The annual ceremony of Polish Prize Sergio Vieira de Mello was held in Krakow Thursday, Oct. 25. The award is granted to individuals and non-governmental organizations for their activities for the peaceful coexistence and cooperation of societies, religions and cultures.
The non-governmental award for the year of 2018 was given to the Interreligious Council of Albania.
Our country has a long history of religious harmony between the various communities and its people. Citizens aren’t differentiated or discriminated for their religions as it is something deeply personal for them. Albania has been praised for its peaceful interactions between the religious communities and lately has been gaining more recognition.
The interreligious council of our country was created in Oct. 22, 2009, under the auspices of then president, Bamir Topi. The founders of the council are HE Rrok Mirdita, Chairman of the Conference of Bishops of Albania and HE Haxhi Dede Reshat Bardhi, Leader of the World Bektashi Union.
With a long received support from the European Committee of the World Conference on Religion and Peace, it was finally made possible that a council with representatives from all present religions in Albania to be established. This is the first Interreligious Council that Albania has, and it was more than necessary to set this example of friendship and brotherhood in more official terms through its setting.
On behalf of the Interreligious Council of Albania, the Polish Sérgio Vieira de Mello is received by Archbishop George Anthony Frendo, HE Bishop Andon Merdani, Pastor Dr. Ylli H. Doçi and President of the Council, HE Skender Bruçaj.
‘’Today I am honored to present the award in the category of ‘organization’ for ‘Interreligious Albanian Confessional Community’ for representing with its attitude the practical dimension of interreligious dialogue. Albania is now an example of a country where harmonious cooperation between various religious communities is developed, of which there are five in Albania: Muslim, Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant and Bectanite,’’ were the laudation words spoken for the Laureate.
The host went to say that the cooperation of Community leaders is particularly important, as wars and religious conflicts has recently happened in the Balkans.
‘’This cooperation is a model that can be used as a model of coexistence for neighboring communities in various regions of the world troubled by ethnic and religious conflicts.’’
Sergio Vieira de Mello was a well-appraised Brazilian UN diplomat for human rights for more than 34 years, appointed as High Commissioner for Human Rights on behalf of the UN in 2002. He earned a respect for establishing humanitarian and political peacemaking programs for the organization, and has worked in countries with human rights crisis, such as Bangladesh, Sudan, Cyprus, Mozambique, Peru, Cambodia, Lebanon, Kosovo. In 2003, less than a year after his appointed position he was serving in Iraq, where he was killed in a bombing together with 22 colleagues.
