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