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By:
Shaban Maxharraj
- 20 October 2023 02:10
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In 1998, Sir Noel Malcolm was clear about what he intended with a work on Kosovo. Bringing facts was implicit for a historian of his caliber, but the story behind the work "Kosova: a short history" has another weight. It came at a time when the world needed to know the truth about Kosovo, not to be mistaken. A quarter of a century after the publication of this book, the documentary by Mal Berisha, the former ambassador of Albania to Great Britain, brings to attention not only the weight of this book, but its impact and its arrival at the right time. For Malcolm himself, the goal at the time was clear. The same now. "I am a historian and I believe that on a scientific scale the best defense is the truth. I hope I have written the truth about Kosovo", he said on Thursday in Pristina
He is the historian who, with facts, would open the eyes of the western world in a period where Kosovo faced horror. In 1998, when it was seen that the Albanians of Kosovo would not even be able to stay in their homes because of the regime of Slobodan Milosevic, Sir Noel Malcom would publish the work "Kosova: A Short History". While the Kosovar Albanians were facing war from Serbia, Malcolm spread facts through his work. In addition to sensitizing the Western world, he too was waging a war: that of exposing facts and truths. It was his war against the propaganda of the Serbian state apparatus from politics to the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Serbia.
The history of the writing of this work - among the most read about the history of Kosovo - is revealed in the documentary film "Kosova a short story", dedicated to the work of the British historian, Sir Noel Malcolm. Directed and scripted by the former ambassador of Albania to Great Britain, Mal Berisha, the documentary is the second in a row of the triptych prepared for the historian and journalist Malcolm. At the premiere of this documentary at the National Library of Kosovo on Thursday night, even Malcom himself has seen the evaluations given to him. There are about 20 people who describe Malcolm and his work for Kosovo in the documentary. He himself gives some details during the interviews conducted for this film production.
At the very beginning of the documentary, Malcolm apologizes for not speaking in Albanian, and then he tells about his work. Previously, in 1994, he would publish the book "Bosnia: a short history". At that time, Bosnia-Herzegovina was on fire. And in July of the following year, the Srebrenica genocide took place, where Serbian forces killed over 8 people.
"After this book, I thought of writing about Kosovo as well, since the international community needed to know the truth", he says in the documentary. He says that he worked intensively on the book about Kosovo for three years. It clarifies that it is a more complete work than the one on Bosnia-Herzegovina and that it was served with countless sources.
"The book was published before the war in Kosovo started and I didn't want the international community to make mistakes like in Bosnia. I hope that it served to prevent those mistakes from being made", he says in the documentary. The 66-year-old researcher who carries the royal honorific title "Sir" confessed that the Academy of Sciences of Serbia held a conference and published a book to refute his study.
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"This has done me an honor since that publication does not present facts", he says in the documentary. He is a great supporter of the truth. He also mentioned this in his speech after the screening of the documentary.
"I am a historian and I believe that on a scientific scale the best defense is the truth. I hope I have written the truth about Kosovo", he said.
With the face of a modest man, Malcolm has said that it was a bit of a strange experience until he watched the documentary and that he is a little ashamed of the compliments that have been given to him.
“I had the impression that I had arrived at my own funeral by mistake, because such compliments are appropriate at a funeral. I wrote the book and published it a year before the war. I hope that the book had some influence on the politics of the West in a period of crisis", he said. The 42-minute documentary reveals many people's thoughts on Malcolm. There, among others, Arian Gjoncaj, Jason Tomes, Charles Moore, Rexhep Ismajli, John Hoghson, Rudina Jasini, Lea Ypi, Robert Wilton, Bejtullah Destani, Edita Tahiri and Daut Dauti speak. That everyone appreciates Malcolm's contribution.
In addition to the documentary, a very iconic photograph is also mentioned in the speeches. In June 1999, the Norwegian soldier of KFOR, Kenneth Andresen, would make a photograph where one of his colleagues as a member of KFOR is seen reading the book "Kosovo: A Short History" that was published in Albanian in 2008 by KOHA publications. At the premiere of the documentary, that framed photograph was handed to Malcolm by the prime minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti.
"I asked my staff to print and frame this photograph to look at together and give to Mr. Malcolm, because in my view this photograph captures the reading of history and the making of history in one image. at the same time", Prime Minister Kurti said.
According to Kurt, this book helped a lot to orient the western public, whether academic or political, in relation to the historical truth about Kosovo. All the more so that "Kosova: a short history", according to Kurt, was written after an intensive research in archival sources and documentary publications, in studies of Albanian historiography and Serbian historiography, as well as in Balkanological publications.
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"And when I happen to meet and talk more deeply with various foreign diplomats and politicians, I know that those conversations take place sooner or later in international offices, it seems to me that even when we have peace, a battle takes place. But this battle is not between men, but between books. And so often they come to my mind, because it seems to me that it is a battle between the books of Sir Noel Malcolm, that is Kosovo and Bosnia a short story, and on the other hand another book, which I believe loses the battle, 'Balkan Ghosts' by Robert Kaplan", said Kurti.
According to him, since the book "Kosova: a short history" was published, it earned the epithet of a key reference work, for anyone who wants to get to know the history of Kosovo more widely and more deeply.
Previously, the British researcher and academic Noel Malcolm was in the premises of the National Library of Kosovo in May 2016 when his work "Imperial Agents" about the Albanian families Bruti and Bruni from Ulqini was promoted in Albanian.
In his speech on Thursday, this was also mentioned by the director of BKK, Fazli Gajraku. He thanked Malcolm for all his contribution to Albanians.
"You are one of the voices that have shed light on the history of Kosovo and the Albanians. In every line written with indelible truths and facts, never clearer, your work 'Kosova: a short history' is read and known and adored as much as any other work", said Gajraku.
The director and screenwriter of the documentary, Mal Berisha, said that as the ambassador of Albania to Great Britain from 2012 to 2015, he had the opportunity to meet many prominent people of that country.
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"But the one who was most precious to me and to Kosovo is Sir Noel Malcolm. Convinced of the extraordinary work of Sir Noel Malcolm for us Albanians, I thought and believed that a documentary film about the life and work narrated by prominent British and Albanian academic figures was an obligation and an expression of deep gratitude towards his work". he said among others.
Despite the difficulties that the documentary may have as a realization, its content is not only a chronology but also an appreciation for the work of Malcolm, one of the greatest researchers in the clarification of international history in the world.
