How to become a diplomat

(The world of a Missionary of Peace)
In the period when thought and human reason possessed the world around, was also born the desire for good inter-human relationships. So, the wise, intellectuals, despite the banal quarrels for wealth and power, dogfights and battles through endless wars that destroyed the values created by humanity, started to talk for a world in harmony and peace between individuals, families, tribes and human societies, as God had commanded. So, they theorized for a model Earthly Paradise, according to the model of Paradise that holy books preached. Thus in this variety of theorizes, was born the “middle gold” theory which approached to people an ideal of relationships that if it was applied and transformed in demeanor culture, would take toward the so much dreamed, Earthly Paradise. The ideal of “middle gold” was welcomed by many ideologist of this world and became as an essential shaft of many philosophical trends, however most of the time as once and now was and remains simply an ideal. People who accepted this ideal as a way of behavior, that transformed in part of their culture, behaved respectfully to each-other, applied all the codes of ethic of inter-human relationships, so, they demonstrated to be peaceful human. So, tending toward the harmony of relationships, with the desire to estimate not to harm the human creatures, scholars, ideologists, philosophers, as without understanding were transformed into the first diplomats of human world. They were the first ambassadors of peace.
So based on long experience created by the first diplomats of peace, idealists of the “middle gold” theory, located at the core of interpersonal relations, was also born the diplomacy. This is my viewpoint issued from the studies of human knowledge and from my experience. Anyone can also make opponency for its accuracy; however, I insist that the events happened more or less this way, regardless of the period when diplomacy became the main code of interstate relations. Diplomacy by many people is understood simply as an interstate issue and that’s all, but I say it is much more, it is a long process, part of inter-human culture that continually smoothes it and keeps in the parameters of harmony and peace that God has given to his creatures with the model of Paradise.
So, to be a diplomat, according to me, means to be a proponent of Peace, otherwise you are and remain a piece of official that have usurped this feature from your state just for personal privileges. And such a thief official doesn’t care for real diplomacy, doesn’t sacrifice for it, but for his interests may even cause war instead of peace. And such are a good part of today diplomats, irresponsible officials for authority that was given and which they misuse from the ignorance as well as from spiritual wickedness changing the tables of dialogue with the so-called diplomatic incidents, peace with war. Because it is known that where diplomacy ends, war begins. Someone probably doesn’t agree with this way of my reasoning. I have to bring arguments to convince him. For me, not only philosophers, ideologists and theologians, but also artists and all the creators of those values that are called art and literature, are diplomats, ambassadors of culture of a people in front of their cultures. Let’s turn back to antiquity, there where the first treasures of human cultures are. It is known that all wise people bow with respect toward the ancient and modern art, also to the naive and primitive one. All the people all fascinated toward the creations of popular epos, sagas, myths and legends, moreover toward the works of Homer, Iliad of Odyssey or Aeneid of Virgil or many other works of later authors, who with their talent and flair have humbled many kings and emperors. Are not these creators of artistic values a model of ambassador that should be taken as an example in inter-human and interstate relations? For me yes. An example: In the years of communist period that we experienced, our dictatorial country didn’t have diplomatic relations with many western countries like USA etc., however, noone could stop me that secretly find the radio waves “The voice of America” (Zëri i Amerikës), or of BBC and listen with pleasure the music of Beatles, Madonna, Michael Jackson, and many other singers. I didn’t know English and despite this fact, I felt fascinated by their art. Not only me. Many other of my contemporaries. Although our dictatorial state had forbidden the arrival of these diplomats in Albania, we lived secretly with the values of art of these artists, so, with the greatness of these ambassadors of world culture. They were spiritually among us, regardless that dictatorship had forbidden their existence and physical presence.
So, every creator, every artist, author of books, films, music, pictures and sculptures is in itself a born diplomat, an ambassador of the culture of its people toward the world culture. In all the times the flairs of these artist diplomats have mitigated the cruelty of dictators, have triumphed over the tyrannous ignorance with the diplomacy of artistic values and have changed the course of wars toward the tables of peace. Be an artist and for sure you become a diplomat… be a man of knowledge, appropriate the theory “middle gold”, respect and don’t despise, harm people and certainly you have learned to behave as a diplomat! So, it is so easy and simple: Love the culture of your people, also love the cultures of other countries and willy-nilly you are involved in diplomacy! And this is not only my thought, but also my activity. Loving Albanian culture, promoting its values, creating new values with my talent and flair as a journalist and writer, facing the values of art and literature of my people with the values of culture of other people, I gradually learned how to become a diplomat. So, with much creative work in many years of my life, I became ambassador of Albanian culture, as Ismail Kadare, our writer with world values. Someone might oppose that my viewpoint for diplomacy is rather naive. Only politicians and states between them can make diplomacy, piffle of this nature. Instead, I can tell you and argue that all Albanian diplomats all together haven’t done the half of the work that the distinguished writer Ismail Kadare has done with his work for the internationalization of the Albanian issue in the world. Ultimately, without elongated too much, I can tell you that the writer Ismail Kadare, as many personalities of art, world literature and culture, is the ambassador model that represents Albania with dignity. I walk in his footsteps, therefore I see myself in the ranks of diplomats and ambassadors of Peace. I am its missionary and warrior. I am part of the World Earthly Paradise, just as God has commanded!

