ALBANIAN POET MUJË BUÇPAPAJ EXPRESSES GRATITUDE TO THE 45TH WORLD CONGRESS OF POETS FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL
Mujë Buçpapaj: “I Accept the Presidential Medal with Gratitude, as an Honour to Albanian Poetry and Literature in the Global Cultural Dialogue”
I extend my heartfelt gratitude and profound appreciation to the 45th World Congress of Poets – Kosovo 2026 for honouring me with the Presidential Medal, a distinction of considerable significance which I accept with respect, humility, and a deep sense of responsibility.
For me, this honour represents a distinctive personal recognition; at the same time, however, I regard it as an honour bestowed upon Albanian poetry, literature, and culture, as well as upon the enduring efforts of Albanian writers to participate meaningfully in the international literary and cultural dialogue.
My special gratitude goes to Academician Dr Jeton Kelmendi, Chairman of the Organizing Council of the World Congress of Poets – Kosovo 2026, for his dedication, vision, and tireless efforts in bringing this important international cultural event to fruition.
Academician Dr Jeton Kelmendi is one of the Albanian poets with a distinguished international presence, whose work has been translated and published in numerous languages around the world. Beyond his poetic oeuvre, he has made a significant contribution to the international promotion of Albanian literature and culture, building bridges of communication among writers, poets, scholars, and cultural institutions from different countries and literary traditions.
In this respect, the hosting of the 45th World Congress of Poets in Kosovo constitutes an event of exceptional importance for the entire Albanian cultural space. The presence in Kosovo of poets, academics, and distinguished cultural figures from dozens of countries demonstrated that Albanian literature and the Albanian cultural sphere are an integral part of the broader international cultural dialogue.
I particularly value the fact that the Congress unfolded in the spirit of dialogue, cooperation, and peace, reaffirming poetry’s natural and enduring role as a bridge between people, cultures, and nations.
For me, the Presidential Medal is an honour that I receive with profound gratitude and that I shall regard as an additional responsibility to continue my work in literature, to promote Albanian culture, and to strengthen its ties with the wider world.
I extend my heartfelt thanks to the 45th World Congress of Poets – Kosovo 2026, to its organisers, and to all those whose dedication and contribution made this important event possible.
My special appreciation goes to Academician Dr Jeton Kelmendi, for his work as Chairman of the Organizing Council, for his contribution as a poet of international renown, and for his sustained commitment to promoting Albanian literature and culture throughout the world.
Thank you for this exceptional honour. I accept it with respect and gratitude, firmly convinced that every distinction bestowed upon an Albanian poet is, in a profound sense, also a recognition of our language, our literature, and our culture.
THE WORLD CONGRESS OF POETS: AN INTERNATIONAL TRADITION SINCE 1969
As is well known, the 45th World Congress of Poets was held in Kosovo from 25 to 30 September 2026, bringing together approximately 100 distinguished poets from around the world.
The World Congress of Poets (WCP) was founded in 1969 in Manila, the Philippines, where the inaugural Congress was held from 25 to 30 August 1969. Its founders were Amado M. Yuzon (Philippines), Tin-Wen Chung (Taiwan), Krishna Srinivas (India), and Lou LuTour (United States).
Subsequent Congresses have been hosted in numerous countries across the world. Among the more recent editions were those held in Prague (2016), Mongolia (2017), China (2018), India (2019), Hungary (2021), Ecuador (2022), Rome (2023), and India (2024).
In September 2026, Kosovo became the host country of the 45th World Congress of Poets, bringing this prestigious global literary gathering to the Albanian-speaking lands for the first time.
The founding motto of the WCP is:
“World Brotherhood and Peace through Poetry.”
MUJË BUÇPAPAJ – POET, SCHOLAR AND PROMOTER OF ALBANIAN LITERATURE
The distinguished poet Dr Mujë Buçpapaj is regarded as one of the prominent voices of Albanian poetry and of contemporary poetry in the international literary sphere. His poetry has been published in more than 30 foreign languages, and he has received significant international recognition for his poetic work and contribution to literature.
Buçpapaj is a poet, literary scholar, university lecturer, publisher of the literary and cultural newspaper Nacional, head of Botimet Nacional, and a dedicated promoter of Albanian literature and culture on the international stage.
Through his creative work, scholarly and journalistic activity, and sustained engagement in the promotion of Albanian literature, Mujë Buçpapaj has sought to strengthen the dialogue between Albanian letters and the wider literary and cultural world.
