In the show “Topic of the Day” directed by journalist Arbër Hitaj, the situation of the Albanians in the Presheva Valley was discussed, where academician Prof. Dr. Rescue Memishi.
Academician Memishi has raised concern about the situation of Albanians in the Presheva Valley, stressing that the policy of passivating addresses is denying them the right to identity and participation in elections.
In this context, Memishi has made a direct appeal to the governments of Albania and Kosovo to engage more to bring investments and businesses to the region.
He warned that this practice, inherited from the Serbian governments, is forcing young Albanians to leave their homeland due to a lack of perspective.
“Their right is being violated daily by the Vučić regime, due to a policy followed to force them to leave and to discourage them from living in the Preševo Valley..
According to Memish, one of the biggest problems is the passivation of addresses, which denies citizens the right to continue documents as residents of Presheva.
This leads to the loss of identity and fictitiously reduces the number of Albanians in the elections, making it impossible for them to participate in the voting process. Also, the lack of a residential address makes it impossible for every citizen to get a job.
“You cannot have an identity that you are Albanian and this, when the moment of elections comes, fictitiously reduces the number of Albanians and makes it impossible for them to participate in the voting process,” he said. adding that“the lack of a residential address makes it impossible for every citizen to be employed.
The academician added that this policy was inherited from previous Serbian governments and that these provinces lack funding, jobs and public investment.
He warned that the situation is serious, as the Albanian youth, as soon as they finish high school, see no prospects and leave for emigration.
“In Presevo, Bujanoc and Medvej there is no financing, no jobs, but the worst is the passivation of addressesMemishi emphasized.
He explained that without a residential address, citizens cannot even obtain a means of identification such as a passport.
He also warned that the Albanian youth, as soon as they finish high school, see no prospects and leave for emigration.
Another big problem, according to Memish, is the non-recognition of diplomas of the Republic of Kosovo, which prevents young Albanians from continuing their studies or getting employed.
“When you do not have a residential address, the person cannot even carry an identification tool such as a passport,” – Memishi explained, adding that this behavior is the same as Serbian policies before the 90s.
The academic recalled that the European Union has also reacted to this issue, but without managing to stop the process of passivation, which is very harmful. The number of Albanians in these provinces is estimated at over 60,000, but a large part is emigrating and this number is increasing every year.
“Even from the European Union, we have had a reaction, but it has not been possible to stop this process, which is very harmful“, said Memishi, adding that the number of Albanians in these provinces is over 60 thousand, but a large part is emigrating.
Asked about the support of the government of Kosovo and Albania, Memishi said that “The government of Kosovo, together with the government of Albania, allocated funds for the construction of the hospital, but so far they have had no effect, except for a renovation that is in the ambulance of Presheva.”
He added that even the distribution of donations for agriculture has been banned by the Serbian government, as they come from Kosovo.
In the end, Memishi appealed for more help from the Albanian and Kosovar governments, seeking to bring businesses to the Presheva Valley.
“The valley is a very good territory because it is bordered by three countries, Serbia, Macedonia and Kosovo. If we bring businesses to Preševo, with a workforce and reasonable wages, more employment would be created for the whole community theree,” he concluded.