Shefki Hysa
Writer

Peace cannot be brought by anyone

(Thoughts abort the book with publicistic writings “Personalities – Missionaries of Peace” of the author Paulin Rranzi)

A society, a political class or expressed more specifically, people of any layer, a nation, if they live in their country in peace, make them more noble, more human, more solidary and visionary, and above all, happier. Thus, a distinguished personality, Benedict Spinoza, said: “Peace is not the absence of war, but it is virtue, a certain mental condition, a tendency for good will, confidence, and justice.” In this sense I think that such publicist books like “Personalities – Missionaries of Peace” of Paulin Rranzi, not only are very important for the health and renewal of Albanian society and politics and should be published more, because they unfold the meaningful message that peace in a country can’t be brought by anyone, but are personalities that came out by people of this country that with their name and valuable contribution in certain fields of life create wide spaces for peace, tolerance and understanding. Thanks to a dedicated work in the summary with writings in portrait form, the author has illuminated different sides of the character of 10 Albanian personalities, who are distinguished for their valuable contribution in certain fields of social and political life in Albania and beyond. All the writings are traversed by another interesting message: ardent love for Chameria and Kosovo, which won its independence, but with war against the Serbs, in which as it is known, NATO gave an extraordinary help, because the Serbs exerted an unprecedented genocide against the Albanian population. While the missionaries of peace want the independence of Chameria to come true thanks to dialogue, understanding and tolerance, so, in a word, thanks to peace between parties. The author of the book to structure his work and to gather an abundant material has used, as to say, “up to the core” as main source the outstanding impressions of the tireless writer and journalist of Cham origin, Shefki Hysa, who has known all the personalities of the book and had friendship with them. Thanks to this material, that relates to the overall and diverse life and activity of personalities missionaries of peace, which he has drawn its portraits with mastery and publicistic pathos, the author from this material has managed to gather many situations, expressive details and tenuity. These artistic tools on one hand arouse the interest and curiosity of the reader and on the other hand deepen and make more prominent the lines of the portraits of missionaries of peace. In the writing “Man in love with peace”, dedicated to the former president of Kosovo, deceased Ibrahim Rugova, the reader will be known not only with an intriguing situation, with endless efforts, wisdom, agility of the journalist Shefki Hysa to interview the Gandhi of the Balkans in the summer of 1991, but also with their warm political conversation, from which are revealed the viewpoints of Rugova for Kosovo’s independence, his noble and peace-loving spirit, simplicity, modesty as he reached to make friend the Cham journalist and then introduce him with a rare diplomat of that time, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke. Even in the writing “The dissident that commiserated the political opponents”, dedicated to the deceased Pjetër Arbnori, or as he was called by all, Mandela of the Balkans, is noticed that the vital material that the author used to give form to the figure of this remarkable personality is the result of impressions and memories of the known writer and journalist from Chameria, Shefki Hysa. When the deceased Arbnori became Chairman of Assembly he had close relations with Shefki, who at that time worked at the administration of the assembly. They became friends and collaborated at the field of edition. Thanks to this collaboration, Pjetër Arbnori published some books, which were welcomed by the readers. Meanwhile with his help were brought in homeland the bones of the great Cham writer, Bilal Xhaferri.
In the book, the figure of Arbnori is drawn with love as the figure of a man, artist, with rich spiritual love, noble, approachable and communicative with simple people, debonair, funny and benevolent. But let us leave the word to the author by detaching a short passage from the book that the reader to understand better who was Peter Arbnori: “The writer Pjetër Arbnori felt delighted as a naïve child in front of the book. Burnished it with hands and fell in tears. It was his first edition and he was not very young, but 57 years old. Understandably, he would feel excited by all those things he had passed in his life. He was as human in that behavior, as with that longing ignored even his position as a senior politician. He could have been serious with a bureaucratic mask in his face, but not. He was man. He was a great man.”
