy’s language. I recollect that, if the poet Ali Podrimja like in our big sorrow would go in the trans-national coast Chame , and would write hermetic poems which he would secure thrice: from the Albanian dictatorship, the Serbian conqueror and from the Chauvin Greeks. Here, in the remaining Albania, Chame writers felt difficulty and prosecution. Books were prohibited to them; they set themselves in prisons, eloped, kept mum, waited….
Now the Chame voice has came back from its sorrow ember, covered with the ash of the ancient obliteration, to cracker of promethean fire and the world is always seeing and feeling more and more its illumination and its fervour, will be longed for the truth and justice… and a slaughter population deserves to be given back their land and their spirit, wealth songs and the future…
A thrilling squawk is the literal creativity of Shefki Hyses, bearer of the tragedy of its population, that the mythical Balkan found its calmness…
Translated by: Dr. Haim Reitan
The Big Chame Concussion
Shefki Hysa is the author of many narrative and story books in which echoes the troublous Chame wind and where people’s fate is connected with their land like the roots thrust deeply into stones but also like the life fingers blooded as they are grasp reality. He likes realism and the truth no matter how thrilling is. That is the reason he becomes its historian, strong witness, feeder of collective memory. Aforetime I have written that meanwhile the massacres in Kosovo are a stone’s throw and still vivid, even thought “The Balkan’s executioner”, the Serbian Miloschevich, the last communist dictator keeps on being judged for anti-humanism crimes to the court of Hag (in TV programs was often presented the Byblitical outgo of Kosovo’s, their expatriation from dardany since the world was created), we are exposed to another expatriatation of Albanians in the south most ancient and cruel Ilyric, although it didn’t have international televisions as witnesses nor didn’t congregate the worlds army, NATO, to punish the worse.
And so the Chame nationalities were expatriotated from their epyrioth land, houses were set on fire. People were slaughtered in concert with live stocks, olive-groves and the future were destroyed; it was killed the national mythology. Their terror peregrinated towards mother-land and than came like another massacre the cruel dull obliteration. Even after three-thousand years no one could say anything, in the mythic Balkan, another Troia in modern times was set on fire. Meanwhile tchames found in their homeland a dictatorship, which way didn’t try to defend the rights of its fellow countrymen, but on contrary didn’t let them alone. Maybe it prosecuted them more than the others, invented enemies, and imprisoned them. In order to meet their dreams, Chame people among their motherland communist prisons joined to Kosovo’s people to elope from hither to thither. But… the only thing they were going to meet was the rusty manacle. In this way, meanwhile Albania was cruelly fragmented by the others; Albanians did fragment inside by themselves. Later on was difficult to remember Kosovo and tchame… nothing was says about in geographic scholastic prints, history didn’t dare, conscious was constrained…
Nonetheless collective memory which milled about like a subterranean river, hidey reinforced and hardened the right resistance. Literature achieved to bring out some anonymous songs about splited lands, any tremulous Cham wail or a blustery Kosovo elegy. Folk-dancing’s recalled apocalypse with their hullabaloo, while writers tried to create metaphoric possibilities or to say sth about Kosovo and Chame through Ezopy’s language. I recollect that, if the poet Ali Podrimja like in our big sorrow would go in the trans-national coast Chame , and would write hermetic poems which he would secure thrice: from the Albanian dictatorship, the Serbian conqueror and from the Chauvin Greeks. Here, in the remaining Albania, Chame writers felt difficulty and prosecution. Books were prohibited to them; they set themselves in prisons, eloped, kept mum, waited….
Now the Chame voice has came back from its sorrow ember, covered with the ash of the ancient obliteration, to cracker of promethean fire and the world is always seeing and feeling more and more its illumination and its fervour, will be longed for the truth and justice… and a slaughter population deserves to be given back their land and their spirit, wealth songs and the future…
A thrilling squawk is the literal creativity of Shefki Hyses, bearer of the tragedy of its population, that the mythical Balkan found its calmness…
Translated by: Dr. Haim Reitan
By Ismail Kadare
A book of messages of hope and peace for Chameria
I was impressed by the book with short stories “Chameria’s flavour” written by Shefki Hysa, promoted in one of the programs of the national TV Channel. I am interested in every publication on Chameria, whenever it is remembered. This is not to encourage any disturbances in the Balkans, as someone might think of, but to calm down any restless conscience. This is why I said that I was impressed by the book with short stories “Chameria’s flavour” of this author of Chameria’s origin. I was interested in reading this book and I was anxious to go carefully through its pages and come across the message of hope and peace that it conveys to the reader.
In short, I would say that this book is necessary, imperative and moral, like every publication of this nature. There are many reasons that the Chams do not forget Chameria and this is not only their right, but also the right of all the Albanians. Furthermore, it is a moral task, because one can never forget the suffering wound of thousands and thousands people. It can never be forgotten the displacement, it can never be forgotten the birth place, where the hearth is. All of these will help to get rid of the nightmares, as the book “Chameria’s flavour” does.
It is high time for the Balkans to get rid of the old crimes, and one of them is what happened to Chameria - the Chams drama. In this way, the Balkans will pave the way towards the emancipation. Only after this, the Balkans might become part of the emancipated European family.
Ismail KADARE
January, 2004
Translated by: Dr. Haim Reitan
A book of messages of hope and peace for Chameria
I was impressed by the book with short stories “Chameria’s flavour” written by Shefki Hysa, promoted in one of the programs of the national TV Channel. I am interested in every publication on Chameria, whenever it is remembered. This is not to encourage any disturbances in the Balkans, as someone might think of, but to calm down any restless conscience. This is why I said that I was impressed by the book with short stories “Chameria’s flavour” of this author of Chameria’s origin. I was interested in reading this book and I was anxious to go carefully through its pages and come across the message of hope and peace that it conveys to the reader.
In short, I would say that this book is necessary, imperative and moral, like every publication of this nature. There are many reasons that the Chams do not forget Chameria and this is not only their right, but also the right of all the Albanians. Furthermore, it is a moral task, because one can never forget the suffering wound of thousands and thousands people. It can never be forgotten the displacement, it can never be forgotten the birth place, where the hearth is. All of these will help to get rid of the nightmares, as the book “Chameria’s flavour” does.
It is high time for the Balkans to get rid of the old crimes, and one of them is what happened to Chameria - the Chams drama. In this way, the Balkans will pave the way towards the emancipation. Only after this, the Balkans might become part of the emancipated European family.
Ismail KADARE
January, 2004
Translated by: Dr. Haim Reitan
By Sazan Goliku
KADARE AS A PERSONAGE
Notes about the novel “Hostages of peace”
of the writer Shefki Hysa
I met Ismail Kadare by chance one of the days he was in Tirana. During the conversation I said to him that “a writer has published a novel about you”. He was glad of course, but he is not accustomed to immediate expression of his feelings. Nothing moved in his face. He just said: “He had to ask me first”.
But I wanted to justify someway the writer and explain myself theoretically. So I said to him: “It isn’t a biographic book, like the other books that are written for the well-known personalities of the different fields such as science, culture, politics, sport… He has written a novel and you are a personage in that novel, the protagonist of the book. Is it necessary to ask for an authorization when you want to create a personage and the prototype is alive?
It seemed that Kadare sneered. I was showing the fields to the father. He has walked in that furrow for a long time.
In a press conference with the intellectuals of Tirana, Ismail Kadare answered in this way the question about this novel: “…Even though it has discovered some of my privacies, the novel is very nicely written, especially the part for the autumn of 1990.”
The novel of the writer Shefki Hysa “Hostages of peace” was welcomed by the readers, but even by the literary critique, so the author saw it reasonable to republish it revised.
A question rises while reading this novel: What kind of typology does it belongs to? Is it an adventurous, a feuilleton, a picaresque or simply a biographic novel? The author, despite his attempts to remain realist till the end, has been able to entwine elements of these types of novels, without being identified with any of them. This is one of the secrets of the typological and compositional originality of this novel.
The main topic of the book is the rapport of the writer and the man with the dictatorship, which suppresses and deforms the consciousness of individuals and personalities, who create protective shells to exist but it arouse in them even the rebellion spirit. The fact that the two personages where are based the triggers of the subject evolution are two teenagers, two artists, two adorers that are in love with the art of Kadare is significant as well as motivated from the mental and psychological aspect. Very young, with the intuition and the desire to discover and congratulate on every new contemporary and modern element in the literature and art but also with the dispositions and the mentality that differs a little from the official mentality of the dictatorship that professed itself as Marxist, those two guys personify the gemmae of a new liberal spirit even though it isn’t expressed in an explicit way because of the high-risk conditions, especially in the province.
The complexity of the figure of Kadare as a writer and man is the base of the shocking dramatization of the novel. This feature is explained and analyzed by the judgments and the estimations of the two guys, the different intellectuals, the party and state representatives and also through the creation and the recreation of the significant scenes and situations, too much fragile and in the ambit of a possible tragedy. The views from which the writer is investigated are antipodal:
The security men and the employees view him as an enemy (“We know what you deserve but we can’t do anything to the one who is above us!”), while the teenagers and the intellectuals with a free spirit and a democratic thinking consider him as “the unique hope” but they are also sorry for the debts that the writer has to pay to the regime to survive and write his real works.
The succinct structure of this laconic novel is gestated with vital and conventional components, with an absurd atmosphere and an existential weigh, with dreams and the immediate moment when you wake up, with documentation almost chronic and with a trivial and hyperbolic reflection. These contradictory structural elements form a flowing rainbow in the reader’s contemplative imagination and especially the reader that has enjoyed the sublimity of the Kadere art.
While reading the last pages of the roman, the ancient idea that every creator, is a man and remains such, provokes me.
When the historical-literary studies will sift and point out the books of the last decade of the century that we are leaving behind, I think that the hand of the studier of Kadare will stand even over this interesting novel.
Translated by: Dr. Haim Reitan
KADARE AS A PERSONAGE
Notes about the novel “Hostages of peace”
of the writer Shefki Hysa
I met Ismail Kadare by chance one of the days he was in Tirana. During the conversation I said to him that “a writer has published a novel about you”. He was glad of course, but he is not accustomed to immediate expression of his feelings. Nothing moved in his face. He just said: “He had to ask me first”.
