“We Albanians in Croatia are a bridge between the two states Croatia and Albania. But we must work for not being assimilated. However positive globalization is it has a negative effect because it is bringing assimilation closer. What is important is the preservation of the language and traditions because in that way we can preserve our identity,” said Croatian Albanian MP Ermina Lekaj Prljaskaj
By Genc Mlloja
Senior Diplomatic Editor
“Croatia and Albania are allies with regard to foreign policy and security. But economically there is a sort of stagnation. I maintain that the economic ties should get stronger because such a relationship is necessary to be a link of cooperation and an incentive to strengthen our friendship,” has said the Croatian Albanian Deputy in the Parliament of Croatia, Ermina Lekaj Prljaskaj.
In an exclusive interview with Albanian Daily News Mrs. Prljaskaj dwelt on some highlight developments in Croatia like the election of the new president and country’s EU Presidency which started on January 1, 2020, the first since joining the Union in 2013.
“I think it will be important not only for Croatia but also for Albania and Kosovo because Croatia supports Albania for the opening of the accession negotiations with the EU,” said MP Lekaj Prljaskaj born on 15 July 1971 in Prizren, Kosovo, who graduated from Rijeka Faculty of Law in Croatia where she settled down becoming active in the social and political life in that country.
She was of the opinion that there could be changes to Croatia’s foreign policy during the presidential mandate of Mr. Milanovic because he will work to be a focal point of the Balkans.
Croatia will organize the Summit between the leaders of EU and the Western Balkan countries in May 2020 and as Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenkovic stated at the opening of European People’s Party Congress in Zagreb on November 20, 2019 it will result in conclusions determining political and institutional relations for the next decade.
In the meantime the Croatian Albanian lawmaker expressed her pain for the victims and huge damages caused by the earthquake of November 26, 2019 which hit Albania, and also highlighted the solidarity shown by Albanian community in Croatia and state and government bodies to support the population of the affected areas to overcome the consequences of the tremor.
“This misfortune is painful for all the Albanian people wherever they are. Every one of us as Albanians has expressed readiness for helping our brothers in Albania. I think that what we have done for our brothers is just a drop in the ocean. I think that more needs to be done for our fatherland to become economically and politically stronger because the Diaspora needs such a thing,” she said.
Asked if she would run for another mandate in the parliamentary elections to be held in Croatia this year, Mrs. Lekaj Prljaskaj was determined in her effort to win. “Certainly I will run again trying to win because the attitude towards Albanians has changed due to my activity in the Croatian parliament. I know that I will have competition, and ill- wishers of the Albanian people will try to split us which might cause the absence of our representation in parliament. But I hope that our national awareness is getting stronger and we will be even more united which will give us the opportunity to have our lawmaker in the legislative,” MP Ermina Lekaj Prljaskaj said in the following interview:
-First of all I thank you for this conversation at the beginning of 2020 wishing you further success in your work. This year has started with two important events for Croatia: the election of the new president, Zoran Milanovic, and Croatia’s EU presidency. How do you view these two events?
– I thank you for the respect and the opportunity to give this interview to Albanian Daily News. As you have been informed, we have a new president, Mr. Zoran Milanovic in Croatia, and I take the opportunity to congratulate him on the new post. Croatia also officially assumed the presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 January 2020.
I think it will be important not only for Croatia but also for Albania and Kosovo because Croatia supports Albania for the opening of the accession negotiations with the EU. I can say that the latest positive developments in Croatia will also have their impact on the Balkan states.
-Do you think there could be any changes in Croatia’s foreign policy under the presidency of Mr. Milanovic, who represents the center-left, and secondly, what are the expectations for Croatia’s role in the process of integration of Western Balkan countries at the helm of EU presidency?
– I am a member of the Parliament’s Committee on Internal Affairs. However in my opinion as far as Croatia’s foreign policy is concerned I think that there will be changes during the presidential mandate of Mr. Milanovic because he will work to be a focal point of the Balkans.
As far as the integration of the Western Balkan countries is concerned, so far Prime Minister Plenkovic has been very clear and tolerant expressing readiness to provide assistance and support for the integration of the Western Balkan countries.