After these two very impressive articles in the book follows two other stories that portray two deputies of the Albanian Parliament of Cham origin. The first writing speaks about the deputy Shpëtim Idriz, who just to lobby about the Cham issue is secedes from the group of socialist deputies, that’s why the author entitles this writing “Leader of Chameria- dream and reality”. The figure of this politician is given with the most substantially qualities and virtues as a man that does a lot for his homeland, visionary for its future, persistent and dedicated to the solution of this big issue till in the highest international instances. In the second writing, in the center of the publicistic optics of the author is the other deputy of the assembly, Sir Tahir Muhedini. His motto is transformed in the title of this writing “Our Will – Chameria”. Even the figure of this deputy is given in the book with the characteristic features of patriot, of good and peaceful man, that upon the interests of the homeland doesn’t put anything else. The author doesn’t forget to mention that deputy Muhedini comes from a Cham family massacred by Greek bandits, tells about the tumultuous life of this family when she settles in Albania, so for the sake of Chameria will, both deputies merge both of their parties in a single one, to lobby and try together that the issue of their native country to be resolved as soon as possible.
In the writing “Literature and Man” the author of the book draws the artistic portrait of a personality of Albanian letters, Hysen Sinani, describes trips to Greece in immigration of this man with rich and peaceful spiritual world, although suffered and autodidact, then he submitted the creativity of sir Sinani a quick literary analysis starting from his first novel “George”, that saw the light of publication before the arrival of democracy and pointed out some ideological problems for that time until to numerous translations of this author from different languages, which, however, have in the center the message of peace. With special respect is written in the book for an interesting figure of Cham origin, for Ibrahim Daut Hoxha, for his patriotism related with Chameria and for the unique contribution of this personality in many areas for his hometown. We can say that the writing is a complete biography of this man less known to the reader of today, but with many deeds to his beloved Chameria, starting from the exaltation of brightest figures of Chameria, making poetry for it, until to historic works related with this Albanian territory and the collection of the rich folklore of this territory. He has written a number of works for these issues, which with no doubt will remain in the archives of various works dedicated to Chameria.
Another side of the life of Ibrahim Daut Hoxha is given by the author with historical truth, understandably helped by his close friend, writer and journalist Shefki Hysa, related with numerous difficulties and barriers that Ibrahim was forced to overcome and that the class struggle revealed in front of him. But, that rigid fighter was brave, courageous, enough smart and visionary, therefore he knew to face and threw them away.
At the writing “The art of symbolism of peace” speaks about the life and activity of a Cham known sculptor, Idriz Balani, who lives and continues to create in Durres. The uniqueness of this sculptor and the art that he elicit from his hands is that his works always transmit messages of peace, kindness and tolerance. As we are talking about this, even I that am writing these lines am a friend of Idriz and together we have been on a visit to Kosovo. It’s true what the book tells that Idriz doesn’t detach the love for Chameria from the love for Kosovo. I have seen this with my own eyes and moreover this is proved by many sculptural works that he has created in Kosovo along the works for Chameria, the portrait of her famous son, Bilal Xhaferri etc. Thus, “an intellectual like Idriz Balani knows not only to create, but also to well manage his art, as a unique value in the service of civilization. He knows well that the symbolic of art is expression of peaceful world of the artist and to know to administer an artistic world, means to be, personality – missionary of peace.”