But I wanted to justify someway the writer and explain myself theoretically. So I said to him: “It isn’t a biographic book, like the other books that are written for the well-known personalities of the different fields such as science, culture, politics, sport… He has written a novel and you are a personage in that novel, the protagonist of the book. Is it necessary to ask for an authorization when you want to create a personage and the prototype is alive?
It seemed that Kadare sneered. I was showing the fields to the father. He has walked in that furrow for a long time.
In a press conference with the intellectuals of Tirana, Ismail Kadare answered in this way the question about this novel: “…Even though it has discovered some of my privacies, the novel is very nicely written, especially the part for the autumn of 1990.”
The novel of the writer Shefki Hysa “Hostages of peace” was welcomed by the readers, but even by the literary critique, so the author saw it reasonable to republish it revised.
A question rises while reading this novel: What kind of typology does it belongs to? Is it an adventurous, a feuilleton, a picaresque or simply a biographic novel? The author, despite his attempts to remain realist till the end, has been able to entwine elements of these types of novels, without being identified with any of them. This is one of the secrets of the typological and compositional originality of this novel.
The main topic of the book is the rapport of the writer and the man with the dictatorship, which suppresses and deforms the consciousness of individuals and personalities, who create protective shells to exist but it arouse in them even the rebellion spirit. The fact that the two personages where are based the triggers of the subject evolution are two teenagers, two artists, two adorers that are in love with the art of Kadare is significant as well as motivated from the mental and psychological aspect. Very young, with the intuition and the desire to discover and congratulate on every new contemporary and modern element in the literature and art but also with the dispositions and the mentality that differs a little from the official mentality of the dictatorship that professed itself as Marxist, those two guys personify the gemmae of a new liberal spirit even though it isn’t expressed in an explicit way because of the high-risk conditions, especially in the province.
The complexity of the figure of Kadare as a writer and man is the base of the shocking dramatization of the novel. This feature is explained and analyzed by the judgments and the estimations of the two guys, the different intellectuals, the party and state representatives and also through the creation and the recreation of the significant scenes and situations, too much fragile and in the ambit of a possible tragedy. The views from which the writer is investigated are antipodal:
The security men and the employees view him as an enemy (“We know what you deserve but we can’t do anything to the one who is above us!”), while the teenagers and the intellectuals with a free spirit and a democratic thinking consider him as “the unique hope” but they are also sorry for the debts that the writer has to pay to the regime to survive and write his real works.
The succinct structure of this laconic novel is gestated with vital and conventional components, with an absurd atmosphere and an existential weigh, with dreams and the immediate moment when you wake up, with documentation almost chronic and with a trivial and hyperbolic reflection. These contradictory structural elements form a flowing rainbow in the reader’s contemplative imagination and especially the reader that has enjoyed the sublimity of the Kadere art.
While reading the last pages of the roman, the ancient idea that every creator, is a man and remains such, provokes me.
When the historical-literary studies will sift and point out the books of the last decade of the century that we are leaving behind, I think that the hand of the studier of Kadare will stand even over this interesting novel.
Translated by: Dr. Haim Reitan
By Sokol Jakova
The life of the artist in the communist dictatorship
Thoughts about the novel “Slaves of the peace”
of Shefki Hysa
Although the books of the writer Shefki Hysa treat all in all rich problems and topics, they are characterized by the reveal and the unmasking of the communist dictatorship, the reflection with realism and veracity of the lives of ordinary people in that fierce and vicious period, when the poorest population of Europe shouldered the weight, the violence and the terror of the most sanguinary dictatorship of the continent. In this sense while in the novel “The cursed heaven” the author points out the tableaus of people’s lives during the dictatorship, in “Slaves of the peace” he moots an important problem and somewhat special, little touched in our literature: the problem of the lives and the work of the artists during the dictatorship.
The problem of the artist is bound up with the problem of the system, under of which a population lives. The artists are the most sensible stratum of it and always in opposition with every kind of political power that doesn’t accomplish the obligations toward the country and its population. But the communist dictatorship is so much severe and powerful that with its terror, diablerie and astuteness, it was able to convert even these petrels of the truth in “slaves of a silent war under the blessing of the peace…Yes, yes! Slaves of the peace”…
Therefore even some of the most noted figures of the Albanian literature that become personages of this novel, doesn’t show any desire, boast or servility of the author to know them, but on the contrary they demonstrate a serious attempt to find out the message that during the dictatorship even the elite talents such as Kadare or Agolli were obliged to save with their writings, and so, in this way, apart from the convictions and the spirit against the regime, they were “slaves” of the peace. And if there were these, you can imagine how it was the file of all the Albanian writers and artists. Surely, there were even some writers that didn’t put up with the communist violence, all their ways were closed, and so they pushed through the perdition and escaped, such as the writer with a certain future Bilal Xhaferri, whose figure is described with love from Shefki Hysa not only in this novel but even in other writings.
Thus “Slaves of the peace” though it makes an attractive description of the well- known writer Ismali Kadare, it isn’t just a personalized novel for Kadare, but in general for the Albanian artist during the dictatorship.
I think that from the typological aspect this is an artistic novel with a historical and documentary background. Such a literature is becoming more and more attractive for the reader of today.
The subject of the novel is simple. The writer Ismail Kadare comes on vacations with his family in a coastal city of the South. The writers of the city headed by Cife, the director of the branch of “League of writers and artists of the district” and in particular Cifja, Xheki and Piro are vivified and make a cordial welcome to the writer and his family. During those days on vacations, Kadare is converted in the focus of the writers’ and artists’ attention, but not only. And in this way the novel continues with conversations and different episodes for Kadare, for his writings and the advanced thoughts for that time.
When the author of the novel introduces the figure of the big writer, in spite of the utilization of the creative whim that gives to the figure the artistic character, turning him into a personage, he uses even a lot of impressions and happenings regarding Kadare, that are true. In this way, with his own intuition, the author makes the portraiture of this special writer and personality of the Albanian letters. In this way, Kadareja is discovered as a quiet, serious man, not only as a magnificent writer for Xheki, Cife or Piro and in general for the youth of those years, but also as a thinker and a philosopher for the art and life in general. In the view of the young creators like Xheki and Piro he takes in special dimensions and turns into an imagery to be imitated for his values as a big creator. The author, during the description of the historical figure of Kadare, staying faithful to the truth, intends that this famous artist didn’t like, even considered it wrong the interference of the politics in art and especially of those mediocre people in power that leaded the communist culture and ideology and that Kadare couldn’t tolerate. Let’s bring to mind the episode when Kadare was invited for dinner and he is with Cifja, the first secretary and with how much sadness and disregard the writer conducts himself.
Another historical figure that is given with rapid lines in the novel is that of Dritëro Agolli, the other big writer who is presented as especial and waggish, with his nice humor, even with the known vices, but anyway well-minded and good-natured. During the presentation of these famous figures, who were also loved from the readers and especially from the new creators, as we mentioned above, Shefki Hysa makes a portrait with the right lines even to his favorite writer, the real dissident, Bilal Xhaferri. The author of the novel, being familiar with his Cham origin, the life and the activity of this writer that escaped because he didn’t find any kind of space to express his values in his own country, with the writings he left, after the death in the peak of his artistic circumspection, emphasizes the message that if Bilal Xhaferri had had the possibilities to write and publish in a democratic place, and not under the hoof of the dictatorship, we would have had another colossus of the Albanian letters.
In his novel “Slaves of the peace” the writer Shefki Hysa, following the progress of the history of the events, describes even the figure of Enver Hoxha, during a meeting that he had with Ismail Kadare and his family. The figure of this dictator is given with rapid lines in the novel, as every Albanian has known him, but the author of the writing, with a significant implication narrates how the leader of the communist dictatorship gave instructions even to the most known creators, so they could serve to the party cause.
“Before they went away, in spite of Zaharia’s book “La fin du mistere etrusque”, Hoxha gave them even a set of Balzak’s books in French.
- O, we covered you with Balzak!-he joked.
It was a joke of a man, well informed about the discussions made all over the world regarding the relation between the realistic literature of the XIXth century and the contemporary one, in which Balzaku was in focus of the contrapositions that hadn’t passed without making an echo even at our country. The smiling view of Hoxha has absolutely a hidden implication, thought Kadare. I think it says: “In the literary creations you mustn’t be a critic realist like Balzak, meanwhile do what he did, get out from your convictions, and against them, devote yourself to the method of socialist realism, to the description of the reality in its revolutionary development. Thus, you will bring in the literature the beautiful reality of the future, with in focus the positive hero…”
Besides the historical personages, in which is entwined the creation of the author with documentary data, in the novel “Slaves of the peace” are depicted even many figures of personages, totally artistic, with special qualities and characteristics. Among them we can mention the couple Xheki-Pirro, two young and talented boys: the first in the literature field and the second in that of picture and both with dreams for the future. One of them was to make a career in the respective fields, to become someone in life but the communist regime doesn’t open the doors easily even to these young artists with a future because of their biography. These and many others like these have Kadare as an imitation and inspiration model, have respect for him, even if they discuss severally for many things regarding the big writer.
The figure of Xheki, who, as a personage symbolizes in a way the author himself and that is given even in the confidential plan, in the relations with Esmeralda, is widely touched. A personage given with artistry is even Cifja, a lively person, joyful and full of humor, who has had a difficult life but he has known how to juggle and to survive owing to his strong character. Cifja is an admirer of Kadare and his work, therefore, like Xheki and Piro, even this personage has respect and a huge sympathy for the big writer.
It is well known that the communist dictatorship had as a central lever for the holding of the power with violence: The State Security. The writer Shefki Hysa in “Slaves of the peace” has tried, and I think he has succeeded, to sculpt with appropriate lines the figure of the Security man, Ramush Kaleci. The reader understands from the surname of this abhorrent man that the author has put him in focus to unmask and denigrate him for the squalid profession. There is a passage in the novel where the figure of Ramush is described with irony, in a grotesque as well as ridiculous way, until he becomes a rag: “Xheki, surprisingly, as with magic, was converted in a shade. And he was invisible for Ramush Kaleci’s eyes. It was a wonderful situation because it is imperceptible for a general mind being a shade. Look how he turned round in mid-air wherever he wanted, in that phantasmagoric situation. He could see everything, everyone and without being watched by someone. This was the prettiness of that new situation that he was living. So there, Ramush Kaleci! Let’s go near him. As it were. He hasn’t felt anything yet. He is breathing like a miser, as he is devouring all the oxygen to asphyxiate the other human beings. The enemies. And what a puffy face,
“Like a bun, burst with laughter Xheki and hit him in the nose with the tip of the forefinger”. Ramush, with a fool view, scratched the nose and watched for a while, as he wanted to catch by surprise any pestilent beetle. Xheki burst with laughter. It was a big pleasure to make fun of this fat dumpling. He tickled him in the neck and without letting him to recollect himself, strained him one ear, and then the other. Ramushi stopped open-mouthed, like being hit by palsy. What a big pleasure!...
