Prime Minister Mustafa: Archaeological heritage in Ulpiana, Kosovo and all mankind’s special value

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, attended the opening ceremony of the Archaeological Park "Ulpiana".

In this ceremony, which was also attended by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Kujtim Shala, mayor of Gracanica, Vladeta Kostic, the French Ambassador Didier Chabert, archaeologists, scholars and students abound in this area, Prime Minister Mustafa, said that Kosovo's cultural heritage is the value of each of its citizens.

"The cultural heritage of Kosovo is a value of Kosovo and each of its citizens. It is a world’s value too, because it has universal values for all mankind. Therefore, every citizen should preserve cultural heritage in Kosovo, enjoy and relish it. Kosovo is proud of its cultural heritage which derives from the old times up to the present. Kosovo is also proud of its diverse heritage created over millennia and past centuries by all the people who lived in these areas. This is the heritage of Kosovo and must be protected, preserved as it belongs to all of us", said the Prime Minister.

Further, Prime Minister Mustafa said that Kosovo's cultural heritage and archaeological heritage like this in Ulpiana, has been and remains a priority of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo.

"The Government of the Republic of Kosovo and the Ministry of Culture, will continue to support cultural heritage institutions, raising the budget and regulating the field of cultural heritage laws, bylaws, institutional reform strategies", added the prime minister.

Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, along with Minister Shala, Mayor Kostic and Ambassador Chabert unveiled the slab of the Archaeological Park.

Full Speech of Prime Minister Mustafa

Today we are in Ulpiana, a Roman municipal in the center of ancient Dardania, Dardania of our ancestors, to announce officially this well known archaeological site as the first Archaeological Park in Kosovo.

Today, on the day of the Harvest Supper, a traditional feast of Kosovo, officially inaugurated by the President of Kosovo, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, we are celebrating the establishment of the archaeological park in the center of ancient Dardania.

Kosovo's cultural heritage and archaeological heritage in Ulpianë has been and remains a priority of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo. Last year the Ministry of Culture has increased the budget for cultural heritage for 23 percent, with concrete requirements and specific projects. This is one of the projects, along with many other projects with archeological sites, like the one in Dersnik, with towers like the one in Prizren, Novo Brdo, Harilaq, with museums, towers, with old houses, with publications in the field of heritage and many other activities.

Kosovo's cultural heritage is a value of Kosovo and value of each of its citizens. It is a world’s value too, because it has universal values for all mankind. Therefore, every citizen should preserve cultural heritage in Kosovo, enjoy and relish it. Kosovo is proud of its cultural heritage which derives from the old times up to the present. Kosovo is also proud of its diverse heritage created over millennia and past centuries by all the people who lived in these areas. This is the heritage of Kosovo and must be protected, preserved as it belongs to all of us.

A long time ago, when these Roman walls were built, in this blessed land had lived and worked the ancient Dardans, our ancestors and before them also other people of Neolithic, Paleolithic and prehistory era. All layers of cultural heritage are the cultural heritage of Kosovo. It remains for you, new archaeologists, anthropologists and historians of Kosovo, to seek, know, study and present it to the world. I know that you have a professional motto: "Dig to show". I believe that this motto will guide you to the good and rewarding work and tell the whole world who we are and who we were.

The Archaeological Park in Ulpiana is an example of work projected, well managed and carried out properly by the Institutions of the Republic of Kosovo. Stages of its development will continue and the Government of the Republic of Kosovo will support this work. The Government of the Republic of Kosovo and the Ministry of Culture, will continue to support cultural heritage institutions, raising the budget and regulating the cultural heritage laws, bylaws, institutional reform strategies. Indubitably, in the future we expect concrete results from institutions, as in such projects, as well as publications and promotions of their work to show the whole world who we are and where we come from.

Finally, I want to thank each and everyone for the hard work on this project, starting from the Minister Shala and his cabinet, director Ms. Alui, director of the Institute, Mr. Rexha, the head of excavations, Mr. Berisha, architect, Ms. Jerliu and all archaeologists, administrators, students and other employees, for the implementation of the first phase of the Archaeological Park.

Congratulations!