While reading the writing summarized in the book “Poet sacrificed for Chameria”, dedicated to a real artist, to the poet Namik Mane, you don’t have how to not feel emotions interweave with a deep pain for this simple man, this patriot of the highest scale, heart of compassion and with a rare spiritual world, who, as an progeny of a very well known family in Chameria, his heart couldn’t have been pit from where to stemmed love and pain for the evil fate of what the poet calls: “Chameria, Chameria/Pergola with my tear.” The verses of Namik Mane derive precisely from this heart-shaft, because he can’t understand himself without his homeland, for which, the poet says: My chest burns of so many years/From a longing that has no dimensions/And may the oceans be dried/Don’t fit my longing/Only you can keep it inside/In thy chest, Chameria!”
The author of the book unfolds with sever and harsh colors the tableau of life of this man with noble and peaceful spirit, the sufferings and hardships that his family and he suffered from the communist persecution. It is needless to add that his life if we speak of a figurative parallelism closely resembles the fate of his homeland. Being close friend of the legend of Chameria, to the poet Bilal Xhaferri, Namik Mane in the most difficult moments recalls his unforgettable friend, as he recalls his other friends, who stayed close and always helped him. After Bilal, he is the poet who has sacrificed more for homeland and his beloved hometown Chameria, so its contribution will remain unforgettable. In the book is also included a writing entitled “Message of light and peace”, which talks about the creativity and the messages it radiates, of the writer and researcher Sazan Goliku, nickname of the famous Albanian author Pandeli Koçi. Through a detailed and serious analysis by professional side, the author highlights the characteristic features of the poetry of this creator, which is distinguished for its conciseness, diverse thematic it conveys, for the curve of the verse and above all for human and noble ideas that are brought forth in it. A special place in the writing is dedicated to the hard work of Sazan Goliku for the study of literature that publishes in Kosovo, whether for adult or children. Furthermore, Sazan Goliku in this direction remains the initiator of the study of this literature with an abundant, diverse and enviable production. The book is closed with the writing “Writer and origin” where is unfolded the panorama of life and wide and manifold activity of one of the most prominent missionaries of peace, well-known writer and publicist of Cham origin Shefki Hysa. This writing compressed with facts and arguments leaves a scar for the hard and dedicated work that this personality has completed with devotion and dedication for the benefit of Cham issue. After is described the troubled life of Shefki and his family, class persecution and continued efforts of this young man with strong character to be formed each day as an intellectual and personality, the writing later passed on some features of his abundant creativity and in many areas until to numerous translations and edits. Thanks to acquaintances and numerous friends, Shefki thanks to his perseverance accomplishes some very important activities for the Cham issue as bringing the bones of the great poet Bilal Xhaferri in homeland, continuation of the publication of the magazine “Eagle’s wing”, the direction of the Cultural association “Bilal Xhaferri” etc. An innovation was the creation of the international organization “Diplomatic Mission Peace And Prosperity”, conceived as a mission of peace, which lobbies for peace and prosperity in the Balkans and worldwide, according to the best model that offers American democracy for countries in development. Look what is further said in the book for this personality: “It was this new venture, which would focus more the writer Shefki Hysa in the work of tirelessly missionary for Peace and Prosperity. As a missionary of peace, he began to create many new connections with the intellectual world, inside and outside Albania. Thanks to the continuous and full of successes work, his name and biography are included in many prestigious encyclopedia of the world”.
This book of the author Paulin Rranzi that contains enough interesting information and not very familiar for the Albanian reader will surely be browsed with curiosity, because it is in the benefit of the peace and echoes the human and understandable messages, tolerance, cooperation etc., for which nowadays all the layers of Albanian society need more than never.