The figure of the shade that follows Ramush and other elements of the magic, such as the episode of the description of the Hell or the episode of the return in the past where is realized the meeting of Kadare with the King Pirro of Ephyrus, etc., remind you the magical atmosphere that lives in the popular Cham epos and at the same time remember you the mastery that the author Shefki Hysa utilizes in such fanciful circumstances in his composition, merging wonderfully, as with magic, the real with the unreal, the real life with the dreams of the personages, becoming in this way the typical representative of a new wave of the magical realism with Albanian peculiarities, a bit similar with the magical realism that characterizes the books of Gabriel Garcia Markes.
Ramush Kaleci is the prototype of the persecutor, the spy, the greyhound that runs after his “chase” and persecutes him as far as he makes a calamity. In such a way he follows even Kadare when he comes in the southern coastal city supposing “to protect him”, but also to survey what he does and whom he stays with. An interesting point of the novel is also the story of “the stealing” of the book of Kadare that ends in a bluff for Ramush and he is finally unmasked.
The writings of Shefki Hysa are distinguished for their lithesome and dynamic style, for a clean language, for a lively and attractive dialogue and for expressive details, which makes it curious and interesting for those readers that desire to learn more from that black period of our history, from the period when the communist dictatorship governed.
Translated by: Dr. Haim Reitan
The life of the artist in the communist dictatorship
Thoughts about the novel “Slaves of the peace”
of Shefki Hysa
Although the books of the writer Shefki Hysa treat all in all rich problems and topics, they are characterized by the reveal and the unmasking of the communist dictatorship, the reflection with realism and veracity of the lives of ordinary people in that fierce and vicious period, when the poorest population of Europe shouldered the weight, the violence and the terror of the most sanguinary dictatorship of the continent. In this sense while in the novel “The cursed heaven” the author points out the tableaus of people’s lives during the dictatorship, in “Slaves of the peace” he moots an important problem and somewhat special, little touched in our literature: the problem of the lives and the work of the artists during the dictatorship.
The problem of the artist is bound up with the problem of the system, under of which a population lives. The artists are the most sensible stratum of it and always in opposition with every kind of political power that doesn’t accomplish the obligations toward the country and its population. But the communist dictatorship is so much severe and powerful that with its terror, diablerie and astuteness, it was able to convert even these petrels of the truth in “slaves of a silent war under the blessing of the peace…Yes, yes! Slaves of the peace”…
Therefore even some of the most noted figures of the Albanian literature that become personages of this novel, doesn’t show any desire, boast or servility of the author to know them, but on the contrary they demonstrate a serious attempt to find out the message that during the dictatorship even the elite talents such as Kadare or Agolli were obliged to save with their writings, and so, in this way, apart from the convictions and the spirit against the regime, they were “slaves” of the peace. And if there were these, you can imagine how it was the file of all the Albanian writers and artists. Surely, there were even some writers that didn’t put up with the communist violence, all their ways were closed, and so they pushed through the perdition and escaped, such as the writer with a certain future Bilal Xhaferri, whose figure is described with love from Shefki Hysa not only in this novel but even in other writings.
Thus “Slaves of the peace” though it makes an attractive description of the well- known writer Ismali Kadare, it isn’t just a personalized novel for Kadare, but in general for the Albanian artist during the dictatorship.
I think that from the typological aspect this is an artistic novel with a historical and documentary background. Such a literature is becoming more and more attractive for the reader of today.
The subject of the novel is simple. The writer Ismail Kadare comes on vacations with his family in a coastal city of the South. The writers of the city headed by Cife, the director of the branch of “League of writers and artists of the district” and in particular Cifja, Xheki and Piro are vivified and make a cordial welcome to the writer and his family. During those days on vacations, Kadare is converted in the focus of the writers’ and artists’ attention, but not only. And in this way the novel continues with conversations and different episodes for Kadare, for his writings and the advanced thoughts for that time.
When the author of the novel introduces the figure of the big writer, in spite of the utilization of the creative whim that gives to the figure the artistic character, turning him into a personage, he uses even a lot of impressions and happenings regarding Kadare, that are true. In this way, with his own intuition, the author makes the portraiture of this special writer and personality of the Albanian letters. In this way, Kadareja is discovered as a quiet, serious man, not only as a magnificent writer for Xheki, Cife or Piro and in general for the youth of those years, but also as a thinker and a philosopher for the art and life in general. In the view of the young creators like Xheki and Piro he takes in special dimensions and turns into an imagery to be imitated for his values as a big creator. The author, during the description of the historical figure of Kadare, staying faithful to the truth, intends that this famous artist didn’t like, even considered it wrong the interference of the politics in art and especially of those mediocre people in power that leaded the communist culture and ideology and that Kadare couldn’t tolerate. Let’s bring to mind the episode when Kadare was invited for dinner and he is with Cifja, the first secretary and with how much sadness and disregard the writer conducts himself.
Another historical figure that is given with rapid lines in the novel is that of Dritëro Agolli, the other big writer who is presented as especial and waggish, with his nice humor, even with the known vices, but anyway well-minded and good-natured. During the presentation of these famous figures, who were also loved from the readers and especially from the new creators, as we mentioned above, Shefki Hysa makes a portrait with the right lines even to his favorite writer, the real dissident, Bilal Xhaferri. The author of the novel, being familiar with his Cham origin, the life and the activity of this writer that escaped because he didn’t find any kind of space to express his values in his own country, with the writings he left, after the death in the peak of his artistic circumspection, emphasizes the message that if Bilal Xhaferri had had the possibilities to write and publish in a democratic place, and not under the hoof of the dictatorship, we would have had another colossus of the Albanian letters.
In his novel “Slaves of the peace” the writer Shefki Hysa, following the progress of the history of the events, describes even the figure of Enver Hoxha, during a meeting that he had with Ismail Kadare and his family. The figure of this dictator is given with rapid lines in the novel, as every Albanian has known him, but the author of the writing, with a significant implication narrates how the leader of the communist dictatorship gave instructions even to the most known creators, so they could serve to the party cause.
“Before they went away, in spite of Zaharia’s book “La fin du mistere etrusque”, Hoxha gave them even a set of Balzak’s books in French.
- O, we covered you with Balzak!-he joked.
It was a joke of a man, well informed about the discussions made all over the world regarding the relation between the realistic literature of the XIXth century and the contemporary one, in which Balzaku was in focus of the contrapositions that hadn’t passed without making an echo even at our country. The smiling view of Hoxha has absolutely a hidden implication, thought Kadare. I think it says: “In the literary creations you mustn’t be a critic realist like Balzak, meanwhile do what he did, get out from your convictions, and against them, devote yourself to the method of socialist realism, to the description of the reality in its revolutionary development. Thus, you will bring in the literature the beautiful reality of the future, with in focus the positive hero…”
Besides the historical personages, in which is entwined the creation of the author with documentary data, in the novel “Slaves of the peace” are depicted even many figures of personages, totally artistic, with special qualities and characteristics. Among them we can mention the couple Xheki-Pirro, two young and talented boys: the first in the literature field and the second in that of picture and both with dreams for the future. One of them was to make a career in the respective fields, to become someone in life but the communist regime doesn’t open the doors easily even to these young artists with a future because of their biography. These and many others like these have Kadare as an imitation and inspiration model, have respect for him, even if they discuss severally for many things regarding the big writer.
The figure of Xheki, who, as a personage symbolizes in a way the author himself and that is given even in the confidential plan, in the relations with Esmeralda, is widely touched. A personage given with artistry is even Cifja, a lively person, joyful and full of humor, who has had a difficult life but he has known how to juggle and to survive owing to his strong character. Cifja is an admirer of Kadare and his work, therefore, like Xheki and Piro, even this personage has respect and a huge sympathy for the big writer.
It is well known that the communist dictatorship had as a central lever for the holding of the power with violence: The State Security. The writer Shefki Hysa in “Slaves of the peace” has tried, and I think he has succeeded, to sculpt with appropriate lines the figure of the Security man, Ramush Kaleci. The reader understands from the surname of this abhorrent man that the author has put him in focus to unmask and denigrate him for the squalid profession. There is a passage in the novel where the figure of Ramush is described with irony, in a grotesque as well as ridiculous way, until he becomes a rag: “Xheki, surprisingly, as with magic, was converted in a shade. And he was invisible for Ramush Kaleci’s eyes. It was a wonderful situation because it is imperceptible for a general mind being a shade. Look how he turned round in mid-air wherever he wanted, in that phantasmagoric situation. He could see everything, everyone and without being watched by someone. This was the prettiness of that new situation that he was living. So there, Ramush Kaleci! Let’s go near him. As it were. He hasn’t felt anything yet. He is breathing like a miser, as he is devouring all the oxygen to asphyxiate the other human beings. The enemies. And what a puffy face,
“Like a bun, burst with laughter Xheki and hit him in the nose with the tip of the forefinger”. Ramush, with a fool view, scratched the nose and watched for a while, as he wanted to catch by surprise any pestilent beetle. Xheki burst with laughter. It was a big pleasure to make fun of this fat dumpling. He tickled him in the neck and without letting him to recollect himself, strained him one ear, and then the other. Ramushi stopped open-mouthed, like being hit by palsy. What a big pleasure!...
The figure of the shade that follows Ramush and other elements of the magic, such as the episode of the description of the Hell or the episode of the return in the past where is realized the meeting of Kadare with the King Pirro of Ephyrus, etc., remind you the magical atmosphere that lives in the popular Cham epos and at the same time remember you the mastery that the author Shefki Hysa utilizes in such fanciful circumstances in his composition, merging wonderfully, as with magic, the real with the unreal, the real life with the dreams of the personages, becoming in this way the typical representative of a new wave of the magical realism with Albanian peculiarities, a bit similar with the magical realism that characterizes the books of Gabriel Garcia Markes.
