‘AUTHOR: Enea Zhuleku
It’s been more than a month now that I visited Beograd, Serbia. In the beginning, I was a sceptic regarding what I could expect there, the place but most importantly how people would behave to an Albanian. Taking into consideration all the mass media propaganda about conflicts and fights between the two countries, I was curious to get to know people there, discuss different topics and issues that Albania and Serbia have separately but in common as well.
On the other side, I was sure I would meet some amazing people as I did and create some really good friendships there. Beograd is an amazing city, with lots of sightseeing, places to visit and a really good modern nightlife. Being for the first time there since I was attending LibertyCon, the biggest pro-liberty event in Europe where liberty open-minded students, professors and other organisations are taking part, was a lifetime experience for me.
European Students for Liberty among many causes is promoting individual liberty, free markets and voluntary cooperation between people in every field of life. One of its main mottos as a student’s organisation is; Peace Love Liberty. These values are the ones that can help us build a freer and more prosperous future for our common neighbourhood called Balkans.
While visiting Serbia, people showed me that no matter where you come from they are welcoming you and they are ready to provide the hospitality of their country. There were a few of them that have visit Albania and their impressions are positive about Albania and the people there. They were curious to learn more about Albania and have the desire to visit places there.
It is the mindset and the way we see each other that can help us break the barriers between our people but this can be done only through getting to know each other
In my opinion, the more intercultural visits we have between our people are in the best interest for us. It’s been a time now that we have to build friendly, cooperative and work for a better future for both our countries which despite the difficulties they are facing the future is promising to be a better one.
Furthermore, it is the mindset and the way we see each other that can help us break the barriers between our people but this can be done only through getting to know each other, value our respective cultures and traditions. Our generation needs to change the way we see and feel each other, leave the prejudices, see the positive aspects of our friendship and cooperation, visit more each other and exchange our values.
In an overall conclusion of this short article, this has as a purpose to raise awareness regarding Albanian-Serbian relations and giving a strong message that we have to build bridges between us.
My visit to Belgrade was an amazing one, meeting some really good friends there that we still keep in touch and want to meet them again and wanting to visit Serbia again in the future since is a country that can provide you beautiful destinations, amazing places to visit and the great chance to meet good people who are ready to show you around and show you some great hospitality.
My suggestion and message towards our people is to give a chance letting know each other, exchange our cultural values, work for a better future and most importantly start loving each other. I am sure that more bridges are going to be built between us and barriers are to be broken between our people. Prejudices and differences have to be replaced by dialogue, connectivity and cooperation.