Sokol Jakova
Writer

A book for peace is a book for God

(Notes about the book “Personalities – Missionaries of Peace” of the publicist Paulin Rranzi)

While reading the book of the publicist Paulin Rranzi, Personalities – Missionaries of Peace, I reminded the word of the president John Kennedy: “If humanity does not vanish war, war will vanish humanity”. This prophetic warning of this great missionary of peace make us read with honor and curiosity every book, article or literary work that is dedicated to peace secular aspiration of men in every place of the world. The author of this book had clear the idea that the existence and human development can not be understand without the understanding and agreement between the members of a family, of a social group and especially between nations and states. The idea of peace is inseparable by the ontological concept of freedom. The author has come to the conclusion that there can be no real peace between the right and injustice, between the oppressed and oppressor, between the hungry people and affluent. Thus, in the presentation of life and missionary activity of personalities that are presented in this book, the author emphasizes their real values as human who at the core of activity and creativity have the ideal of peace and freedom, prosperity and social harmony. It is true that the term “war for peace” can be called contradictory but means and ways in which is fought have determined the degree of humanism and rationality with which is intended the realization of peace ideal.
The book is opened with the writing “Men in love with peace (Gandhi of the Balkans – Ibrahim Rugova)” that breaks down the features and outlook of Kosovo leader through the meeting and interview with the writer and journalist Shefki Hysa. Ibrahim Rugova, till in the first steps of his political activity tried to solve in peaceful way the big problem of the existence of his people. Even though in front of a politic of a chauvinist – communist – fascist state, he stayed with consistency, without being swayed by the visible and invisible whirlpool of the policy and diplomacy traditionally rooted with anti Albanian direction. He has been a follower of the paradigm of the great ancient philosopher, Sokrati: Peace with others comes only from inner peace, so, from the lack of violent impulse and aggressive tendencies of the individual or a nation.” From another point of view is analyzed the political and literary personality of Pjeter Arbnori, who although suffered almost 30 years the calvary through the jails of dictatorship, kept the kindness and love for democratic and human peace and spirit even when he was elected and worked on top of Albanian state. The figure of the writer Bilal Xhaferri, that traverses as a golden thread the pages of this book, is that of man who held on his back since birth, strikes of destiny and our history. He made no error, no fault, only if it is called so being an untired worker, free thinker, brilliant creator of higher levels of Albanian literature, militant to death for the overthrow of stalinist – enverist dictatorship in Albania and for liberation of Kosovo from Serbian bloody hooves. Peaceful spirit and soul of freedom were merged into a single, to be deposited as hot magma into the solid structures of the verses and stories in his books.
Chameria, Albanian province cruelly martyred and without nation, is on the focus of this book through confessions for some personalities that are subject of the writings. But we don’t encounter any spirit of revenge and hatred for the perpetrators of genocide toward cham population. It is required only justice on the basis of acts and documents universally approved and especially by the united Europe, where we tend to be part of it formally. So, there can be no peace, emphasizes the author Paulin Rranzi, without being put into place the justice; can not be maintained the normality and dignity of a nation, where killers are honored and are raised memorials and their sons still make open calls for war and carnage. The writer Hysen Sinani notes in the preface of the book that “there are represented all the regions, from south to central Albania and till to Kosovo”. This geographical range gives the book Albanian size and expresses the great truth of the peaceful character of the Albanians even in the most severe existential conditions and circumstances.
When finished reading the book of Paulin Rranzi, you are convinced that only a democracy lively and rooted in the soul of the people can allow an essential and quiet cleaning, therefore the achievement of a peace, where true freedom flourishes.

Lekë Mandreja
Writer

Characters – the first Albanian Missionaries of Peace

(Impressions from the book “Personalities – Missionaries of Peace” of the author Paulin Rranzi)