Ramush Kaleci is the prototype of the persecutor, the spy, the greyhound that runs after his “chase” and persecutes him as far as he makes a calamity. In such a way he follows even Kadare when he comes in the southern coastal city supposing “to protect him”, but also to survey what he does and whom he stays with. An interesting point of the novel is also the story of “the stealing” of the book of Kadare that ends in a bluff for Ramush and he is finally unmasked.
The writings of Shefki Hysa are distinguished for their lithesome and dynamic style, for a clean language, for a lively and attractive dialogue and for expressive details, which makes it curious and interesting for those readers that desire to learn more from that black period of our history, from the period when the communist dictatorship governed.
Translated by: Dr. Haim Reitan
By Dritëro Agolli
A new stage of writing
I have in front a manuscript of the new book with short stories, “False Miracles”, by Shefki Hysa. Before reading it, I thought I would find in it the same elements of narration style I used to find in his previous books, particularly in the book with short stories “The thief’s narrations”. By that time, this book was the most distinguished one regarding the spirit of the real contemporary realism, embodying several problems and social ideas, characteristic for the time. I remember I was impressed by the fragment: “Babloku”, extracted from the novel “The cursed paradise”, which I would consider expressionistic, due to the deep emotional impressions felt after its reading.
While reading through the lines of “Babloku” an idea struck my mind: the writing process of Shefki Hysa is about to pass into a new stage! Anyhow, I was not very much convinced…
So, I started to read “False Miracles”, without succeeding to get out of my mind “Babloku”. Those elements, ready in embryo at the “False Miracles” were now about to bloom.
But what are these blooming buds? I think they are present in the mixture of fantastic and grotesque together with the allegory which conveys the idea indirectly. Let us take into consideration the short story “False Miracles”, which is part of the book with the same title. Its idea is that no matter how beautiful and precious things are in themselves, if they do not serve the mankind, they are common like all the rest. The daydreaming hero enters the world of magic, in the arms of an enchanting girl with luxurious palaces and magical library. She is eager to have all these miracles, including love as well, all for herself and her lover. Here comes out the conflict. This is in a few words the content, which is revealed at the beginning in the psychoanalyst spirit:
“When he opened the eyes, he saw the sun caressing the wall in front. It was high time to get up but he did not want to leave the bed. He gasped and took his arms out of the sheets. He remembered that last night he puzzled his wits to change something in his life. To make something worthy, to the benefit of mankind, but still he was ruminating what.
He wanted to think it over again before taking the next step. He had all the time ahead until two o’clock in the afternoon, when he had to start the job at the old bus garage. He was a mechanical engineer.
He had to go through the same things lately: get up at eight, wander around to drive away the sleep, then to near at the old basin with his gritting teeth, comb the hair at the washed out mirror nailed against one of the wardrobe doors, get dressed and leave.”
Such psychoanalysis is revealed bit by bit to depict the realistic-phantasmagorical character:
“He was perplexed in various thoughts, until he reached the corner of the road, that left behind the inhabited zone and could make out the high-school girl in her black school uniform and white collar, which stirred up in him the nostalgia of migratory birds, the swallows, maybe because she used to commute every day from town to village and vice versa. With his heart pounding, he slowed down the pace and waited she passed by him. He could feel in every cell of his body her approach and his heartbeat melted suddenly into her deer-like steps. He could hardly breathe in those moments, his back thrilled and his nape got sweaty. He could feel her troubled breath kissing his ears but did not dare to turn around. He could feel the inner voice urging to speak, but they have never greeted each-other so far.”
So, bit by bit, portraying figuratively the character, the short story turns into a symbol. And while in this story we have to do with a symbol, in the other one “The donkeys” we come across the grotesque that whips the kingdom of inefficiency mingled with the cringe. The inefficient people, the donkeys, live happily thanks to the skilfulness of other people- the well-known formula of all the times. Even here the author doesn’t skip the psychoanalyses, the paradox together with the grotesque mixed together with the sarcasm and the contemporary satire. The metamorphoses elements remind us of Apuleius novel, the famous Latin writer “Metamorphoses or the golden ass”, which unfortunately is not translated yet into Albanian.
In his short story “The donkeys”, the author writes:
“Strangely, every night he dreamt of himself turned into a donkey. Nevertheless, even though his being might enter the skin of that animal, he would never believe it. How could such a thing be believed? He was the number one of the Presidential staff… He was right after the President in rank. Everyone feared him more than His Excellency, the President himself. No! Rrapush could never be and would never turn into a four-footed despite that strange feeling that tormented him at nights and deepened him into the dream world, becoming a donkey…”
It is not the case to enter a minute analysis on the book “False miracles”, because it would ask some time. That is why I mentioned only some short stories, typical of the actual level of the works of Shefki Hysa. But I cannot let without mentioning the unique short novel: “The village headman”, which contests the greediness and voracity. I would say, the traits of the expressionism are more obvious than in any other short story, not leaving aside the paradox and grotesque or phantasmagoria, all mixed together in realism. The short story evokes figuratively the corruption and degeneration of the society through the unique cinematographic dynamics. Each word here is readable and transparent.
In these few lines, I would also like to mention “The magic” that belongs to the kind of short novels above, but differs in the anxiety it lets out and the fear not to become a written calamity.
“Oh, I know you would call me nuts, evocative, fascinated, raving into the infernal grounds of a scary dream, or whatever epithet you’d like to add, when I mention magic. Your job, nevertheless, or otherwise- the vivid fact, the outcome of its violence, is me. Looking closely at me, you would understand the transfiguration of my being. Hence, look at my unshaved skinny face, swollen and bloody nose and lips, pimpled and scabby cheekbones, shaggy, untidy, muddy hair, becoming scarce in the widened and creasing forehead because of the fear sheltered deep inside the skull, outlining more and more clearly. Just look at my numb and cold body! So… aren’t you feeling fear, pain, pity, disgust, taunt, or anything else, because of the way I look like? ….”
As I mentioned above, the actual level of the writing process of the narrator Shefki Hysa is perceived by the expressionist traits. But permit us to say, very friendly that we would like to have this tendency hidden from time to time and not to come out strongly and open. It is clear that the early expressionism despite the tendency of the idea hidden in it, it was also distinguished for the pathos of “catastrophe and scream”. The new expressionism should be different and I am convinced that Shefki Hysa is aware of that, because his stories are characterised by the national spirit and signs of the clever Cham spirit, always troubled and always in search to discover, because he knows well the book of life and that of library.
Dritëro Agolli
July 2003
Translated by: Dr. Haim Reitan
A new stage of writing
I have in front a manuscript of the new book with short stories, “False Miracles”, by Shefki Hysa. Before reading it, I thought I would find in it the same elements of narration style I used to find in his previous books, particularly in the book with short stories “The thief’s narrations”. By that time, this book was the most distinguished one regarding the spirit of the real contemporary realism, embodying several problems and social ideas, characteristic for the time. I remember I was impressed by the fragment: “Babloku”, extracted from the novel “The cursed paradise”, which I would consider expressionistic, due to the deep emotional impressions felt after its reading.
While reading through the lines of “Babloku” an idea struck my mind: the writing process of Shefki Hysa is about to pass into a new stage! Anyhow, I was not very much convinced…
So, I started to read “False Miracles”, without succeeding to get out of my mind “Babloku”. Those elements, ready in embryo at the “False Miracles” were now about to bloom.
But what are these blooming buds? I think they are present in the mixture of fantastic and grotesque together with the allegory which conveys the idea indirectly. Let us take into consideration the short story “False Miracles”, which is part of the book with the same title. Its idea is that no matter how beautiful and precious things are in themselves, if they do not serve the mankind, they are common like all the rest. The daydreaming hero enters the world of magic, in the arms of an enchanting girl with luxurious palaces and magical library. She is eager to have all these miracles, including love as well, all for herself and her lover. Here comes out the conflict. This is in a few words the content, which is revealed at the beginning in the psychoanalyst spirit:
“When he opened the eyes, he saw the sun caressing the wall in front. It was high time to get up but he did not want to leave the bed. He gasped and took his arms out of the sheets. He remembered that last night he puzzled his wits to change something in his life. To make something worthy, to the benefit of mankind, but still he was ruminating what.
He wanted to think it over again before taking the next step. He had all the time ahead until two o’clock in the afternoon, when he had to start the job at the old bus garage. He was a mechanical engineer.
He had to go through the same things lately: get up at eight, wander around to drive away the sleep, then to near at the old basin with his gritting teeth, comb the hair at the washed out mirror nailed against one of the wardrobe doors, get dressed and leave.”
Such psychoanalysis is revealed bit by bit to depict the realistic-phantasmagorical character:
“He was perplexed in various thoughts, until he reached the corner of the road, that left behind the inhabited zone and could make out the high-school girl in her black school uniform and white collar, which stirred up in him the nostalgia of migratory birds, the swallows, maybe because she used to commute every day from town to village and vice versa. With his heart pounding, he slowed down the pace and waited she passed by him. He could feel in every cell of his body her approach and his heartbeat melted suddenly into her deer-like steps. He could hardly breathe in those moments, his back thrilled and his nape got sweaty. He could feel her troubled breath kissing his ears but did not dare to turn around. He could feel the inner voice urging to speak, but they have never greeted each-other so far.”
So, bit by bit, portraying figuratively the character, the short story turns into a symbol. And while in this story we have to do with a symbol, in the other one “The donkeys” we come across the grotesque that whips the kingdom of inefficiency mingled with the cringe. The inefficient people, the donkeys, live happily thanks to the skilfulness of other people- the well-known formula of all the times. Even here the author doesn’t skip the psychoanalyses, the paradox together with the grotesque mixed together with the sarcasm and the contemporary satire. The metamorphoses elements remind us of Apuleius novel, the famous Latin writer “Metamorphoses or the golden ass”, which unfortunately is not translated yet into Albanian.
