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On Wednesday (9 November 2011), Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha held a lecture on Euro-Atlantic Integration at the South East European University in Tetovo and was awarded with the annual Prize for Leadership for 2009 by the Institute for Democracy and Development.
At the opening ceremony, Demush Bajrami, the Rector’s Advisor for PR and Communication, called Prime Minister Berisha the founder of democracy in Albania, andin his recognition in this occasion he added that Prime Minister Berisha, like Albert Einstein, for political ideal have the democracy.
SEEU’s Rector Prof. Dr. Zamir Dika welcomed the Albanian Prime Minister and informed him about future developments and goals.
“The South East European University represents a model for academic freedom in the region. Through the 2.0 program, we aim to spread hope by educating future leaders and true professionals,” said Rector Dika.
“We”, said Rector Dika, “want to motivate the political authorities to strongly support cooperation in the sphere of higher education between the Albanian universities and universities in the region, always in the function of increasing competition among them.”
“You, dear Prime Minster, have given us an example of how to support freedom, how to support initiatives for cooperation among Albanian speaking universities, particularly by initiating initiatives of excellence,” said among others, Rector Dika.
A summary of the motive for the Award for Leadership and a brief retrospective of the activity of the Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha was made by the Chairman of the Board of the Institute for Democracy and Development, Professor Veton Latifi.
“I cannot hide my emotion for the presence of Prime Minister Berisha and for all of you on this occasion. The award is not given randomly, but only after close monitoring made by the respective committee. The prize is awarded by the motivation for the results listed in democratic consolidation and the strengthening of cooperation and integration," said among others, Prof. Latifi.
“I am very touched by your warm reception and I guarantee you that I feel extremely honored to visit this university. With greatest honor, I bow before you. For all those men and women, professors and students, who have contributed to creating this institution for the last 10 years, here in Tetovo, a great temple of freedom, knowledge and light to all Albanians and all citizens of Macedonian society," said the Prime Minister of Albania, Sali Berisha, in his speech.
“In a short period of time, SEEU and SUT have turned Tetovo into one of the major university epicentres of the Albanian nation," said Prime Minister Berisha.
“Universities are multidimensional in their composition of doctrines of science, professors, academic staff, but all have a common face, a common soul, and their soul is that of freedom. We Albanians, in certain circumstances, also have the newest universities in Europe. Your university, with ten thousand students is a white ominous, a real temple of development of Albanians and Macedonian society in general,” said among others, Prime Minister Berisha.
During his visit in Tetovo,the Albanian Prime Minister met with representatives of the Municipality of Tetovo, State University of Tetovo, and was greeted by a large number of citizens during his route in the streets of Tetovo.