The Creation and Development of Inter-Religious Council (IRC) of Albania, affiliated with Religions for Peace (RfP). Carrying out dialogue and harmony among interfaith communities, just like in the story of "Good Samaritan."

1. Albania: The Creation of an inter-
religious council, and its role in
promoting shared security in a
country of dynamic changes
The Rovereto, Italy Meeting
4-7 April 2011
By
Genard Hajdini
Secretary General of IRC Albania
Skype: genard1977
E-mail: genard_hajdini@yahoo.com

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INTRODUCTION
 Shared Security:
 No nation can truly be secure until all nations are
secure – the security of one is dependent on the
security of another;
 …Security is interdependent and linked to the ability
to cooperate with neighbors;
 Common responsibility to solve problems;
 Security to the most vulnerable – those who cannot
secure themselves;
 Multi-stakeholder approach is needed to ensure
security.

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SHARED SECURITY
 No nation can truly be secure until all nations are
secure – the security of one is dependent on the
security of another;
 Security starts first at home: The Preamble to the
UNESCO Constitution says: “Since wars begin in the
minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the
defenses of peace must be constructed” (Source:
Spaulding and Lin 1997).
 Mother Teresa stated: “I do not believe in the big
way of doing things, first love your family, then
your neighbor, your town, country and then the
world.” (Source: Songs of Ballentine).

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SHARED SECURITY AT HOME
BACKGROUND
 Albania signed on 12 June 2006, the Stabilization-
Association Agreement (135 Articles, 5 Annexes, 6
Protocols), with four main pillars:
 the political dialogue and regional cooperation
 trade provisions and liberalization of exchanges up to free trade
between parties
 community freedoms*
 the cooperation in the priority areas in the field of Justice and
Home Affairs.

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BACKGROUND
 First visit of an American
President in Albania:
President George W. Bush
on June 10th, 2007.

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BACKGROUND
 NATO Invitation for
Candidacies for
Membership in the Summit
of Bucharest on April 2-4,
2008 to Albania and
Croatia.

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BACKGROUND
 Inter-Religious Council of Albania was created on October
25th, 2007 in the District Court of Tirana, Albania.
 The Statement of Shared Moral Commitment was signed on
March 18th, 2005, by the four main religious community
leaders: Muslim, Orthodox, Catholic, and Bektashi.

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ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
Presidents’ Council
(4 Members)
Executive Council
(8 Members +1)
Secretary General FinancierCoordinator

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REGIONAL SECURITY
 South East Europe Interfaith Conference on
November 16-19, 2005.

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REGIONAL SECURITY
 22-25 May, 2008 Conference on “Shared Values”
Encounter 08, from World Religions for Peace, in
Rovereto, Italy.
 Over 300 European Religious Leaders participated.
 Albanian delegation made of nine people.

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REGIONAL SECURITY
 Rovereto, Italy 2008…

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SHARED RELIGIOUS SECURITY
 November 13, 2007. The first meeting after the
approval of IRC Albania in the District Court of
Tirana on October 25th, 2007.

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SHARED RELIGIOUS SECURITY
 June 26th, 2008. The first meeting of the
Presidents’ Council of IRC Albania, where the first
Secretary General and Financier were chosen.

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SHARED RELIGIOUS SECURITY
 June 26th, 2008…

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SHARED RELIGIOUS SECURITY
 October 24th, 2008. The signing of the agreement
of the Albanian Council of Ministers and Traditional
Religious Communities.

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SHARED RELIGIOUS SECURITY
 October 22nd, 2009… IRCA Opening Ceremony.

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SHARED RELIGIOUS SECURITY
 October 22nd, 2009… IRCA Opening Ceremony.

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SHARED RELIGIOUS SECURITY
 October 22nd, 2009… IRCA Opening Ceremony.

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SHARED RELIGIOUS SECURITY
 October 22nd, 2009… IRCA Opening Ceremony.

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SHARED RELIGIOUS SECURITY
 October 22nd, 2009… IRCA Opening Ceremony.

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SHARED RELIGIOUS SECURITY
 October 22nd, 2009… IRCA Opening Ceremony.

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SHARED RELIGIOUS SECURITY
 October 22nd, 2009… IRCA Headquarters.

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SHARED RELIGIOUS SECURITY
 April 5th, 2010… Gjergj Kastrioti (Scanderbeg) Medal

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SHARED SECURITY WITH
NEIGHBORS
 …Security is interdependent and linked to the
ability to cooperate with neighbors;
 Kosovo’s Independence – A new nation in the
Balkans on February 17th, 2008.
 Forgiveness needs to happen to heal the Serbians and the
Kosovars.
 God is Love and there is no compulsion in religion (AL-
Baqarah 2:257)
 The Story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)

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SHARED SECURITY & COMMON
RESPONSIBILITY
 Common responsibility to solve
problems;
 Gjergj Kastrioti (Scanderbeg: 1405-
1468)
“Freedom I brought you not, but I
found it in your midst…”
…Love, Peace, Happiness, Joy,
Prosperity, Friendship, Forgiveness,
Corruption, Hatred, Animosity,
Deceit, … I brought you not, but I
found it in your midst (in your
hearts).

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SHARED SECURITY & THE
VULNERABLE
 Security to the most vulnerable – those who
cannot secure themselves;
 Orphans & Widows
 Foreigners (Roma, Gypsy, Minorities, etc.)
 God’s Servants

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SHARED SECURITY & MULTI-
STAKEHOLDERS
 Multi-stakeholder approach is needed to ensure
security.
 Government Officials – Crisis Management
 Media – Open Communication
 Police – Collaborate the Work
 Healthcare – Emergency Alert
 Religious Leaders – Guidance and moral direction
 Citizens – Vigilance and cooperation
 Immigrants – Integration in the society, language.

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SHARED SECURITY & IRC ALBANIA
 Watch the IRC Albania Video
 IRC Albania Movie…

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THANK YOU
 To all the participants,
organizers, religious
leaders, and RfP Europe
 To all government officials
 To all the stakeholders
 To the sponsors, and
media

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Q & A
 If you have any questions…,
I might have some answers…!