In his short story “The donkeys”, the author writes:
“Strangely, every night he dreamt of himself turned into a donkey. Nevertheless, even though his being might enter the skin of that animal, he would never believe it. How could such a thing be believed? He was the number one of the Presidential staff… He was right after the President in rank. Everyone feared him more than His Excellency, the President himself. No! Rrapush could never be and would never turn into a four-footed despite that strange feeling that tormented him at nights and deepened him into the dream world, becoming a donkey…”
It is not the case to enter a minute analysis on the book “False miracles”, because it would ask some time. That is why I mentioned only some short stories, typical of the actual level of the works of Shefki Hysa. But I cannot let without mentioning the unique short novel: “The village headman”, which contests the greediness and voracity. I would say, the traits of the expressionism are more obvious than in any other short story, not leaving aside the paradox and grotesque or phantasmagoria, all mixed together in realism. The short story evokes figuratively the corruption and degeneration of the society through the unique cinematographic dynamics. Each word here is readable and transparent.
In these few lines, I would also like to mention “The magic” that belongs to the kind of short novels above, but differs in the anxiety it lets out and the fear not to become a written calamity.
“Oh, I know you would call me nuts, evocative, fascinated, raving into the infernal grounds of a scary dream, or whatever epithet you’d like to add, when I mention magic. Your job, nevertheless, or otherwise- the vivid fact, the outcome of its violence, is me. Looking closely at me, you would understand the transfiguration of my being. Hence, look at my unshaved skinny face, swollen and bloody nose and lips, pimpled and scabby cheekbones, shaggy, untidy, muddy hair, becoming scarce in the widened and creasing forehead because of the fear sheltered deep inside the skull, outlining more and more clearly. Just look at my numb and cold body! So… aren’t you feeling fear, pain, pity, disgust, taunt, or anything else, because of the way I look like? ….”
As I mentioned above, the actual level of the writing process of the narrator Shefki Hysa is perceived by the expressionist traits. But permit us to say, very friendly that we would like to have this tendency hidden from time to time and not to come out strongly and open. It is clear that the early expressionism despite the tendency of the idea hidden in it, it was also distinguished for the pathos of “catastrophe and scream”. The new expressionism should be different and I am convinced that Shefki Hysa is aware of that, because his stories are characterised by the national spirit and signs of the clever Cham spirit, always troubled and always in search to discover, because he knows well the book of life and that of library.
Dritëro Agolli
July 2003
Translated by: Dr. Haim Reitan
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
By Dr. Haim Reitan
What is the cultural association “Bilal Xhaferri”?!
The cultural association “Bilal Xhaferri” (The Cultural Community of Chameria) is an Albanian NGO, centered in Tirana, founded by a group of journalists, writers, artists and intellectuals, friends and well-wishers of the noted dissident poet, narrator and publicist Bilal Xhaferri, which aims to point out the brilliance of this outraged figure, thrown into forgetfulness by the former communist dictatorship and the sublimation of our national culture values versus advanced civilizations' values, especially those of the martyr Chameria.
The cultural association “Bilal Xhaferri” has been founded in 1993 and it was legally approved in 1994 as a specialized cultural multifunctional institution in order to expand the activity of “Bilal Xhaferri” publishing house, which was created since 1991 by writer Shefki Hysa, as one of the first publishing organs of the post communist period. Its purpose was the selection and the publication of the most prominent values of world literature, Albanian dissident literature and young talents' works that risk losing in the difficult conditions of market economy.
The boom of publications of this publishing-house and the big echo of its activity in those years, initiated the idea that an institution, with bigger spaces and legal purview than those of a simple publishing organ, was indispensable. Thus, it was more than necessary to found a cultural multifunctional organism, more dignified, an unprofitable organization that should include even the publication field and at the same time it should have possibilities to collaborate with governmental and non-governmental institutions in all the life views, inside and outside the country.
A group of Cham activists, together with their friends in different regions of Albania and Diaspora, discussed a long time with the best intellectuals of the Cultural Community of Chameria and in collaboration with many writers, artists and other Albanian intellectuals, friends and well-wishers of Bilal Xhaferri and the Cham issue, decided to create a cultural association, that would have, besides the publishing-house, even its press. So, they would found a non-governmental organization like the Cham League, which was founded by Bilal Xhaferri, in Chicago, USA or something similar with “Chameria” association, but well disposed toward Cham culture rather than politics.
As a result of collaboration, the Cultural Association “Bilal Xhaferri” was founded and consolidated during 1993 and 1994 as a specialized institution that would expand his cultural activity beyond Albanian borders, in Kosovo, Macedonia and USA to coordinate work with the Cham League, the Kosovo’s League, the Democratic League of Montenegro, The League of the Albanians of Macedonia and many other organizations operating in the American continent. The association would be a potential voice for the support of the Cham problem and for its solution in a diplomatic way …Thus, these initiators had to become a little diplomats, like all the writers and artists that take the role of ambassadors of their country’s culture… In this way they would become missionaries of the Albanian culture, its diplomats…
But who were some of the friends who joined the table of this association and helped with Albanian heart the Cham ideal?! Even well-known intellectuals were distinguished among them. We can mention: Namik Mane, Pandeli Koçi, Pjetër Arbnori, Dritëro Agolli, Ismail Kadare, Ballkiz Halili, Dhori Karaj, Faik Teodori, Fatos M. Rrapaj, Hektor Sejko, Hekuran Halili, Namik Selmani, Martin Mato, Minella Kureta, Sokol Jakova, Vath Koreshi, Axhem Çapo, Balil Proda, Bujar Shurdhi, Qani Biraçi, Xhemil Lato and many others, not only Chams…
Very soon, the cultural association “Bilal Xhaferri” was expanded not only in the Cham community areas but also in the main districts of Albania, wherever the friends of Bilal Xhaferri’s work and ideal lived… It created very good relations with the Albanian state structures, with politicians of every political spectrum, the majority party and opposition, with old politicians and young ones such as: Pjetër Arbnori, Sali Berisha, Ibrahim Rugova and Fatos Nano, Aleksandër Meksi, Servet Pëllumbi and Skënder Gjinushi, Sabri Godo, Fatmir Mediu, Namik Dokle and Arian Madhi, Edi Rama, Hashim Thaçi, Gramoz Ruçi, Bamir Topi, Besnik Mustafaj and Neritan Ceka, Petro Koçi and Preç Zogaj, Ilir Meta, Pëllumb Xhufi and Sabri Hamiti, Makbule Çeço, Jozefina Topalli, Diana Çuli, Lajla Pernaska, Valentina Leskaj, Mimi Kodheli, Majlinda Bregu and many others.
The contacts of this association were extended and consolidated even with American, Italian, German and Turkish embassies etc, or with personalities of world culture and diplomacy like Hillary Clinton and Doris Pack, Miranda Vickers and James Pettifer, Marko Panela and Callenback, Dr. Haim Reitan, Amir Gilad etc.
A generation of poets, journalists, intellectuals and young talented politicians such as Agim Mero, Alma Ahmeti, Bianka Bilali, Dylbere Dika, Florian Bulica, Fllanxa Veshi, Kadri Aliu, Kostaq Myrtaj, Ismail Murtaj, Leonora Bilali, Mina Çaushi, Rudina Hasa, Yllka Sulku, Xhulia Xhekaj and many others afterwards would become the big armature of warriors for the Cham ideal, which was the purpose of this association…
"Eagle's wing" magazine, founded by Bilal Xhaferri in USA became the organ that reflected and continues to reflect the activity of this patriotic organization.
The main purpose of this organization is to point out the grandiosity of Bilal Xhaferri's figure and the values of the Cham and Albanian culture near the best world values… The most imminent objective assigned to realize this purpose was: The restitution of Bilal Xhaferri's bones in Albania, realized in May 6, 1995 with the contribution of Albanian state and of writer Shefki Hysa, director of this association…
An in this a long collaboration with all the governmental and non-governmental organisms began, until Bilal Xhaferri's bones came back in Albania and now they repose in Saranda. A lot of other purposes in benefit of Albanian culture and the final solution of the Cham problem were the other objectives to achieve…
It was extracted from the book “The diplomacy of self-denial”
of the writer Shefki Hysa,
Tirana, 2008
What is the cultural association “Bilal Xhaferri”?!
The cultural association “Bilal Xhaferri” (The Cultural Community of Chameria) is an Albanian NGO, centered in Tirana, founded by a group of journalists, writers, artists and intellectuals, friends and well-wishers of the noted dissident poet, narrator and publicist Bilal Xhaferri, which aims to point out the brilliance of this outraged figure, thrown into forgetfulness by the former communist dictatorship and the sublimation of our national culture values versus advanced civilizations' values, especially those of the martyr Chameria.
The cultural association “Bilal Xhaferri” has been founded in 1993 and it was legally approved in 1994 as a specialized cultural multifunctional institution in order to expand the activity of “Bilal Xhaferri” publishing house, which was created since 1991 by writer Shefki Hysa, as one of the first publishing organs of the post communist period. Its purpose was the selection and the publication of the most prominent values of world literature, Albanian dissident literature and young talents' works that risk losing in the difficult conditions of market economy.
The boom of publications of this publishing-house and the big echo of its activity in those years, initiated the idea that an institution, with bigger spaces and legal purview than those of a simple publishing organ, was indispensable. Thus, it was more than necessary to found a cultural multifunctional organism, more dignified, an unprofitable organization that should include even the publication field and at the same time it should have possibilities to collaborate with governmental and non-governmental institutions in all the life views, inside and outside the country.
A group of Cham activists, together with their friends in different regions of Albania and Diaspora, discussed a long time with the best intellectuals of the Cultural Community of Chameria and in collaboration with many writers, artists and other Albanian intellectuals, friends and well-wishers of Bilal Xhaferri and the Cham issue, decided to create a cultural association, that would have, besides the publishing-house, even its press. So, they would found a non-governmental organization like the Cham League, which was founded by Bilal Xhaferri, in Chicago, USA or something similar with “Chameria” association, but well disposed toward Cham culture rather than politics.
