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The need to expand cross-border cooperation Shkodër-Kraje

2024-05-18 21:27:01, Kosova & Bota CNA

A photo exhibition by the architect Korab Kraja, titled "Monumental Region", has brought attention to the need to expand cross-border cooperation between Shkodra and the Highlands of Kraja, in Montenegro. As the correspondent of the Voice of America, Pëllumb Sulo, announces, Kraja is the only area inhabited by Albanians in Montenegro, which does not have a border crossing point with Albania, although such a thing has been promised for many years by the state authorities as Albania, as well as Montenegro.

Opened in the historical center of the city of Shkodra, the photographic exhibition "Kraja Monumentale", by architect Korab Kraja, is a collaboration between the Association "Kraja" in Montenegro and the Cultural Heritage Center in Shkodra.

The exhibition, says its author, the architect from Kraja, Korab Kraja, contains 40 photographs and brings important parts of material heritage, forgotten or in danger, that testify to the identity of Kraja, as part of the cultural heritage of Shkodra.

"In terms of construction heritage, Kraja is quite rich. It has a diverse architectural heritage. Whereas, in terms of the connection with Shkodra, it is a direct connection, because there are architectural influences from Shkodra to Kraja, but also vice versa", he says.

In an effort to preserve the values ??of the common cultural heritage, the Association "Kraja" in Montenegro and the Center of Cultural Heritage, in Shkodër, have been twinned in recent days, says the head of the Center of Cultural Heritage, Besara Podgorica.

"This twinning will also mark other mutual activities, which aim to promote not only culture, but also aspects of history, values, identity, heritage, facts, which testify to the permanent connection between the Highlands of Kraja and Shkodra ".

Kraja is a special ethnographic Albanian province, which lies between Lake Shkodra and Mount Rumia. Two villages of Kraja, Shiroka and Zogaj, are located within the territory of Albania, in the municipality of Shkodra, while the other 22 villages are located in the state of Montenegro, in the municipality of Tivar.

Architect Kraja says that it is important to preserve and reflect this wealth of Albanian cultural heritage, since, due to the economic situation and limited communication opportunities, the inhabitants of Kraja continue to leave for emigration, mainly to the USA.

"There is a lot of displacement. There are successive activities, but, as far as the association "Kraja" is concerned, it tries to arouse some activities and movements in the Kraja. The migration has certainly done its part and it would be good if Shkodra, in particular, lends a helping hand to Kraja in terms of activities, but also other well-being, whether cultural or economic.

The writer and publicist from the Kraja, Ali Gjeçbritaj, says that in addition to the lack of investments over the years, one of the reasons for the emigration of the residents of the Kraja is also the lack of communication with the mother country, Albania.

"All the parts, which are connected to Albania, have border points that have been there since 1990 because, with the fall of the Berlin Wall, many barriers that have hindered until then have been overcome, but Kraja has remained outside. "Even today, even though there is a lot of talk on both sides of the border that the Skje-Zogaj border point will be opened, it remains closed all day," he says.

In 1961, says Ali Gjeçbritaj, the Kraja had 5,600 inhabitants, while today no more than 1,000 inhabitants live in the Kraja. Therefore, according to him, among other things, it is important to expand communication with Shkodra and Albania, to curb emigration and expand cross-border communication spaces./ VOA