Vučenić at the “ČasTnica” award ceremony: Beqaj and Mihajlović sent a message of hope from the bottomless well for years

„What is impressive when it comes to these two friends from Pristina who for several years, out of a bottomless well, in which we all live together, sent a message that there is still hope and that friendship is a value that we must not forget, regardless of our ethnicity or political orientation, is their intellectual scope, values, tolerance, benevolence, understanding of people and respect for diversity, above all political circumstances,“ journalist Danica Vučenić said today in North Mitrovica.

In honor of a decade of its existence, the KoSSev portal presented its first award for professionalism and contribution to the public interest „ČasTnica“ today.

Two awards were presented this year – to journalist and analyst, a Pristina native – Milivoje Mihajlović, and posthumously to university professor and publicist Belul Beqaj, who passed away in September 2022. Beqaj’s daughter, Adea Beqaj, received the award on his behalf today.

Vučenić was the „godmother“, that is, the initiator of the idea for KoSSev to establish an award on the tenth anniversary of its existence.

„I simply had an idea, because it is so logical that KoSSev, due to everything it represents, decides who deserves the annual award,“ she said today.

„In this sense, I want to emphasize that, even though the editorial office of KoSSev has been under multiple attacks by political fire since it was created and even though they work in extraordinary circumstances – they teach a lesson in journalism, credibility, integrity, courage and finally professional honor to the entire region. Thank you for welcoming me into your company!“

The fact that she came up with the idea about the newly established journalist award was not the only reason why she was looking forward to her visit to North Mitrovica.

This journalist reveals that she also came as a loyal reader of the „Prištinska veza“ correspondence between the columnist, winner of this award, Milivoje Mihajlović and the late Belul Beqaj, which was published on the KoSSev portal for several years.

„I followed the correspondence between – Belul Beqaj, an extraordinary intellectual, a political scientist who, throughout his professional work, advocated for the values of civil society, the lack of which keeps us in the current situation, and my good friend – Milivoje Mihajlović, one of the most credible, the bravest, but also the most well-informed journalists I know,“ Vučenić pointed out.

“What is impressive when it comes to these two friends from Pristina who for several years, out of a bottomless well, in which we all live together, sent a message that there is still hope and that friendship is a value that we must not forget, regardless of our ethnicity or political orientation, is their intellectual scope, values, tolerance, benevolence, understanding of people and respect for diversity, above all political circumstances.”

Vučenić then addressed the Beqaj family, who attended the award ceremony today:

„I haven’t met Belul, but I feel like I did. For years, I read what he wrote and listened to how he spoke my native language better than many who see themselves as guardians of national identity and language.“

Expressing her condolences, she told them to be proud of what Belul Beqaj represented in Kosovo, but also in the region.

Beqaj: I hope that as a society we will find a way to continue our work, guided by the same values that my father stood for

Adea Beqaj received the award on her father’s behalf today. She thanked the portal for presenting this award to her father posthumously „which speaks of recognition, integrity, professionalism, trust and his overall work“.

„It is truly an honor to receive this award in the company of his colleagues and friends here today, celebrating his work. I hope that, as a society, we will find a way to continue our work guided by the same values that my father stood for, for which he received this recognition,“ said Beqaj.

Read more:

The first “Častnica” awards presented to mark the decade of work of the KoSSev portal