As a result of collaboration, the Cultural Association “Bilal Xhaferri” was founded and consolidated during 1993 and 1994 as a specialized institution that would expand his cultural activity beyond Albanian borders, in Kosovo, Macedonia and USA to coordinate work with the Cham League, the Kosovo’s League, the Democratic League of Montenegro, The League of the Albanians of Macedonia and many other organizations operating in the American continent. The association would be a potential voice for the support of the Cham problem and for its solution in a diplomatic way …Thus, these initiators had to become a little diplomats, like all the writers and artists that take the role of ambassadors of their country’s culture… In this way they would become missionaries of the Albanian culture, its diplomats…
But who were some of the friends who joined the table of this association and helped with Albanian heart the Cham ideal?! Even well-known intellectuals were distinguished among them. We can mention: Namik Mane, Pandeli Koçi, Pjetër Arbnori, Dritëro Agolli, Ismail Kadare, Ballkiz Halili, Dhori Karaj, Faik Teodori, Fatos M. Rrapaj, Hektor Sejko, Hekuran Halili, Namik Selmani, Martin Mato, Minella Kureta, Sokol Jakova, Vath Koreshi, Axhem Çapo, Balil Proda, Bujar Shurdhi, Qani Biraçi, Xhemil Lato and many others, not only Chams…
Very soon, the cultural association “Bilal Xhaferri” was expanded not only in the Cham community areas but also in the main districts of Albania, wherever the friends of Bilal Xhaferri’s work and ideal lived… It created very good relations with the Albanian state structures, with politicians of every political spectrum, the majority party and opposition, with old politicians and young ones such as: Pjetër Arbnori, Sali Berisha, Ibrahim Rugova and Fatos Nano, Aleksandër Meksi, Servet Pëllumbi and Skënder Gjinushi, Sabri Godo, Fatmir Mediu, Namik Dokle and Arian Madhi, Edi Rama, Hashim Thaçi, Gramoz Ruçi, Bamir Topi, Besnik Mustafaj and Neritan Ceka, Petro Koçi and Preç Zogaj, Ilir Meta, Pëllumb Xhufi and Sabri Hamiti, Makbule Çeço, Jozefina Topalli, Diana Çuli, Lajla Pernaska, Valentina Leskaj, Mimi Kodheli, Majlinda Bregu and many others.
The contacts of this association were extended and consolidated even with American, Italian, German and Turkish embassies etc, or with personalities of world culture and diplomacy like Hillary Clinton and Doris Pack, Miranda Vickers and James Pettifer, Marko Panela and Callenback, Dr. Haim Reitan, Amir Gilad etc.
A generation of poets, journalists, intellectuals and young talented politicians such as Agim Mero, Alma Ahmeti, Bianka Bilali, Dylbere Dika, Florian Bulica, Fllanxa Veshi, Kadri Aliu, Kostaq Myrtaj, Ismail Murtaj, Leonora Bilali, Mina Çaushi, Rudina Hasa, Yllka Sulku, Xhulia Xhekaj and many others afterwards would become the big armature of warriors for the Cham ideal, which was the purpose of this association…
"Eagle's wing" magazine, founded by Bilal Xhaferri in USA became the organ that reflected and continues to reflect the activity of this patriotic organization.
The main purpose of this organization is to point out the grandiosity of Bilal Xhaferri's figure and the values of the Cham and Albanian culture near the best world values… The most imminent objective assigned to realize this purpose was: The restitution of Bilal Xhaferri's bones in Albania, realized in May 6, 1995 with the contribution of Albanian state and of writer Shefki Hysa, director of this association…
An in this a long collaboration with all the governmental and non-governmental organisms began, until Bilal Xhaferri's bones came back in Albania and now they repose in Saranda. A lot of other purposes in benefit of Albanian culture and the final solution of the Cham problem were the other objectives to achieve…
It was extracted from the book “The diplomacy of self-denial”
of the writer Shefki Hysa,
Tirana, 2008
By Dr. Haim Reitan
How was founded the publishing house “Bilal Xhaferri”
The publishing house “Bilal Xhaferri” is one of the first Albanian publishing organs of the post-communist period with the aim to select and publish the most prominent values of world literature, of Albanian dissident literature and the creativity of young talents that are at risk to get lost in the difficult conditions of market economy.
The publishing house “Bilal Xhaferri was created as a result of the idea that culture, art, literature and the personalities that represent them, with their values, are the ambassadors and the most convincing and effectual diplomats for the dignified presentation of a nation before other civilized nations. In January 27, 1992 the Ministry of Culture released the permission for the foundation of this publishing organ. The minister at that time was writer Vath Koreshi, one of the promoters and supporters of the talented Bilal Xhaferri's literary beginnings. Vath signed with enthusiasm the permission for publishing activity and promised he would constantly give his support and that of Bilal's friends.
At that time Bilal Xhaferri's work was forgotten. His values were denied by the former communist dictatorship. It was the duty of the Cham intellectuals, like Shefki Hysa, to glorify Bilal's work and the treasures of Cham culture and folklore, great values that had been infringed and the Albanian public didn’t know. The marvelous pearls of the popular Cham epos could be expressed in front of the Albanians and the civilized world through the figure of Bilal Xhaferri, an exceptional talent that had shined like a star in the horizon of Albanian literature in 1960s and was suddenly extinguished from the fatal stroke he got from the former communist dictatorship. The Albanians and all the foreign well-wishers, being familiar with these wonderful values of Chameria, would raise the interest and fell in love with the Cham issue like a singular and sacred religion institution that belonged even to them.
Thus, “Bilal Xhaferri” Publishing due to the capacities, the great zeal and the numerous contacts with Albanian and international politicians, established by writer Shefki Hysa, increased and it was experiencing day by day a bum of selected publications from world literature, books of former outraged personalities like Pjetër Arbnori and especially young talents' works. Its staff made all the attempts that the young boys and girls, full of talent, not only of the Cham Community, could find themselves at“Bilal Xhaferri” Publishing, be affirmed and not have Bilal's destiny, in the difficult period of the cruel capitalist transition that Albania was experiencing.
It was difficult to find monetary instruments for books publications in the first years of the post communist period and the young talents saw a dream shelter in this publishing organ, part of the institution: The Cultural Association “Bilal Xhaferri”…
Bilal Xhaferri's novel "Krastakraus" was published in 1993. It was one of the most artistically realized works with the topic and the problems of the Albanian ethnicity, too much preferred by this author. The publication was enabled with the assistance of Cham intellectual Ballkiz Halili, who has kept for years a typescript copy of this novel. This publication was a great and unexpected success. Finally, the Albanian public had in his hands one of the most dignified works and not only the figure of Bilal, the dissident writer that had scuffled with the former Albanian communist dictatorship. The number of publications increased every year and “Bilal Xhaferri” Publishing House played an important role to introduce the Cham problem that was near the solution, in the national and international area.
Some of the most known publications of this institution with national values are:
“Fatal love”, romance (1992), Alfred de Musset
“Bloddy Love ( Beyond the distances)”, romance (1992), Bilal Xhaferri
“The respectful prostitute”, novels (1992), Jean Paul Sartre
“When the vikings invade”, novel (1992), Pjetër Arbnori
“The flaw of the heart”, poetry (1992), Gjin Progni
“The turtledove and the devil”, tales (1992), Shefki Hysa
“Krastakraus (Berati crumpled), novel (1993), Bilal Xhaferri
“Don’t remind me the death”, poetry (1993), Rudina Hasa
“Rebel”, poetry (1993), Shpëtim Roqi
“The night of the foreign cypresses”, essay (1994), Artur Spanjolli
“The beauty and the shadow”, romance (1994), Pjetër Arbnori
“Hostages of peace”, novel (1994), Shefki Hysa
“Peccant angel”, poetry (1994), Mirela Rapi
“The living dossiers”, journalism (1995), Agim Musta
“The pergola of the tears”, poetry (1995), Namik Mane
“The homesick horse”, poetry (1996), Arshin Rexha
“The dream stars”, poetry (1996), Etleva Shahini
“The vortex”, novel (1997), Pjetër Arbnori
“The cursed paradise”, novel (1997), Shefki Hysa
“The sold paradise”, poetry (2002), Dylbere Dika
“And the day dies”, tales (2003), Dylbere Dika
“Soul scream”, poetry (2004), Liri Hidërshaj
“Aroma of Chameria” , tales (2004), Shefki Hysa
“The false miracles”, tales (2005), Shefki Hysa
“Spiritual lactacion”, novel (2005), Liri Hidërshaj
“For a little bit happiness”, poetry (2006), Venka Capa
“The narration”, novel(2006), Liri Hidërshaj
“Dialogue for the impossible peace”, journalism (2006), Hysen Haxhiaj
“Family sorrow”, poetry (2006), Mina Çaushi
“With our feet we traveled the world”, novel 2007), Xhulia Xhekaj
“Dodona, the ancient temple of Albania”, research articles (2007), Rasim Bebo
“The regret”, novel (2007), Liri Hidërshaj
“The tears of the rose”, poetries (2008), Kostaq Myrtaj etc, etc.
Extracted from the book “The diplomacy of self-denial”
of writer Shefki Hysa,
Tirana, 2008
Dr. Haim Reitan, Diplomat,
Honorary President
of the Diplomatic Mission
Peace and Prosperity
How was founded the publishing house “Bilal Xhaferri”
The publishing house “Bilal Xhaferri” is one of the first Albanian publishing organs of the post-communist period with the aim to select and publish the most prominent values of world literature, of Albanian dissident literature and the creativity of young talents that are at risk to get lost in the difficult conditions of market economy.
The publishing house “Bilal Xhaferri was created as a result of the idea that culture, art, literature and the personalities that represent them, with their values, are the ambassadors and the most convincing and effectual diplomats for the dignified presentation of a nation before other civilized nations. In January 27, 1992 the Ministry of Culture released the permission for the foundation of this publishing organ. The minister at that time was writer Vath Koreshi, one of the promoters and supporters of the talented Bilal Xhaferri's literary beginnings. Vath signed with enthusiasm the permission for publishing activity and promised he would constantly give his support and that of Bilal's friends.
At that time Bilal Xhaferri's work was forgotten. His values were denied by the former communist dictatorship. It was the duty of the Cham intellectuals, like Shefki Hysa, to glorify Bilal's work and the treasures of Cham culture and folklore, great values that had been infringed and the Albanian public didn’t know. The marvelous pearls of the popular Cham epos could be expressed in front of the Albanians and the civilized world through the figure of Bilal Xhaferri, an exceptional talent that had shined like a star in the horizon of Albanian literature in 1960s and was suddenly extinguished from the fatal stroke he got from the former communist dictatorship. The Albanians and all the foreign well-wishers, being familiar with these wonderful values of Chameria, would raise the interest and fell in love with the Cham issue like a singular and sacred religion institution that belonged even to them.
