State takes under protection the Residence of the Historic President Dr. Ibrahim Rugova

27.04.2016

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Kujtim Shala, has visited today the "Residence of the President Dr. Ibrahim Rugova " and handed in to the family of President Ibrahim Rugova the MCYS decision, according to which, this construction is included in the List of Cultural Heritage for Temporary Protection.

On this occasion, Minister Shala said that this building has an exceptional national value and as such shall have the care and support of the Kosovo institutions, as it relates to memory and our journey toward freedom, democracy and independence.

Also, Minister Shala said that inside the "Residence of the President Dr. Ibrahim Rugova "outstanding historical, artistic and political values are preserved, which the President used to cultivate with taste of culture, so they should be open to visitors.

Further, Minister Shala said that Rugov’s deed and work, is a guidance and permanent value for building up a modern and European Kosovo.

Fane Rugova, the wife of the President Ibrahim Rugova, thanked Minister Shala for this highly significant act, and said that Kosovo needs this building, so it should be open to the public.

The decision to include the "Residence of the President Dr. Ibrahim Rugova " in the List of Cultural Heritage for Temporary Protection is taken based on the request of the Rugova’s family addressed to the Department of Cultural Heritage and Cultural Heritage Regional Centre in Prishtina.

In this building, from 1993 has been settled President Rugova and his family, and until January 2006, he has carried out his official state-building activities for Kosovo.

The working group, who has reviewed the request of the family and opening of the building to the public, thus has made it possible for people to have visits and get to know to the life and work of the Historic President of Kosovo, dr. Ibrahim Rugova. In reviewing the documents, it has been concluded that there are 5 areas that will fall under protection: on the ground floor, there is the reception hall, main hall, with additional spaces, the President’s work Cabinet, the Chamber of Crystals and Solemn hall. The latter known as hall in which meetings of “the Unity Group’ were held, led by the President Ibrahim Rugova, meetings with the President Martti Ahtisaari, which marks the beginning of a dialogue on the final status of Kosovo, which culminated with the declaration of Independence of Kosovo on 17 February 2016.

Inside the "Residence of the President Dr. Ibrahim Rugova " there are paintings, numerous photographs of President Rugova meetings with personalities of the country and overseas. The stone in the chimney of the President’s work Cabinet has been crafted by President Rugova’s grandfather. This stone was crafted in 1910 as part of the tower, built in the early 1900s. Interior of the reception Hall is treated with high artistic level. Hall’s ceilings are made of wood carving in the traditional spirit of the Kosovo town houses. The group concludes that these areas possess exceptional value of movable heritage of interest to the country.

Spaces and the building itself "Residence of the President Dr. Ibrahim Rugova " is characterized by historical, social and rarity values.

Historical values: In this house from 1993 until January 21, 2006, when he passed away, lived and worked President Dr. Ibrahim Rugova.

During the years 1996 to 1999 in this residence President Rugova held intensive meetings with US ambassadors Richard Holbrooke, Christopher Hill, US Senator Bob Dole, the British Ambassador Brian Donnelly, German Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger, Austrian ambassadors Wolfgang Petritsch and Albert Rohan, that organized the Conference of Rambouillet, which resulted in the commencement of the NATO bombing against Serbia on March 24, 1999 and eventually led to freedom of Kosovo on June 12, 1999.

In November 2005, in this residence was held the first meeting of the Unity Team of Kosovo, led by President Rugova, President Marti Ahtisaari, which marks the beginning of a dialogue on the final status of Kosovo, and which culminated with the declaration of independence Kosovo on February 17, 2008.

Social Values: From 1993 to January 21, 2006, the historic President of Kosovo, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, in this residence held meetings with Kosovo's political structures and with international diplomats and statesmen, with the aim of internationalization of the issue of Kosovo.

The values of rarity: the first Presidential building, before and after the war in Kosovo.

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