Ibrahim Rugova at the University of Toronto
CREES hosted Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, President of the Democratic League of Kosovo and a member of the United Nation's Interim Administrative Council for Kosovo, during September 10-14. The visit was the result of a collaborative effort between CREES, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT), and the Kosova Information Centre in Toronto. This was Dr. Rugova's first visit to Canada and the delegation was pleased with the proceedings. In Ottawa, he met with Foreign Minister John Manley and had a number of other meetings with senior officials at DFAIT and the Canadian International Development Agency. He also took time to visit with the small Kosovar community in Ottawa, most of whom arrived in Canada during the 1999 war in Kosovo.
In Toronto, Dr. Rugova briefly joined the CREES "September Social." In addition to interviews with journalists from The Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail, Dr. Rugova and his chief political advisor, Skender Hyseni, met with U of T President Robert Birgeneau, Munk Centre Director Janice Stein, CREES Director Peter Solomon, and CREES Project Coordinator Robert Austin. Dr. Rugova stressed the need for more opportunities for students from Kosovo to spend time at a western university.
l-r: J. Stein, P. Solomon, R. Birgeneau, I. Rugova, R. Austin, S. Hyseni
Dr. Rugova also held an informal roundtable at the Munk Centre for scholars and graduate students. In his opening remarks, Mr. Rugova thanked the University and the academic community for their constant support, indicating that it is ultimately the intellectuals who uphold the values of civilization during the most difficult times, and added that he looked forward to future cooperation between U of T and the University of Prishtina. He also expressed gratitude to Canada for aiding Kosovo both during and after the war in terms of reconstruction, health care, post-secondary education, and its refugee policy. He spoke with relative satisfaction about the current status and the progress made in Kosovo: the reconstruction efforts and the joint administration, the establishment of 20 governing departments, and the first municipal election in 2000, in which Dr. Rugovas party won 58% of the vote. With respect to economic recovery, Dr. Rugova indicated that the primary focus of the new government, to be elected in November 2001, would be privatization and foreign investment, accompanied by job creation for young Kosovars, who constitute 60% of the population and account for a high rate of unemployment.
Ibrahim Rugova and Peter Brock (History) He then spoke briefly about the question on the minds of all present: the political choices that Kosovo would make under the direction of the Democratic League of Kosovo. "The national objective," stated Dr. Rugova unhesitatingly, "is independence." He added that the principal purpose of the international community is the construction of democratic institutions and economic recovery, while the decision as to the political status would be decided only at the end. He insists on full independence and prompt formal recognition by the international community as the only means of calming the Albanian communities in Macedonia, Montenegro, and in Albania itself. How this would be attained, he did not elucidate.
Maria Banda, International Relations
Presidenti i pare i Kosoves Dr. Ibrahim Rugova ne percjellje te keshilltarit Mr. Hyseni dhe truprojes se tij Mr.Nikqi shkeli token e Torontos pikerisht me 11 Shtator 2001 kur USA u ball me tragjedin...
Te gjithe diplomatet/burreshtetas te vendeve tjera i kthyen andej nga erdhen, perveq Dr.Ibrahim Rugoves...
U nderua edhe me darke nderi, darke kjo e dyta ne historin Canadeze(Mandeles i kishin pas shtrue darke nderi dhe Dr. Ibrahim Rugoves)...
Komuniteti Kanadezo Shqiptare-KOSOVA organizoi gjithashtu darke nderi per ardhjen e tij dhe nje program kulturor...
Si shenje Nderimi i dhuruam nje pllakate me simbole Canadeze! E mirepriti...
Nje numer i njerezve nuk u paraqiten ate nate per shkak te propagandes se udhehequr nga nje Shoqate tjeter ku ne mesin e saj ulen njerez te nivelit me te ulet njerezor...!
I urte dhe perpikte si gjithehere, i pershendeti te gjithe bashkekombasit dhe me fjalimin e tij nuk i la hapsire asnjeriut te pyes...
E Ēudtishme, sikur u lexoj mendjen dhe deshirat e te gjitheve...!Pastaj ju afrua te gjithe tavoline me tavoline dhe te gjitheve u zgjati doren...
Ky gjest i tij i impresionoj shume mysafire nderi te huaj...
Si perfundim, vete Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, Mr. Hyseni dhe Mr. Nikqi e thane disa here se pritja me mire qe i ishte bere deri ne ate kohe!
Lavdi!