Thus, “Bilal Xhaferri” Publishing due to the capacities, the great zeal and the numerous contacts with Albanian and international politicians, established by writer Shefki Hysa, increased and it was experiencing day by day a bum of selected publications from world literature, books of former outraged personalities like Pjetër Arbnori and especially young talents' works. Its staff made all the attempts that the young boys and girls, full of talent, not only of the Cham Community, could find themselves at“Bilal Xhaferri” Publishing, be affirmed and not have Bilal's destiny, in the difficult period of the cruel capitalist transition that Albania was experiencing.
It was difficult to find monetary instruments for books publications in the first years of the post communist period and the young talents saw a dream shelter in this publishing organ, part of the institution: The Cultural Association “Bilal Xhaferri”…
Bilal Xhaferri's novel "Krastakraus" was published in 1993. It was one of the most artistically realized works with the topic and the problems of the Albanian ethnicity, too much preferred by this author. The publication was enabled with the assistance of Cham intellectual Ballkiz Halili, who has kept for years a typescript copy of this novel. This publication was a great and unexpected success. Finally, the Albanian public had in his hands one of the most dignified works and not only the figure of Bilal, the dissident writer that had scuffled with the former Albanian communist dictatorship. The number of publications increased every year and “Bilal Xhaferri” Publishing House played an important role to introduce the Cham problem that was near the solution, in the national and international area.
Some of the most known publications of this institution with national values are:
“Fatal love”, romance (1992), Alfred de Musset
“Bloddy Love ( Beyond the distances)”, romance (1992), Bilal Xhaferri
“The respectful prostitute”, novels (1992), Jean Paul Sartre
“When the vikings invade”, novel (1992), Pjetër Arbnori
“The flaw of the heart”, poetry (1992), Gjin Progni
“The turtledove and the devil”, tales (1992), Shefki Hysa
“Krastakraus (Berati crumpled), novel (1993), Bilal Xhaferri
“Don’t remind me the death”, poetry (1993), Rudina Hasa
“Rebel”, poetry (1993), Shpëtim Roqi
“The night of the foreign cypresses”, essay (1994), Artur Spanjolli
“The beauty and the shadow”, romance (1994), Pjetër Arbnori
“Hostages of peace”, novel (1994), Shefki Hysa
“Peccant angel”, poetry (1994), Mirela Rapi
“The living dossiers”, journalism (1995), Agim Musta
“The pergola of the tears”, poetry (1995), Namik Mane
“The homesick horse”, poetry (1996), Arshin Rexha
“The dream stars”, poetry (1996), Etleva Shahini
“The vortex”, novel (1997), Pjetër Arbnori
“The cursed paradise”, novel (1997), Shefki Hysa
“The sold paradise”, poetry (2002), Dylbere Dika
“And the day dies”, tales (2003), Dylbere Dika
“Soul scream”, poetry (2004), Liri Hidërshaj
“Aroma of Chameria” , tales (2004), Shefki Hysa
“The false miracles”, tales (2005), Shefki Hysa
“Spiritual lactacion”, novel (2005), Liri Hidërshaj
“For a little bit happiness”, poetry (2006), Venka Capa
“The narration”, novel(2006), Liri Hidërshaj
“Dialogue for the impossible peace”, journalism (2006), Hysen Haxhiaj
“Family sorrow”, poetry (2006), Mina Çaushi
“With our feet we traveled the world”, novel 2007), Xhulia Xhekaj
“Dodona, the ancient temple of Albania”, research articles (2007), Rasim Bebo
“The regret”, novel (2007), Liri Hidërshaj
“The tears of the rose”, poetries (2008), Kostaq Myrtaj etc, etc.
Extracted from the book “The diplomacy of self-denial”
of writer Shefki Hysa,
Tirana, 2008
Dr. Haim Reitan, Diplomat,
Honorary President
of the Diplomatic Mission
Peace and Prosperity
By Shefki Hysa
I am from Chameria too, I’m Cham!
These are some impressions from the activity
of missionary Dr. Haim Reitan in Albania
Having friends that care of you in the world is the best thing but having friends that are passionate even about your ideals and love your country the same as their country, is a miracle. This is an utopia, a dream somebody can say. This is his right, however I can tell him that sometimes a miracle happens and the dreams become reality and part of this wonderful reality is even our friendship with missionary Dr. Haim Reitan.
But who is this kindhearted man that with his attitude and his actions induces me to think that a person that meets such a friend is fortunate?
Dr. Haim Reitan was born in Istanbul (Turkey) on 20 May 1946. He is a doctor, a diplomat, a translator and publicist.
He is an Italian citizen with Israeli origin. Actually he lives in Bergamo (Italy).
He has finished the college for biology in Bat-yam (daughter of the sea) a city of Israel.
He graduated in medicine in the University of Pavia (Italy) in 1974. Later he has done some specializations for the diseases of the cardio-vascular apparatus, Flebology, Nephrology in Pavia (Italy), in New York, Miami, Arizona and Texas, in USA, and further in London, Rotterdam e Tel Aviv.
He is a member of the Italian Association of Cardiology and the Association of Flebology.
Until 2003 he has worked as a hospital director in some cities of Italy, as a forensic advisor and as a coordinator in some projects within the European Community countries and developing countries like some African countries. During 2004, he has worked as a medical adviser in engineering projects in the construction of the new hospital of Bergamo.
In 2005 and 2006 he has accomplished the role of the coordinator for the development of the relations between Italy and Albania in the medicine field, a thing that he still does due to the good relations that he has created with the officials of the Ministry of Health. He has assisted and continues to give a hand to many people that need to be treated in the Italian hospitals and this is a feature of his character as a man with a spirit of idealist missionary. Meanwhile he continues to direct his own medical center in Bergamo (Italy).
Dr. Haim Reitan speaks some foreign languages, such as the Hebrew language, English, Italian, Spanish, French, Turkish, etc. Now he is trying to learn even the Albanian language. Owing to his ability of polyglot and erudite he has been engaged as an adviser of some well-known political personalities, like ministers, prime ministers and presidents in different countries and with his work he has influenced in the consolidation of their relations with Italy and Israel.
He has been distinguished as a zealous and visionary diplomat, especially in the role of the honor consul and with his intelligence he has influenced in the improvement of the relations between Italy and Israel, especially with countries like Albania, Macedonia and Kosovo, Congo etc.
As a good connoisseur of the politics and the development of the situations in Balkan with cramps, conflicts and inter-ethnic tensions, Dr. Haim Reitan has contributed even in the albanological studies and balkanology. He is giving a big contribution as a translator and publicist with his editions in different media of the world. He is one of the most zealous collaborators of the magazine “The eagle’s wing”, an organ of the NGO: The Cultural Association “Bilal Xhaferri” and the publishing organ: The publishing house “Bilal Xhaferri”.
Recently, Dr. Haim Reitan has encouraged some political- economic lobbies in Italy, Israel, USA, Switzerland and somewhere else to support the development of democracy in Albania, for the recognition of Kosovo independence, for the economic-administrative consolidation of its new state and for the internationalism of the Cham problem. In Albania you can find him with the Cham historian Ibrahim Hoxha, with writers Shefki Hysa and Namik Mane and with other intellectuals, public-spirited toward Albanian national issue. Dr. Haim Reitan is so in love with the Cham issue as to express himself in the Albanian language: I am from Chameria, I’m Cham!”
Dr. Haim Reitan has made friends some personalities of the Albanian politics such as Sali Berisha, Sabri Godo, Fatmir Mediu, Edi Rama, Skënder Gjinushi, Hashim Thaçi etc. One of his projects is the twinning of some Albanian universities with the universities of the most developed countries of Western Europe. With his work, as a missionary of the Albanian issue in the world, he has gained the respect of many intellectual elites in Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia.
Translated by: Lorena Uliu
I am from Chameria too, I’m Cham!
These are some impressions from the activity
of missionary Dr. Haim Reitan in Albania
Having friends that care of you in the world is the best thing but having friends that are passionate even about your ideals and love your country the same as their country, is a miracle. This is an utopia, a dream somebody can say. This is his right, however I can tell him that sometimes a miracle happens and the dreams become reality and part of this wonderful reality is even our friendship with missionary Dr. Haim Reitan.
But who is this kindhearted man that with his attitude and his actions induces me to think that a person that meets such a friend is fortunate?
Dr. Haim Reitan was born in Istanbul (Turkey) on 20 May 1946. He is a doctor, a diplomat, a translator and publicist.
He is an Italian citizen with Israeli origin. Actually he lives in Bergamo (Italy).
He has finished the college for biology in Bat-yam (daughter of the sea) a city of Israel.
He graduated in medicine in the University of Pavia (Italy) in 1974. Later he has done some specializations for the diseases of the cardio-vascular apparatus, Flebology, Nephrology in Pavia (Italy), in New York, Miami, Arizona and Texas, in USA, and further in London, Rotterdam e Tel Aviv.
He is a member of the Italian Association of Cardiology and the Association of Flebology.
Until 2003 he has worked as a hospital director in some cities of Italy, as a forensic advisor and as a coordinator in some projects within the European Community countries and developing countries like some African countries. During 2004, he has worked as a medical adviser in engineering projects in the construction of the new hospital of Bergamo.
In 2005 and 2006 he has accomplished the role of the coordinator for the development of the relations between Italy and Albania in the medicine field, a thing that he still does due to the good relations that he has created with the officials of the Ministry of Health. He has assisted and continues to give a hand to many people that need to be treated in the Italian hospitals and this is a feature of his character as a man with a spirit of idealist missionary. Meanwhile he continues to direct his own medical center in Bergamo (Italy).
Dr. Haim Reitan speaks some foreign languages, such as the Hebrew language, English, Italian, Spanish, French, Turkish, etc. Now he is trying to learn even the Albanian language. Owing to his ability of polyglot and erudite he has been engaged as an adviser of some well-known political personalities, like ministers, prime ministers and presidents in different countries and with his work he has influenced in the consolidation of their relations with Italy and Israel.
He has been distinguished as a zealous and visionary diplomat, especially in the role of the honor consul and with his intelligence he has influenced in the improvement of the relations between Italy and Israel, especially with countries like Albania, Macedonia and Kosovo, Congo etc.
