Journalist Mentor Nazarko has stated that the contribution of former Albanian President Rexhep Meidani to Kosovo during the years of war and the crisis of 1999 continues to be unclear and not sufficiently appreciated, especially in Kosovo public opinion.
In a conversation on the PIKċ podcast, with the publicist Veton Surroi, Nazarko emphasized that it was not the Constitution that made Meidani an important figure, but it was his personality and stability that gave weight to the president's role at a critical historical moment.
According to Nazarko, Meidani was a rare statesman, with moral integrity, a high intellectual profile and international experience, which made him respected by Western interlocutors. He emphasized that Meidani knew Kosovo well, had been there even before the 90s, and always spoke with deep knowledge of the issue.
Nazarko, who was Meidani's advisor at the time, assessed that during 1999, Albania became a key point for the international factor and that Meidani played the role of the main link between Albanian institutions, Western allies and structures dealing with Kosovo. He mentioned that Meidani was a direct communicator with the most prestigious world media and a stable reference figure for the West in a time of danger and uncertainty.
"Albania was in the eye of the cyclone. It was not known what scenarios could happen. In this situation, Meidani was the point of stability," said Nazarko, adding that this role was often overshadowed by other political figures of the time.
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He emphasized that, although the then Prime Minister Pandeli Majko has gone down in history for his famous statement on opening the doors to refugees from Kosovo, Meidani also had direct contact with the newcomers, had visited the camps and had hosted important world leaders.
"In Kosovo, it is often thought that the main role belongs to Majko, while what Meidani did is not entirely clear. This remains one of my regrets," said Nazarko.
