religious coexistence in albania

In the mountainous area of Shpati, the Christian and Muslim faiths are especially close. The government has agreements with the Sunni Muslim and Bektashi communities, the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, and the Evangelical Brotherhood of Albania (VUSH), a Protestant umbrella organization, pertaining to recognition, property restitution, and other arrangements. Abstract: The religious tolerance is one of the rarest values of the tradition of the Albanian people. In 2011, a Pew Research Center population estimate in a global study based on growth rates put the percentage of Muslims in Albania at 82.1% (estimated number 2,601,000) However, a Gallup poll gave percentages of religious affiliations with only 43% Muslim, 19% Eastern Orthodox, 15% Catholicand 23% atheist or nonreligious. In this interreligious melting pot, the common language, shared lifestyle and communal way of thinking played a more prominent role than common religious practice. 4. A majority of respondents affirms this question, whereas some interviewees suspect that religious harmony may be a national myth rather than a reality. Asked who won the last game, Dom Gjovalin Sukaj, Spokesman of the Archbishop of Shkodra, replies: ”The teams were mixed, priests and imams, everybody won.”. with a spirit of religious coexistence and tolerance, with a pledge to protect human dignity and personhood, as well as for the prosperity of the whole nation, for peace, well-being, culture and social solidarity, with the centuries-old aspiration of the Albanian people for national identity and unity, It is widely accepted that Albanian people are well known about these values about an excellent coexistence among the believers of different religious communities that are in Albania mainly Muslims and Christians. of religious coexistence and olerantc e, with a pledge to protect human dignity and personhood, as well as for the prosperity of the whole nation, for peace, well-being, culture and social solidarity, with the centuries-old aspiration of the Albanian people for national This has been one of the strongest privileges of my people over the centuries”. In fact, Tirana itself has a mosque, a Catholic cathedral and an Orthodox one all in the city center not far from one another. The religious tolerance is one of the rarest values of the tradition of the Albanian people. It is widely accepted, that Albanians are well known for those important values; the peaceful coexistence among the believers of different religions and beliefs in the country. The documentary begins with short interviews conducted in the streets of Tirana, asking passers-by whether they think of Albania as a country of religious harmony. The MDG-F Joint Programme on ”Culture and Heritage for Social and Economic Development” is financed by the Spanish Fund for the Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and is being implemented jointly by UNDP and UNESCO, in cooperation with the Albanian Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports, and the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Keywords: Religion, tolerance, coexistence, conflict . “The example of religious coexistence should be followed by the leaders of politics in Albania” – was this message conveyed by President Ilir Meta, during the inauguration of the book “Homeland in the heart of Muslim clerics” by Imam Gëzim Abdishahi. �1@�i&�U�xŘ��-��G��J�e�6��A�� He explained, however, that “our history has also experienced periods of darkness against religion. The government has distinct agreements with the Sunni Muslim and Bektashi communities, the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, and the Evangelical Brotherhood of Albania (VUSH), a Protestant umbrella organization, regarding recognition as one of the country’s main faith communities, property restitution, and other arrangements. Location: Europe (Southeast Europe) Bordered by Montenegro (north) – 186 km Kosovo (northeast) – 112 km Macedonia (east) – 181 km Greece (southeast/south) – 212 km Language:Albanian Population (2015):2,893,005 Capital:Tirana (the largest city) Area (total):28,748 km2 GDP (January 2015): $32.259 billion (total) Currency: ALL (Albanian Lek) Calling Code: +355 Internet TLD: .al Highest point:Mount Korab, 2,764 m Lowest point:Adriatic Sea, 0 m Coastline:362 km Longest river:Drin River, 335 km Larges… h�b```�*V�Y" ��ea�� p�À;��F��Y�i��D�u��pѰYe�� @�D4 4�P��`�kB�>xD�>2�4NaIc�l`(��:uk��U�s��ʜW��d�|f��-�4�� endstream endobj startxref The small Muslim majority nation in the Balkans, a region that until recently was synonymous with political turbulence, is a model of inter-religious coexistence. Other than this coexistence being important in itself, it assumes a greater significance when one considers the extent to which religion has, intentionally or not, become a divisive and distorted societal element. Albanian President Ilir Meta said that “I am proud that my state is based on the coexistence and harmony of religious communities. Link: Albanian Media Institute: http://www.institutemedia.org/, Videos, photos and audiovisual services for professionals and the public, Legal instruments adopted by UNESCO's Member States, Online bookshop, documents, publications, library and archives, Download data from 200 countries in a variety of formats. The state is neutral on questions of belief and conscience and guarantees the freedom of their expression in public life. Gf7��#�-_��`AW��b��~��V��~Ҹ�Tpu�:�RFa ��C{� endstream endobj 387 0 obj <>/Metadata 13 0 R/Pages 384 0 R/StructTreeRoot 20 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 388 0 obj <>/MediaBox[0 0 481.92 680.4]/Parent 384 0 R/Resources<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> endobj 389 0 obj <>stream Today, he is still honored by all religious groups in the country. ��׸@�?��W��ޛvo�7o�"K��&��J��۬A.ƛu,m,��EC��9i��K\�pc;Ϡ�s~�gkA��ͭ��&(Tϟ��z�v��%�}v;[L�Y�|9[��|U��Du��.Uv��K�H��:M�ip�%T�Eby��-5X-�Ԁ��Nj��d��RŸ��/��%�"��d+�vj��:0}P�9J��u��Jh8� �uP^�C�(�QC�5��Q�TUI8BW&l��ue}��qx ��Jeإ+ ��=��o��Oc��Ʃj��?ԩ��R��˙��ĕʆ��M7��m:��Zw9b�&��X�q\��^��V��X��l9�� M7�&_C?��9b�?�XE��7��}�&nj�>{�Lc� �e�tn{z�Q�^ͣi�N�]SA��j�. The state recognizes the equality of religious communities. “Religious harmony”, says Zhulieta Harasani, UNESCO National Professional Officer in Albania, “is one of the country’s most precious assets and certainly one of the most serious contributions Albania can provide to the Alliance of Civilizations. Though the choice to convert may seem a surprising one to many, the reality is that Albania has long been regarded as a place of religious tolerance and harmony. h��X�n7��Β^��m�u�[�,Ҧu��g�w]�+%m�B��u�3��FIA�.�҂�FM":Bm�R*�a�"�7��e�G#�ɢ��N-��ܣ��c��B��C$tt8WA*�Hm�G;A��iSn��`�s+��VJ �q��X�x�6;{�]/WO��tv�?�2�=�됽��N��rQ��-_>��ӘPRJ^�9 ^��S\7��s�?M��&�Y>��W��i