On the Day of Sultan Nowruz celebrated by the Bektashi community, Prime Minister Edi Rama visited the family of Baba Reshat Bardhi, the first Leader of the Bektashi World Centre after the change of regime and the restoration of the freedom of worship in the country. In his greeting message the Prime Minister said that the history of the Bektashi in the country is a history of brotherhood, a bridge between Christians and Muslims. Therefore, this message should be conveyed to the next generations and be preserved as a great asset of the nation.
“Baba Reshat has been very special. An extraordinary man. It was because of him that I started to read about Bektashism. It’s fantastic history with a very positive content for our nation, because it was set up as a bridge between Christians and Muslims who were advised to convey it to future generations.
I’ve read Naim Frasheri’s notebooks, and one recurring message is that the greatest asset we have to treasure is brotherhood between Christians and Muslims. Not tolerance, but brotherhood.” The Prime Minister chatted with some family members, especially with Bora who is attending the first year at university. Bora told the Prime Minister how she went through the university application process. “It was a bit stressful in the beginning, but eventually I got what I wanted”.
“The process was tough because it was the first time. But all those like Bora, who are attending the first year, have got what they deserved. Until recently, students entered university through the door if they had the required results, and through the window if they had the money, or by using the links with parties and other mechanisms. This is not possible today because the whole system is thoroughly monitored. The essence of the education reform is the focus on knowledge and quality, rather than on the number of young people holding a graduation degree. Countries do not differ from what they have, but from what they know
“The problem of all these years has been that everybody wanted to attend university, and no other chance was given to those who were not admitted. We keep saying that mines and oil are strategic sectors, but we didn’t train any middle-level category of technicians. Same applies to agriculture. We’ve wasted so much time. Everything is about knowledge because countries differ from what they know, not from what they have”, the Prime Minister said.
The elderly of the family talked about their pension benefits. Belonging to the oldest generation, they had to bear the costs of the past. But thanks to the pension reform that avoided the collapse of the scheme, their generation had more chances than their parents, despite the contributions they had paid.
“We had a very heavy legacy of the scheme as the number of pensioners had greatly increased in relation to the number of contributors. The scheme was about to collapse. Another problem was the 240 ALL cap. The cap was removed, and those who retire after the reform receive a pension based on their contributions. There are people in determined categories whose pension has increased up to 40%. Many are paying the costs of the past, but it is important to lay the foundations so that the next generation won’t face the same stories in the coming years.”
In addition the Prime Minister said that also the reform in energy has ended a negative legacy of the past.
“This is the first time the distribution company has invested, whereas until yesterday this company was at a loos and it would need 150 million dollars not to turn off the lights everywhere. The company does not receive money from the government anymore, and it is even able to invest. The next step will be the connection through GPS of all metre inspectors, in order to have everything tracked.”
Accompanied by former Minister of Interior Saimir Tahiri, the Prime Minister praised also the results of the reform of the State Police which is now stronger and has a totally new look.