The book “Personalities – Missionaries of Peace of the author Paulin Rranzi surprised me very much. It was really amazing the way that how this young author compare characters from different fields of life and make them speak the same international language: Language of Peace.
Once finished reading the book you could not stay without saying: Yes, these are the Albanian model of warriors of peace! These are the first Albanian missionaries for peace, the author Paulin Rranzi himself, who resemble the best models of warriors of peace worldwide. These are also the first characters of Albanian contemporary literature dedicated to the world peace.
This reasoning gives the right to come to the conclusion that finally even in Albanian modern literature blew the wind of Peace messages sender. The epoch of Skanderbeg, our national hero, who the old and new west literature reflect in many works as a great warrior, savior of European civilization, savior of human Peace, is being regenerated. Who are these lucky personalities that were transformed into first Albanian characters dedicated to Peace? I will not exaggerate if I say that, if not all, the majority of them are my acquaintance or friends. Let me start with the president Ibrahim Rugova. Once he was one of the best writers of Kosovo, my contemporary and colleague. He leaded The League of Writers and Artists of Kosovo and meanwhile I was chairman of The League of Writers and Artists of Albania.
Rugova was a prominent activist in the politics of Kosovo. Even I didn’t remain back in Albanian politics. But more than politics, what united me and Rugova was the literary creativity, ideals to serve humanity as warriors of pen. Be understood that Rugova worked a lot as a politician till he transformed in the symbol of Peace for Kosovo and the Balkans, the same as Gandhi for India. It is a great honor for the young author Paulin Rranzi, who has treated the figure of Rugova under the viewpoint of the missionary of peace.
Pjetër Arbnori, Mandela of the Balkans, as the author qualifies him, was one of the most prominent men that Albanian nation has brought out in XX century. In the early ‘90th he was deputy of Democratic Party, whereas I was deputy of Social Party. He was dissident writer that came from the prison of former communist dictatorship, whereas I was a writer that seemed to have served communism. As to say, we were political opponents; however we became friends, especially during the years 92-96, when he was chairman of the Assembly of Albania. In that period a part of democrats behaved roughly with former communists, the same as the communists of the years 45 behaved with former rich people, representatives of the reversed former classes.
On the contrary, Pjetër Arbnori behaved friendly with me, treated me as an opponent of political beliefs not as an enemy, as some others tried to act. An example: I remember that the publisher Shefki Hysa, our mutual friend, asked me to do a foreword for the book of new talent and I did it. The book was published with my foreword and was welcomed by the readers. It was also reflected in media and television. Then, TVSH worked as the only television in Albania. A young journalist in one of TV shows treated the values of the book, adhering my evaluations for the author in the foreword that accompanied the edition. For this action the journalist was fired from work with the motivation as a propagandistic of a figure that belonged former communist regime.
Poor journalist complained to the publisher Shefki Hysa and he, indignant rightly, discussed the problem with his friend Pjetër Arbnori, chairman of Assembly, institution from which depended RTSH. Pjetër Arbnori, after listening to his friend Shefki Hysa, said that Dritëro Agolli with his values as a writer, despite left beliefs as human, was a national wealth that didn’t deserve to be infringed, on the contrary should be protected and evaluated. He immediately called the director of TVSH and ordered to bring back to work the journalist, and even to do a special emission for the figure of the writer Dritëro Agolli. And so happened.
This was Pjetër Arbnori, a figure that with his work fed social peace, didn’t undermine it as did some fanatics representatives of Democratic Party that urged class hatred.
It is known that I belonged to communism, however I wasn’t a blind fanatic of communist regime, I was part of its utopia, part of that beautiful dream, of those ideals that communists had to transform the world in a social paradise where would predominate peace and human equality that was never realized in practice. Communist ideals were misused by the communist dictators and in the name of those ideals was raped intelligence and political opponents, was exerted genocide against a part of humanity. I was a writer, I didn’t belong repressive clans of former dictatorship. My creativity is censored from the communist censorship, maybe a little bit, but is censored the same as the dissident literature of Pjetër Arbnori, Bilal Xhaferri and many other writers, although I was also chairman of the League of Writers and Artists of Albania. I was Dritëro Agolli, I was myself, I was part of the world of creators that in soul and in actions are opponents of all powers. Based on my ideals as a writer, despite the directives of the former communist regime, I have helped and encouraged talents like the writer Namik Mane, former political persecuted, the writer Shefki Hysa (without mentioning some others), who are two of the most characteristic characters of the book “Personalities – Missionaries of Peace” of the author Paulin Rranzi.
The figure of my friend Shefki Hysa unites all the characters in this book. He is the founder of all this Odysseus that Paulin describes, is not only missionary, but head missionary of this mission shaped in the form of a publication in the service of Peace. I really estimate his figure, as he estimates me. Dritëro Agolli has served Peace with his pen. And if one day the author decided to publish a second volume of this publication, I have the belief that my personality would be included in the book as a message sender of Peace. Ask my precious storyteller Shefki Hysa for this and I am sure he will prove my hypothesis. He will prove it that as a talented writer belong to divine race of creators and like all divine knows very well the character of his friends. I am one of his declared friends. I am Dritëro Agolli. I am myself. I could have been part of Democratic Party, as many former communists. I didn’t. I accepted to remain socialist, part of better people that tend from left beliefs. The same as progressive leftists of the entire world who aspire social peace. I never betrayed my beliefs and ideals, I never went after a power for any personal benefit, on the contrary I put in the service of my nation, as the best Albanian democrats that turned the sight toward European civilization.
So am I, Dritëro Agolli, missionary of peace, that’s why I attentively read the book “Personalities – Missionaries of Peace”, that’s why I enthusiastically wrote these rows for its rare values. I am Dritëro Agolli, a missionary of peace still undeclared. Do not forget. Respect the warriors of peace for their sacrifices in the service of worldwide future paradise.

