The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Hajrulla Çeku, at the beginning of April appointed the clarinetist and dancer, Sinan Kajtazi, to the position of director of the National Ballet of Kosovo.

The competition for the position of director of the National Ballet encountered numerous troubles and dissatisfaction.

Minister Çeku days ago gave the reason why Kajtazi was elected head of the National Ballet and not a choreographer and connoisseur of another field.

Photo: Driton Saqipi / Facebook

"There have been several complaints, they have been reviewed and finally I believe that the election of Mr. Kajtazi has been a regular process, but all those who claim that there may be irregularities can go to court.

"We have been careful", said Çeku.

After many discussions, the leader of the ballet branch, Driton Saqipi, reacted to the statements of Minister Çeku

Through a long Facebook status, Saqipi said that the statements of the Minister of Culture in the media are unnecessary, humiliating and irresponsible, that 'force him to react in the name of dignity and justice that is missing in this country'.

Saqipi further said that as artists, creators, performers or teachers in public and private institutions of this country, they will protect their education that they have achieved with a lot of sacrifice

Below is the full post of Driton Saqipi:

Public reaction

In defense of diplomas and education in Ballet - Choreography

Dear friends, friends, artists of the leadership of this country.

Although I have never preferred to discuss on social networks about the problems, abuses, injustices that have been done and are being done in the field of ballet-choreography, last night's statement in the media of our Minister of Culture, unnecessary, humiliating and irresponsible with forces to react in the name of dignity and justice lacking in this country.

First he wanted to publicly inform the Minister of Culture that the Ballet School and the direction of Choreography in Kosovo have existed since 2001 and there is no need for you to establish them.

Secondly we are 12 people graduated in choreography, 3 are students in Tirana, and 30 others are students of the Bachelor study program in choreography in Prishtina.

Therefore, it is very important and obligatory for Mr. Çeku to appear publicly and apologize for what he said last night in the media that there are no professionals graduated at the university level in the Republic of Kosovo.

We as artists, creators, performers or teachers in public and private institutions of this country, will defend our education that with hard work and many sacrifices we have managed to graduate with a bachelor or master in choreography at the University of Arts in Tirana.

For this issue we do not start from party affiliation.

For us, dignity, art and artists have been, are and will remain above political parties. 

/ Telegraphy /