The Swedish foundation „Cultural Heritage Without Borders“ has enabled the publication of this document for one reason: to stir us to preserve something of the history of this city, which has been “determined” and experimented with so many times – as one of the writers here says, “the spirit of Prishtina has been assaulted”.
We have selected three authors to provide three initial and different points of view. It’s no surprise that these three have addressed the same issue: the saving of the memories of this city. I think everyone will agree that there’s no better choice for our discussion.
This dwelling-place that has endured from the 13th Century, the 18th Century market and the capital city of Kosovo, Prishtina, is in danger of destroying its own history, whatever that may be. The symbolic title of one of our pieces, PRISH-TI-NA, is a telling metaphor that reminds us of the challenges that have battered against this city. The dominance of one period over others, of intolerance over cultural and social diversity, has led to the blind sweeping aside, the correction, and (in the case of Divan-njolli) the severance of the shapes and the components of the city. Today, in the new reality, explains Dr Kristina Kohlert, there is a panEuropean prize for positive renovation that aims to promote innovative solutions to the problems of contemporary cohabitation. Of course, this is the fundamental question: “how can the new co-exist with what is left to us of the culture of this city?” Perhaps the best way to answer this is a debate about the Union building. This monument could be a real union between Prishtina’s future and past. And perhaps, little by little, this new spirit of preservation could spread across the historic zone of Prishtina, which now exists only in the memories of its people.
