Fifth year of the Cultural Calendar Kosovo-Albania

The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports of the Republic of Kosovo, Kujtim Gashi and the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Albania, Mirela Kumbaro-Furxhi, at the premises of the Albanian League of Prizren, has today signed the Protocol of Cooperation for the Annual Joint Cultural Calendar year in a row.

Through this Act, the two countries have agreed to include cultural activities in a joint calendar, which is based on the "Joint Declaration on Cooperation and Strategic Partnership between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of Kosovo" signed in Prizren on January 11, 2014.

This year's joint cultural calendar will carry out activities in the field of heritage related to the digitization of heritage and training and education in the field of restoration and conservation; exhibitions in the field of archeology and museums, in the field of theaters will be held the nationwide theater festival and will be performed theatrical performances both in Kosovo and in Albania, in the field of film will be given premieres of five films. In the field of visual arts will be realized an exhibition in Albania. This activity will be carried by the respective national cultural institutions.

Minister Kujtim Gashi considered the signing of this calendar as very important day for both countries. "It is a very special day for Kosovo and Albania. We have ideated the annual cultural calendar in a special location in our joint house. This act opens new paths of cooperation between Kosovo and Albania", the minister said.

Minister Gashi has stated that all institutions of culture and heritage will have joint activitiesm, both in Kosovo and in Albania.

"I think this is a moment that our two institutions are in charge of the organization without touching the independent part of the cultural institutions. I believe that this year is more special because we focused on specific activities", said Gashi, also giving an assessment of the work of Minister Kumbaro in relation to lobbying for Kosovo's membership in UNESCO.

On the other hand, the Minister of Culture of Albania, Mirela Kumbaro-Furxhi, said that culture best proves that there is no other border between Kosovo and Albania than the administrative ones.

"It is for me the fifth year as Minister of Culture to sign this calendar, but acknowledging what also the minister said that this is a formalization of a cooperation activity that in the first place credits go to the institutions of culture", said the minister.

She had an appreciation for the cultural institutions and the independent cultural scene of Kosovo. "We are aware about the energy that the independent scene of Kosovo has and we want to have cooperation with but also to learn more because the independent scene in Tirana does not have the same maturity. Borders are administrative and culture is like rivers. Rivers when crossing the water line do not ask whether there is a limit. We must create the same environment for culture", said Kumbaro.

Both ministers said that the concept of the common calendar is open and will include all the countries where Albanians reside.

"The common cultural calendar concept is an open scene with Macedonia, Montenegro, certainly Greece, but not only", concluded the Albanian Minister.