Dritëro Agolli
Writer

Lekë Mandreja, Albanian Journalist

Ambassador Lekë Mandreja, Albanian Journalist and Writer

The world of Missionaries of Peace

(Notes about the book “Personalities – Missionaries of Peace” of the author Paulin Rranzi)

Since on the top, it must be said that the book “Personalities – Missionaries of Peace”, of the author Paulin Rranzi, is somehow special for its genre and original by its form and the treatment of the matter. The volume is modest; in it are included 10 titles of writings. They are as a bouquet of flowers from the Albanian land, each of them with its special beauty, almost different and unlike, as in a mosaic where the particularities of each colour gives the appearance of the whole. This bouquet is tied with a blue ribbon in which are written the words: Peace, love, harmony and goodness. What makes this book special is the variety of individualities, qualities and peculiarities that are distinguished in the activities that they conduct in their lives. We find there personalities of politics as the unforgettable Ibrahim Rugova, Pjeter Arbnori, new politicians Shpetim Idrizi and Tahir Muhedini, writers and artists with prominent creativity like Hysen Sinani, the poets Namik Mane and Sazan Goliku, the writer and social veprimtari Shefki Hysa and the well known sculptor Idriz Balani. The uniqueness of the author is the typology of the writing and the conveying to the reader truthfully and with realism, simple without the exaggerations of philosophy, point of views and actions of these personalities. Ibrahim Rugova and Pjetër Arbnori, are shown through personal impressions, friendship, connections and affection that the writer Shefki Hysa has had for them, but let us understand each other, the author is not only the person who conveys the narration of Hysa, but also a careful analyst that knows to distinguish the special from the general and present it with the art of the word. These personalities are seen in some partial aspects and not with the completeness of their work, are chosen those aspects that being reflected give us their full image. The readers, despite what they know about the life of these personalities that have entered in the frontier of the legend, are also told and shown as in a film watched for the first time, unknown features and qualities that characterize the substance, essence of philosophy and their humanism. Unlike Balkan atavistic mentality of revenge and national hatred: they have suffered, but don’t hate, are persecuted but they forgive the persecutors, are denied the rights, civil freedom and the right of the speech but they don’t want and don’t aspire the same for their beginner. All their work and life radiate peace, harmony, humanism, goodness and human love. As such they become an example to be followed and source of inspiration for the reader and future generation. In some other writings, the author hum the gender of the essay, which relies on the impressions and meditative reflections from the reading of their creativity and free interpretation, outside the framework of academic canons, thus highlighting the inherent values in that creativity. The essays “The poet sacrificed for Chameria” (Poeti i sakrifikuar per Çamërinë) and “Messages of light and peace” (Mesazhe drite dhe paqeje), dedicated to the poets Namik Mane and Sazan Goliku, are research studies where the analysis is harmonized with the synthesis which led to logical conclusions about the multi-faceted poetic and artistic values, and the philosophical messages which convey to the reader with their creativity this two poets with different individualities.
Thus, is conveyed to the reader the message of their creativity and the curiosity is revived to get acquainted even closer and better with the deed of these two authors. In other writings as “A life full of challenges”, dedicated to the researcher, historian, encyclopaedist and the folklorist Ibrahim Hoxha and the sculptor Idriz Balani, the author in writing uses the monographic narration, with simple style, but unravel and dynamic, revealing page after page the titanic intellectual and human greatness and the efforts, and why not, heroic efforts of Ibrahim Hoxha, the cursed man by the regime, who with work and extremely human efforts overcame the deprivations, discriminations, scorn, unemployment and poverty, he succeeded to create the opus of his deed with many values. Despite the qualities and the individual character inherited by the family he was given this force by the affection and dedication for Chameria and national issue. After this narration the reader remains surprised and with multiplied esteem and appreciation for this personality of Chameria. With such warm and esteeming notes is presented also the creator of many sculptural deeds, Idriz Balani.
Maybe it must have been said since the very begging that the Cham writer and activist, Shefki Hysa, for the sake of relations, fellowship and personal friendship with Mr. Paulin Rranzi, has given to Chameria and Chams another friend. Not an ordinary friend but a creator and activist, a missionary of peace which is the aspiration of everyone from us who have experienced the horrors of the war. This healthy friendship has already given its fruits which are reflected in this publication. From ten writings in total that has the book with 170 pages; six titles which make quite one hundred pages are dedicated to Chameria. The author handles the Cham cause and issue as an inherent, evident and actual problem that seeks solution and that this community has all the right in its side. He handles Cham issue through experiencing the pain for the unprecedented genocide, human remorse for the sufferings and afflictions this community suffered, with the dedication of the missionary of peace and he embed this sensation in the reader’s mind and heart, as a memory which should not be ruined, as a personal experience of the afflictions and sufferings that Chameria suffered, without reason, but just because they were Albanians! In the book Chameria is a linking leitmotif, it is elsewhere, even when there is talked about Dr. Rugova, even about for the Mandela of Balkans, Pjetër Arbnori and some more when is talked about personalities who are sons of this region.
In the elaboration of the political platform of the two parties which were joined together later on to form PDIU, a new political formation, qualitatively more prominent and more representative and worldwide spectrum, the author fully reveals the way and the work for the resolution of this cause. Making this program known for the reader, in a certain way are put under responsibility the political leaders of this formation for the obligation of implementing it, but also as a permanent commitment toward their electorate which is going to appreciate them under this base.
Even though there is not a special handling about Bilal Xhaferri, the prominent figure of the Albanian anticommunist dissident intellectual, he is present and appears as a far in the time obscurity in which he lived. The writer Shefki Hysa was dedicated to this son of Chameria not only by giving back from America his bones to rest in homeland, but also as a sequential of his patriot and political will through the publishing of the magazine “Eagle’s Wing” (Krahu i Shqiponjës).
In the end, I cannot let without mentioning that the author, despite the unravel style in function of elaborating the figure of every personality, is distinguished for the usage of the literary language, with correctness and wealthy lexicon that make the reading fluent and more pleasant.
The book “Personalities – Missionaries of Peace” (Personalitete – Misionarë të Paqes), is an achievement of the author Paulin Rranzi. I believe that as the first swallow, it will be followed by other books in service of peace and the prosperity of our nation.