-You have congratulated the new president and earlier you encouraged Albanian compatriots in Croatia to take part in the elections as citizens of the Croatian state. Do you think this development could have any impact on the Albanian community and other minorities like this one in Croatia?
– Yes, I have congratulated the president upon his election and it is true that I have invited the Albanian compatriots to participate in the elections as citizens of the Croatian state because we are contributors to the Croatian economy. It is also a well- known fact that we have made a great contribution during the war. But, in the meantime, we are not sufficiently involved in the institutions and have not participated massively in elections.
So I think that we have to become more self- conscious and show the state where we live in that we, too, are a factor as we have been participants in the war and have contributed to the economic development of the country.
– As a follow up, the president has competences in terms of foreign policy and security. Albania and Croatia are strategic allies and the relations between the two countries are a success story. In your view, Madam Deputy, what is expected regarding the progress of this multifaceted cooperation in the future?
– Croatia and Albania are allies with regard to foreign policy and security. But economically there is a sort of stagnation. I maintain that the economic ties should get stronger because such a relationship is necessary to be a link of cooperation and an incentive to strengthen our friendship. I think that the Croatian language should be taught at the Faculty of Philology in Tirana and vice versa Albanian language at the Faculty of Philology in Zagreb.
– What do you think about the Albanian-Serbian initiative or the so called Mini Schengen where Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina do not participate, while Montenegro is presented as an observer?
– First of all, I can say that Kosovo and Albania should have a national strategy for the two states and all Albanians wherever they live. If Croatia and Serbia have national strategies and their citizens wherever they are have a common policy, then we should have that too. I say this giving an example: the three Serb deputies in Croatia think and express the same concerns as the citizens of Serbia even though they are Croatian citizens. Their national interests in Croatia are supported by their mother country.
-You, Madam Lekaj Prljaskaj, have immediately expressed the pain for the victims and damages caused by the earthquake of November 26, 2019 in Albania being among the first to be engaged on high government level, civil society, Albanians in Croatia to support with aid. Could you please tell us some of your most important initiatives in this solidarity mobilization?
-This misfortune is painful for all the Albanian people wherever they are. Every one of us as Albanians has expressed readiness for helping our brothers in Albania. I think that what we have done for our brothers is just a drop in the ocean. I think that more needs to be done for our fatherland to become economically and politically stronger because the Diaspora needs such a thing.
There has been solidarity not only on the part of Albanians but also on the part of Croatian friends, including the President and the central and local government bodies. I take this opportunity to thank them for the help provided.
-I have followed your energetic efforts to keep the native language and culture alive amongst the Albanian community and in this frame it is noticeable the organization of many cultural and artistic activities with invitees from Albania and Kosovo. In your opinion, what is the effect of such an undertaking and does this help to increase the links and exchanges even with the Croatian people?
-We Albanians in Croatia are a bridge between the two states Croatia and Albania. But we must work for not being assimilated. However positive globalization is it has a negative effect because it is bringing assimilation closer.
What is important is the preservation of the language and traditions because in that way we can preserve our identity. The best thing is to learn the Albanian language, which we have made possible. But we also need an institute of Albanology because Albanians have made their contribution even to the Croatian state for centuries.
– At the end of this conversation, a question on parliamentary elections which will be held in Croatia this year. Will you run for another mandate and which are your expectations?
-Certainly I will run again trying to win because the attitude towards Albanians has changed due to my activity in the Croatian parliament.
I know that I will face competition, and ill- wishers of the Albanian people will try to split us which might cause the absence of our representation in parliament.
But I hope that our national awareness is getting stronger and we will be even more united which will give us the opportunity to have our lawmaker in the legislative.
I would like to mention that thanks to my efforts I have opened the eyes of other minorities that I represent. Let me mention just one example- we have had a Bosniak representative who has done nothing for the Bosniak people let alone Albanians and other minorities. Due to my work, the results and transparency the Bosniaks have realized that they have lost a lot as they had a representative who was just a figure in parliament for 20 years. /ADN
