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By:
Besarte Elshani
- February 13, 2026 23:03 AM
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Launched as a nationwide unifying scene of Albanian literature, after Tirana, "Forum 26" has also been presented in Pristina. It has come to the capital with additional details. The Albanian Writers Forum aims for the Albanian book market to have zero taxes, as well as to have a similar law for the book. It is estimated that the forum aims to remove the shackles from the writer regarding linguistic views and to promote linguistic diversity.
In the presentation in the "Idriz Ajeti" hall at the Faculty of Philology, the president of the forum, writer Stefan Çapaliku, explained how the creation of what is already taking shape began. He said that they had initially discussed the position of the writer and that they had well understood his marginalized position in society.
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Letter to the Reader — Why We're Asking for Your Support Contribute"We have well understood the marginalized position of writers in society. It is a position that shows that the writer is losing his role more and more every day. To bring these writers together, a better program, motto, motive was needed than 'Language is our common homeland', there is none and there is none. Because Albanian is one with all its varieties, it is a great treasure. Fortunately for us, we have a language where dialects get along beautifully. They get along so well that it may seem like they are not dialects," Çapaliku said to those present at Friday's ceremony.
According to him, any shackles placed on the writer from a linguistic point of view are outside the concept and principles of "Forum 26".
"We fight to promote linguistic diversity and within it is the Albanian language. In this sense, we believe that those 18 people who first joined the foundation were able to create such an important, strong gravity that within a few days the interest of many writers was aroused who expressed the desire to become part of this forum," he said.
“Forum 26” is named as a symbol of the year it was founded. Earlier this month, on February 6, the new institution of Albanian creators was made official with a ceremony in a bookstore in Tirana.
Authors from Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and the Albanian diaspora had formalized the Writers' Association. The leadership was also elected there. Stefan Çapaliku was elected president of "Forum 26", Ag Apolloni was elected vice president, while Granit Zela held the position of coordinator.
The founding group of the Albanian Writers' Forum consists of: Andreas Dushi, Adil Olluri, Ag Apolloni, Donika Dabishevci, Durim Taçi, Entela Tabaku, Ervin Nezha, Gazmend Krasniqi, Granit Zela, Ledia Dushi, Lulëzim Haziri, Mark Pashku, Marsela Neni, Ndue Ukaj, Vlora Konushevci, Primo Shllaku, Stefan Çapaliku. Visar Zhiti has been elected honorary president of the Forum.
And the list has expanded. There are now also Arbëreshë creators, from Greece, the diaspora, and even those who are foreigners, but with their creativity have already taken a place in Albanian literature. One such is the writer Robert Wilson, who is now part of this forum.
But, for Çapalik, the quality of members is more important than quantity.
"The forum is not a matter of quantity, numbers, because many writers gathered and the problems will be solved. On the contrary. We must be careful that we are moving with a mechanism of proposals. Each of the founding members, not more than yesterday, has proposed another writer. We have put it to a vote, not all of them are accepted. I think this spirit has been appreciated by everyone. Everyone has understood that we have it right", he said.
Poet and translator Vlora Konushevci said that this is the first comprehensive initiative of all Albanian regions.
"On this occasion, although we have administrative borders, we do not have linguistic borders. Fortunately, now as a common voice, we hope to influence the facilitation of book circulation between Kosovo and Albania, as well as the diaspora, in policies, taxes, customs, and others. We will make separate proposals and hope that we will facilitate the circulation of Albanian books in Albanian lands and in the diaspora," said Konushevci, who has joined the forum.
As for VAT on books, Çapalik said that the state does not benefit from books, because, according to him, the titles are printed and sold in small quantities.
"From an economic point of view, it plays no role in the state budget. If Albanian book production brought in millions of euros, we would accept it. But this production is a thousand titles per year with scandalous circulations, with equally scandalous prices. Therefore, this is a mentality that must be broken and we cannot break it by being divided," he considered.
The researcher and poet Ndue Ukaj has also joined "Forum 26". He said that "Forum..." is the voice of writers.
"Until today, the book and the writer, the translator, the cultural worker, have mainly been spoken about by institutions, people who are not involved in creativity. Perhaps in the history of the Albanian transition, this is the first time that the alternative voice of the writers themselves has been heard. I think this is one of the most valuable things about this forum, because this voice has been missing from the cultural space. We have very large barriers in cultural communication between Tirana and Pristina," he considered.
He emphasized the fact that even if a Kosovo author's work is published in Albania, he cannot receive a national award there and vice versa. He also said that they will try to understand the weight of the book, in what he calls a cultural battle.
"We are deprived of the opportunity to be part of national award lists here and there, because we are not citizens of Albania, while we speak the same language and culture that unites us. In this cultural battle, through the voice of our beautiful language, we will try to understand the weight and significance that the book has in our journeys, both for development and for emancipation, because a society that is not sufficiently nourished with culture risks becoming barbaric, as has been said by many wise people," Ukaj emphasized.
Professor Lindita Aliu-Tahiri has proposed that the "Forum" should not be thought of simply as a stage for literature, but also for creators who write music, film scripts, and more.
"The Forum..." immediately seems to have had an effect. Çapaliku announced that the institution has been invited to the hearing of the Albanian Parliament on the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Books.
"There was interest from the institutions, because we were immediately invited to Parliament to speak at a hearing on the Draft Law on Books, which is being prepared. On Monday, several members will be there and we will give our options for a law that is as liberal as possible, to make it a historic law in the entire Albanian political history. To free the book from tax once and for all," he said.
After Tirana and Pristina, "Forum 26" is expected to be presented in Skopje.
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