As a good connoisseur of the politics and the development of the situations in Balkan with cramps, conflicts and inter-ethnic tensions, Dr. Haim Reitan has contributed even in the albanological studies and balkanology. He is giving a big contribution as a translator and publicist with his editions in different media of the world. He is one of the most zealous collaborators of the magazine “The eagle’s wing”, an organ of the NGO: The Cultural Association “Bilal Xhaferri” and the publishing organ: The publishing house “Bilal Xhaferri”.
Recently, Dr. Haim Reitan has encouraged some political- economic lobbies in Italy, Israel, USA, Switzerland and somewhere else to support the development of democracy in Albania, for the recognition of Kosovo independence, for the economic-administrative consolidation of its new state and for the internationalism of the Cham problem. In Albania you can find him with the Cham historian Ibrahim Hoxha, with writers Shefki Hysa and Namik Mane and with other intellectuals, public-spirited toward Albanian national issue. Dr. Haim Reitan is so in love with the Cham issue as to express himself in the Albanian language: I am from Chameria, I’m Cham!”
Dr. Haim Reitan has made friends some personalities of the Albanian politics such as Sali Berisha, Sabri Godo, Fatmir Mediu, Edi Rama, Skënder Gjinushi, Hashim Thaçi etc. One of his projects is the twinning of some Albanian universities with the universities of the most developed countries of Western Europe. With his work, as a missionary of the Albanian issue in the world, he has gained the respect of many intellectual elites in Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia.
Translated by: Lorena Uliu
By Arben Çokaj
Dr. Haim Reitan – a contributor
and a friend of the Albanians
Dr. Haim Reitan was born in Istanbul (Turkey) on 20 May 1946. He is a doctor, a diplomat, a translator and publicist. He is an Italian citizen with Israeli origin. Actually he lives in Bergamo and he is an Italian citizen.
Dr. Reitan works with different projects to invest in Albania, which I will explain below, but let’s take a look to his CV. He has finished the college of biology in Bat-yam (daughter of the sea) a city of Israel.
He graduated in medicine in the University of Pavia (Italy) in 1974. Later, he has done some specializations for the diseases of cardio-vascular apparatus, Flebology, Nephrology in Pavia (Italy), in New York, Miami, Arizona and Texas, in USA, and further in London, Rotterdam e Tel Aviv.
He is a member of the Italian Association of Cardiology and the Association of Flebology.
Until 2003 he has worked as a hospital director in some cities of Italy, as a forensic advisor and as a coordinator in some projects within European Community countries and developing countries like some African countries. During 2004, he has worked as a medical adviser in engineering projects in the construction of the new hospital of Bergamo.
In 2005 and 2006 he has accomplished the role of coordinator for the development of relations between Italy and Albania in the medical field, a thing that he still does due to the good relations he has created with Ministry of Health's officials. He has assisted and continues to give a hand to many people that need to be treated in Italian hospitals and this is a feature of his character as a man with a spirit of idealist missionary. Meanwhile he continues to direct his own medical center in Bergamo (Italy).
Dr. Haim Reitan speaks some foreign languages, such as the Hebrew language, English, Italian, Spanish, French, Turkish, etc. Now he is trying to learn even the Albanian language. Owing to his ability of polyglot and erudite he has been engaged as an adviser of some well-known political personalities, like ministers, prime ministers and presidents in different countries and with his work he has influenced in the consolidation of their relations with Italy and Israel.
He has been distinguished as a zealous and visionary diplomat, especially in the role of honorary consul and with his intelligence he has influenced the improvement of relations between Italy and Israel, and countries like Albania, Macedonia and Kosovo, Congo etc. Such people, with a human and diplomatic activity, serve as connective bridges between different nations.
As a good connoisseur of politics and development of situations in Balkan with cramps, conflicts and inter-ethnic tensions, Dr. Haim Reitan has contributed even in the albanological studies and balkanology. He is giving a big contribution as translator and publicist with his editions in different media of the world. He is one of the most zealous collaborators of the magazine “The eagle’s wing”, an organ of the NGO: The Cultural Association “Bilal Xhaferri” and the publishing organ: “Bilal Xhaferri” Publishing.
Recently, Dr. Haim Reitan, Honorary President of the Diplomatic Mission Peace and Prosperity, has encouraged some political-economic lobbies in Italy, Israel, USA, Switzerland and somewhere else to support democracy development in Albania, the recognition of Kosovo independence, the economic-administrative consolidation of its new state and the internationalism of the Cham problem. In Albania you can find him with the Cham historian Ibrahim Hoxha, with the writers Shefki Hysa and Namik Mane and with other intellectuals, public-spirited for the Albanian national issue. Dr. Haim Reitan is so in love with the Cham issue as to express himself in the Albanian language: I am from Chameria, I’m Cham!”
Dr. Haim Reitan has many friends, some of them personalities of Albanian politics such as: Sali Berisha, Sabri Godo, Fatmir Mediu, Edi Rama, Skënder Gjinushi, Hashim Thaçi etc. One of his projects is the twinning of some Albanian universities with the universities of the most developed countries of Western Europe. With his work, as a missionary of the Albanian issue in the world, he has gained the respect by many intellectual elites in Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia.
Dr. Reitan is trying to intercede even in the investment issue, in Italy or widely in Albania, especially the private investments that come from the Italian business or other countries. As everywhere in the world, Albanian market should be opened for such people, with constructive initiatives for our country and our state institutions should be more exposed and careful to approach such people, with considerable knowledge and interest for Albania, so that their will and contribution can be converted into serious and long-term investments in our country.
In the business world the profit is the main thing but it’s more beneficial when the business offered in Albania by people like Dr. Reitan is welcomed and stimulated by Albanian goodwill and hospitality. We should try as much as we can to avoid our social wound- corruption- because devoted people like Dr.Reitan can get tired, can feel insulted and at the end can give themselves up. As Albanians, we should open the door to such constructive attempts and think in a dynamic way for the best forms for the development of our country in the future.
Translated by: Lorena Uliu
Dr. Haim Reitan – a contributor
and a friend of the Albanians
Dr. Haim Reitan was born in Istanbul (Turkey) on 20 May 1946. He is a doctor, a diplomat, a translator and publicist. He is an Italian citizen with Israeli origin. Actually he lives in Bergamo and he is an Italian citizen.
Dr. Reitan works with different projects to invest in Albania, which I will explain below, but let’s take a look to his CV. He has finished the college of biology in Bat-yam (daughter of the sea) a city of Israel.
He graduated in medicine in the University of Pavia (Italy) in 1974. Later, he has done some specializations for the diseases of cardio-vascular apparatus, Flebology, Nephrology in Pavia (Italy), in New York, Miami, Arizona and Texas, in USA, and further in London, Rotterdam e Tel Aviv.
He is a member of the Italian Association of Cardiology and the Association of Flebology.
Until 2003 he has worked as a hospital director in some cities of Italy, as a forensic advisor and as a coordinator in some projects within European Community countries and developing countries like some African countries. During 2004, he has worked as a medical adviser in engineering projects in the construction of the new hospital of Bergamo.
In 2005 and 2006 he has accomplished the role of coordinator for the development of relations between Italy and Albania in the medical field, a thing that he still does due to the good relations he has created with Ministry of Health's officials. He has assisted and continues to give a hand to many people that need to be treated in Italian hospitals and this is a feature of his character as a man with a spirit of idealist missionary. Meanwhile he continues to direct his own medical center in Bergamo (Italy).
Dr. Haim Reitan speaks some foreign languages, such as the Hebrew language, English, Italian, Spanish, French, Turkish, etc. Now he is trying to learn even the Albanian language. Owing to his ability of polyglot and erudite he has been engaged as an adviser of some well-known political personalities, like ministers, prime ministers and presidents in different countries and with his work he has influenced in the consolidation of their relations with Italy and Israel.
He has been distinguished as a zealous and visionary diplomat, especially in the role of honorary consul and with his intelligence he has influenced the improvement of relations between Italy and Israel, and countries like Albania, Macedonia and Kosovo, Congo etc. Such people, with a human and diplomatic activity, serve as connective bridges between different nations.
As a good connoisseur of politics and development of situations in Balkan with cramps, conflicts and inter-ethnic tensions, Dr. Haim Reitan has contributed even in the albanological studies and balkanology. He is giving a big contribution as translator and publicist with his editions in different media of the world. He is one of the most zealous collaborators of the magazine “The eagle’s wing”, an organ of the NGO: The Cultural Association “Bilal Xhaferri” and the publishing organ: “Bilal Xhaferri” Publishing.
Recently, Dr. Haim Reitan, Honorary President of the Diplomatic Mission Peace and Prosperity, has encouraged some political-economic lobbies in Italy, Israel, USA, Switzerland and somewhere else to support democracy development in Albania, the recognition of Kosovo independence, the economic-administrative consolidation of its new state and the internationalism of the Cham problem. In Albania you can find him with the Cham historian Ibrahim Hoxha, with the writers Shefki Hysa and Namik Mane and with other intellectuals, public-spirited for the Albanian national issue. Dr. Haim Reitan is so in love with the Cham issue as to express himself in the Albanian language: I am from Chameria, I’m Cham!”
Dr. Haim Reitan has many friends, some of them personalities of Albanian politics such as: Sali Berisha, Sabri Godo, Fatmir Mediu, Edi Rama, Skënder Gjinushi, Hashim Thaçi etc. One of his projects is the twinning of some Albanian universities with the universities of the most developed countries of Western Europe. With his work, as a missionary of the Albanian issue in the world, he has gained the respect by many intellectual elites in Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia.
Dr. Reitan is trying to intercede even in the investment issue, in Italy or widely in Albania, especially the private investments that come from the Italian business or other countries. As everywhere in the world, Albanian market should be opened for such people, with constructive initiatives for our country and our state institutions should be more exposed and careful to approach such people, with considerable knowledge and interest for Albania, so that their will and contribution can be converted into serious and long-term investments in our country.
In the business world the profit is the main thing but it’s more beneficial when the business offered in Albania by people like Dr. Reitan is welcomed and stimulated by Albanian goodwill and hospitality. We should try as much as we can to avoid our social wound- corruption- because devoted people like Dr.Reitan can get tired, can feel insulted and at the end can give themselves up. As Albanians, we should open the door to such constructive attempts and think in a dynamic way for the best forms for the development of our country in the future.
Translated by: Lorena Uliu
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