THE UNITED ASSOCIATION OF ALBANIAN WRITERS AND ARTISTS IS ESTABLISHED
Prof. Dr. Mujë Buçpapaj Elected President, Prof. Dr. Shyqri Galica Vice-President
The Writers’ and Artists’ Association of Albania and the Writers’ Association of Kosovo, respectively represented by their governing bodies and by their Presidents, Dr. Mujë Buçpapaj and Prof. Dr. Shyqri Galica, have adopted the Agreement on the Establishment of the United Association of Albanian Writers and Artists, headquartered in Tirana.
The Agreement is founded upon the free, common and expressly declared will of the parties to institutionalize cooperation among Albanian creative artists and intellectuals, to coordinate literary and artistic activities throughout the Albanian cultural space, and to strengthen the presence and standing of Albanian culture within international cultural discourse and exchange.
The Founding Parties have acted with due regard to the terms and provisions set forth in this Agreement, which establishes the principles, objectives, institutional framework and forms of cooperation of the United Association. In the course of its activities, the relevant state ministries and competent public institutions shall also be duly informed in accordance with the applicable legal and institutional framework.
The meeting was held in Pristina on 17 October 2026, at the headquarters of the Writers’ Association of Kosovo.
Dr. Mujë Buçpapaj was elected President of the United Association of Albanian Writers and Artists (LBSHASH), while Prof. Dr. Shyqri Galica was elected Vice-President. The Agreement was signed by the two elected leaders. Members of the governing bodies shall be elected from all other Albanian-inhabited territories and communities.
The implementation of this Agreement constitutes the institutional realization of the decision adopted by the Assembly for the Reorganization of the Writers’ and Artists’ Association of Albania, held in Tirana on 19 May 2026, with the participation of representatives of the Writers’ Association of Kosovo and of other associations of writers and artists from the Albanian-inhabited territories of the Balkans and from the Albanian diaspora worldwide.
The United Association shall conduct its activities in Albania, Kosovo, the other Albanian-inhabited territories of the Balkans, the diaspora, and in cooperation with international cultural and academic institutions.
Its legal status, headquarters and complete organizational structure shall be determined by its Statute and established in accordance with the applicable legislation.
Its vision is to create a stable institutional, literary and artistic network connecting Albanian creators wherever they live and work, and enabling Albanian culture to express itself with dignity, excellence and authority within European and global cultural discourse.
The United Association shall regard the Albanian language, cultural heritage, creative freedom, diversity of experience, and the coexistence of tradition and innovation as fundamental values underlying all of its activities.
FOUNDING PRINCIPLES AND STANDARDS OF OPERATION
The United Association shall conduct its activities on the basis of the following fundamental principles:
- a) Institutional equality, mutual respect and cooperation among the founding organizations;
- b) Creative and intellectual freedom, as indispensable conditions for the development of literature and the arts;
- c) Pluralism and inclusiveness, with full respect for the diversity of convictions, aesthetic schools, experiences and forms of artistic expression;
ç) Professional independence, ensuring that literary and artistic activity is never subordinated to political, ideological or personal exclusion;
- d) Merit and professionalism, as the principal criteria for the recognition, evaluation and promotion of creative achievement;
- dh) Transparency and accountability, in the administration of its activities and resources;
- e) Respect for copyright and related rights, as well as for the applicable legal framework;
ë) Cultural and intergenerational solidarity, in the service of the continuity and advancement of Albanian creative achievement;
- f) International openness, as a necessary condition for the recognition, enrichment and advancement of Albanian culture.
The United Association shall preserve its pluralistic and cultural character, respect the autonomy of creators, and prohibit discrimination on political, ideological, regional, personal or any other grounds incompatible with the principles of equality and human dignity.
ARTICLE 5
AREAS AND FORMS OF COOPERATION
The Founding Parties undertake to cooperate in:
- Preparing a joint annual calendar of literary, artistic and cultural activities.
- Organizing literary days, festivals, book fairs, scholarly conferences, exhibitions, book presentations and meetings among writers, artists and other cultural creators.
- Publishing anthologies, collections, journals and works reflecting the diversity, richness and development of Albanian literature and the arts.
- Establishing translation programmes, creative residencies and cultural exchange initiatives, subject to available opportunities and resources.
- Developing projects for the documentation and digitization of Albanian literary and artistic heritage.
- Cooperating with educational and academic institutions in promoting reading, critical thinking and scholarly research.
- Participating jointly in international cultural and literary activities, where such participation is approved by the competent bodies.
- Establishing mechanisms for the recognition and promotion of creators, with particular attention to emerging and younger generations.
- Developing partnerships with institutions and organizations that support culture, literature, the arts and copyright.
CULTURAL AND LITERARY REPRESENTATION OF THE ARBËRESH AND THE ALBANIAN DIASPORA
- The United Association regards the Albanian diaspora as an integral and important component of the common Albanian cultural and literary space and undertakes to establish durable structures of cooperation ensuring its sustained connection with creators in Albania, Kosovo and the other Albanian-inhabited territories.
- The representation of the Arbëresh community of Italy and of Albanian creators in the diaspora shall be facilitated through an international network of cultural and literary coordinators.
- With regard to the Arbëresh of Italy, a dedicated coordination mechanism may be established with the aim of preserving, studying and promoting the Arbëresh language, literature, traditions and cultural heritage, while further strengthening its ties with contemporary Albanian culture.
- The United Association shall encourage cooperation between creators in the diaspora and Albanian cultural institutions, promoting their works, translations, publications and cultural activities within international literary and artistic networks.
RELATIONS BETWEEN THE FOUNDING ORGANIZATIONS
- This Founding Agreement shall in no way prejudice the legal, organizational, statutory, financial or functional independence of the Writers’ and Artists’ Association of Albania and the Writers’ Association of Kosovo.
- Each founding organization shall retain its own name, identity, governing structures, assets, rights, obligations and competencies, in accordance with its respective governing instruments and the legislation in force.
- The founding organizations shall continue to conduct their activities independently, while cooperating in the pursuit of the common objectives established under this Founding Agreement.
No provision of this document shall be construed as constituting an automatic transfer of the assets, financial obligations or legal powers of one organization to another, or to the United Association.
FINAL PROVISIONS
By signing this Founding Agreement, the Founding Parties express their determination to open a new chapter in institutional cooperation among Albanian writers and artists, recognizing culture, literature and the arts as fundamental values of historical memory, identity and communication among Albanians wherever they live.
The United Association aspires to become a common space of creative freedom, intellectual dialogue, intergenerational solidarity and the promotion of the finest values of Albanian culture. It shall support creators without regional, political or ideological distinctions, encourage cooperation with the diaspora, and work towards enhancing the presence, visibility and recognition of Albanian literature and the arts within European and global culture.
This Founding Agreement constitutes the foundational instrument of joint cooperation between the Founding Parties and shall be implemented in a spirit of good faith, institutional responsibility and enduring commitment to the Albanian language, literature, arts and culture.
