"History of Albanians during the 20th century" is published

The Institute of History at the Academy of Albanian Studies inaugurated today the complete publication in five volumes "History of Albanians during the 20th century".

For several years, 46 researchers from Tirana, Prishtina, Tetova and the diaspora worked for this publication.

President Bajram Begaj also participated in this gathering of historians, who emphasized that history brings us lessons to build the present and the future, avoiding the repetition of mistakes.

Mr. Begaj said that in addition to the formation of the identity of the Albanian people, history brings many lessons for today, so that the mistakes of the past are not repeated during the construction of the future.

Writing history without complexities, with complete facts, especially for the second half of the 20th century, stressed President Begaj, is of special importance for Albania.

"We went through one of the darkest periods, where not only history was deformed, but also the very spirit of the Albanians. Father Zef Plumbi once wrote in the book "Live only for me show" that we should not forget what happened, nor minimize it, relativizing evil. We have to make sure that the past is not repeated, that's why memory is very important", said President Begaj.

Historians emphasized that the challenge was the systematic and professional study of the history of the 20th century, which has been most deformed by the intervention of politics and the ideology of the communist regime.

This publication brings a complete picture of the developments in the last century, says Professor Beqir Meta, as well as marks the complete break with the previous historiography inherited from the communist regime, for all stages; from turn-of-the-century nationalism, Independence, the 1920s, the Kingdom, World War II, the communist regime, its fall, and the transition to democracy. Kosovo is an integral part of this study, he emphasized.

"Especially for Kosovo, events, factors and actors have been well analyzed, such as the Kosovo Committee, which has also been analyzed in relation to the Albanian state, as has never been done before. Likewise, the events in Kosovo during the Second World War, the state administration that was established there, or the educational system that was created there, the protection of the civilian population from the nationalist forces in a difficult situation, the reconquest of Kosovo, The fifth volume includes the evolution of status of Kosovo and Serbian violence in Kosovo, its consequences", said researcher Meta.

The speakers emphasized that the European future of Albania is based on the best values ​​of the Albanians, so historical truths are important to be carefully researched and brought to light.

The researcher and director of the Institute of History at the Academy of Albanian Studies, professor Afrim Krasniqi, said that the book is the fruit of complete academic freedom and that the authors have brought a publication with exceptional scientific value, leaving aside political efforts to influenced the historiography.

"The publication we bring is not and does not impose an official History of Albania. There cannot be an official History of Albania. Perhaps, and certainly not the exhaustive edition, there will certainly be other editions in the future. But it is a scientific product and science is always open for debate, for new arguments and reference sources, for alternative approaches and this is good for history in an open society", said Mr. Krasniqi.

Authors of the publication "History of Albanians during the 20th century" are a large number of researchers from Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and the diaspora.

The speakers emphasized that they have worked with dedication and professionalism for several years on a multitude of Serbian, Bulgarian, Russian, Macedonian, American, Italian, British, French archival sources, in addition to Albania's own documentary archives, which have been closed and unused. during the communist regime./ VOA/