Invitation to an SnS Roundtable Discussion with the Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Prague

Although Czech and Albanian societies are not closely linked either historically or geographically, there are interactions and ties between them in the diplomatic and economic spheres, as well as in the cultural sphere. It can even be said that it is precisely in this latter area that mutual relations are long-standing and vibrant. Here, we understand cultural relations in a broader sense, encompassing the visual arts, literature, linguistics, as well as the study and preservation of experiences from life and residence in the respective societies.

The Small Nation(s)-States Research Center, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Prague, is therefore organizing a roundtable discussion featuring Czech and Albanian Albanists alongside the Ambassador of the Republic of Albania in Prague, His Excellency Ilir Tepelena, to discuss several aspects of this cultural connection. The discussion will take place on Thursday, April 9, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Hollar Building (Room H212) and will be conducted in two languages—Czech and Albanian.

The roundtable program will be as follows:

• 6:00–6:10 PM – Opening Remarks (Adrian Brisku, Ph.D., historian – Institute of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University)
• 6:10–6:30 PM – Searching for Czech Graves in Albania – Impressions from the Mission (Mgr. Přemysl Vinš, Albanologist, Prague)
• 6:30–6:50 PM – Visual Works by Czechs on Albania and Albanians: From the Late 19th Century to the Late 20th Century (Bc. Robert Dobra, Albanologist, Prague)
• 6:50–7:10 PM – The Albanian Language at Charles University; Translations of Czech Literary Works in Albania and Albanian Works in the Czech Republic (Orkida Backus Borshi, Ph.D., Albanologist, Institute of Ethnology and Central European and Balkan Studies, Faculty of Arts)
• 7:10–7:30 PM – Current Czech-Albanian Cultural Cooperation and European Integration: His Excellency Ilir Tepelena (Ambassador of the Republic of Albania in Prague)
• 7:30–7:40 PM – Q&A
• 7:40–8:00 PM – The discussion will conclude with a reception (cocktail hour) featuring drinks and light refreshments