Prof. Dr. Resmi Osmani

The model of future intellectual

The Ambassador Lekë Mandreja

Lekë Ndue Mandreja was born in Rrëshen on 31 August 1959. He comes by a family with patriotic traditions. He spent his childhood on his birthplace, was grown up fed with the best traditions of the refractory Mirdita region during centuries from all kinds of invaders. He finished his primary school, 8-year school and high school in his birthplace. His father, Ndue Mandreja, educated for military art, was fired from his job by the communist dictatorship structures in 1955 for political reasons as great-grandson of the first assistant of the king Ahmet Zogu and since that time he worked in different mining of the country. Leka, after carried out the job experience, 12 months worker at Spaç mining, in 1978 started university studies in Institute of Agriculture of Kamza for Forest Engineering. After finishing university, he was appointed as a specialist in the forest enterprise of Mirdita.
In 1985 he made his postgraduate studies in the field of forests.
In 1987 he made his postgraduate studies in the field of city decoration, to be acquainted and to grow up decorative flowers.
In 1990 was appointed director of the Communal Enterprise Dwellings of Mirdita.
In 1993 was elected placeman of the Party Liberal Democratic Union in Mirdita.
In 1995 he emigrated in Italy with the desire to have a better living.
In 1996, Lekë Mandreja got married and together with his wife they have a son, who was born on 1 March 1997, in the second year of their marriage. His wife has the university degree, graduated for economy – finance – bank and has carried out some different post graduating courses.
In 2007 Lekë Mandreja came back from emigration and was appointed director of the Directory of Forest Service in Rrëshen, since June 2010.
Currently, he is engaged in business with the desire to strengthen his own family economy and to help somehow as a patriot Albanian economy.
Lekë Mandreja is not just an ardent patriot, but also an intellectual devoted toward democratic processes and the economic development of Albania.
He writes and publishes different articles with social problematic and critic writings for art and literature as well.
In 2011, Leka entered in the best collaborators’ queues of the prestigious American-Albanian magazine “Eagle’s Wing” (Krahu i Shqiponjë). Now he is one of the most experienced journalists in the field of protecting human rights. He is one of the most dedicated activists of Chameria Cultural Community.
By nature Lekë Mandreja is an idealist missionary dedicated toward world peace and he tries hard to affect somehow for the construction of a legal state in Albania under the standards of American democracy. Leka is charitable as well. He tries to help social layers in need.
As an intellectual in pursuit the excellence in human and for his nature as charitable missionary, Lekë Mandreja joined in 1012 the staff of the international lobbying organization Diplomatic Mission Peace and Prosperity to contribute even more alongside the Peace warriors. He is now one of the most determined activists in protecting civil human rights everywhere in the world. Lekë Mandreja is vice chairman and Goodwill Ambassador of this mission which lobbies for Peace in the Balkans and World, offering to the developing countries the model of American democracy as the best model for peace and prosperity.

Endri Hysa