Archive · 2016 conference. Registration is closed. Read the Tetovo conference report.
The 2016 Europe and Middle East regional conference was announced for 22–25 August in Tetovo, hosted by the Bektashi Community and the Evropa Centre for Human Rights. Its theme was Religion and Conflict Prevention.
Archived brochures and forms
Speakers announced for 2016
HH Hajji Dedebaba E. Brahimaj
Head of the Bektashi World Center and world leader of the Bektashi Order, a mystical Islamic Sufi order identifying with the Shia tradition and IARF member group based in Albania and the Balkans. The Baba is very devoted to peace efforts and interfaith dialogue, presenting an open, inclusive face of Islam.
Br. Ivo Markovic OFM
A Catholic Franciscan Bosnian Croat, Friar Ivo Markovic emerged as a force for reconciliation in the midst of the violent, sectarian conflict that followed the break-up of Yugoslavia in 1992. Fearless, Friar Ivo worked without concern for his own life, always ready to confront the hypocrisy within his own community. Indeed, Friar Ivo’s story demonstrates the power of a single person in countering the messages of hatred.
Rev. Dr. Ilona Szent-Ivanyi
Currently a minister in the Unitarian Church in Budapest, Hungary, Dr. Szent-Ivanyi conducted research on interfaith relations and especially Muslim-Christian dialogue at the Faculty of Religious Studies of the Lutheran University in Budapest and the Goldziher Institute. She is also an experienced activist and practitioner. In the years 2001-2006 she worked as European coordinator of the International Association for Religious Freedom.
Prof. Arben Sulejmani
A historian working at the Department of Philosophy of the State University of Tetova and Head of Foreign Affairs of the Bektashi Community of Macedonia, Prof. Sulejmani is an expert in the Bektashi tradition and an ardent supporter and facilitator of interfaith dialogue as well as a human rights activists primarily concerned with the position of ethnic and religious minorities. He is author of The Bektashi Community in the Balkans and Around the World as well as diverse articles about Bektashism and the situation of the Albanian minority in Macedonia in English.
Prof. Etem Aziri
Dean of the Faculty of Public Administration and Political Science at the South East European University in Macedonia, Prof. Aziri is a sociologist of religion and sociologist specializing in Albanian studies and the challenges facing a multi-ethnic society.
Ahuvia Goren
Ahuvia Goren is a Rabinical student and teaches Judaism and philosophy in ‘Machanim’ Rabbinical seminary ,Migdal Oz. He is a graduate student from Herzog College and a member of the Interfaith Encounter Israel Council. Additionally he researches medical ethics and Christian Jewish relationships in Tel Aviv university History department
Programme
Pre-conference tour
The Bektashi Community offered a pre-conference tour to Albania at a cost of 285 EUR. The advertised departure was from Skopje airport on Friday 19 August at 12:00, with the return to Hotel Emka in Tetovo.
- Friday: Ohrid.
- Saturday: Tirana, Durrës and Berat.
- Sunday: Tomorri.
- Monday: Tetovo, for the beginning of the conference.
Monday (22 August)
Arrival and registration. Participants will be welcomed at Skopje airport. A bus will be made available for transfer to the hotel in Tetovo. Participants arriving early will receive a lunch package at the hotel.
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 19:00 | Dinner, cultural event (performance of music from various Macedonian traditions by the band “Këpurdhat”) and socialising |
Tuesday (23 August)
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 8:00-9:00 | Breakfast |
| 9:30-10:00 | Morning devotion |
| 10:30-11:30 | Opening Ceremony |
| 11:30-12:30 | Keynote speech: Br. Ivo Markovic OFM |
| 12:30-13:30 | Lunch |
| 13:30-14:15 | Address: HH Dedebaba Edmond Brahimaj |
| 14:15-16:30 | Visit to local places of worship: a Bektashi tekke, a Muslim mosque,and an Orthodox Christian church. Short prayer and presentation will be held at each site. |
| 16:30-17:00 | Coffee |
| 17:00-18:00 | Lecture: Prof. Etem Aziri |
| 18:30-20:00 | Dinner (University) |
| 20:30 | Social time (Hotel) |
Wednesday (24 August)
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 8:00-9:00 | Breakfast |
| 9:30-10:30 | EME meeting (open) |
| 10:30-11:00 | Morning devotion |
| 11:00-12:00 | Lecture: Dr. Ilona Szent-Ivanyi |
| 12:00-12:30 | Break |
| 12:30-13:30 | Lunch |
| 13:30-14:30 | Workshop: Ahuvia Goren |
| 14:30-15:30 | Workshop: Prof. Gentiana Skura |
| 15:30-16:00 | Break |
| 16:00-17:00 | Lecture: Prof. Arben Sulejmani |
| 17:15-18:15 | Conference closing |
| 18:30-20:00 | Dinner (University) |
| 20:30 | Social time (hotel) |
Thursday (25 August, optional)
Some participants will depart. Those who choose to stay for another day will be able to choose between one of two excursions and participation in the meeting of the European Liberal Protestant Network (to be confirmed). Members of the IARF Peace Commission will meet as well.
Excursion 1: Tetovo and Skopje, guided by volunteers from the Bektashi Community (app. 3 hours, 15 EUR)
Excursion 2: Ohrid, guided by volunteers from the Bektashi Community (app. 6 hours, 25 EUR)
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 8:30 | Breakfast |
| 8:00-9:00 | Breakfast |
| 10:00-13:00 | ELPN Meeting |
| 10:00-18:00 | Full-day excursion to Ohrid |
| 13:00-17:00 | Half-day excursion to Skopje/Tetovo |
| 19:00 | Dinner (Hotel) |
The original Thursday programme lists breakfast at both 8:30 and 8:00–9:00; both entries are retained above.
Practical information as published in 2016
Cost
200 EUR: accommodation (3 nights), breakfast, lunch and dinner each day,
+45 EUR for 4 nights,
+30 EUR for airport transfer (on arrival and departure). For those wishing to attend part of the programme or staying elsewhere day prices apply.
Contact Persons
Lukasz Liniewicz
IARF Administrator
[email protected]
+31 641-744-951
Skype: iarf_skype
Lucie Meijer
IARF EME Treasurer
+31 20-66-93-912
[email protected]
Prof. Arben Sulejmani
Local Coordinator,
Chairman of the Bektashi
Community in Macedonia
[email protected]
Accommodation
Hotel Emka
www.hotelemka.mk
Street Ilindenska no.n
Tetovo, 1200, Macedonia
Tel: +389 44 331 145 (Reception)
Email: [email protected]
Venue
South East European University
Ilindenska n.335
1200 Tetovo
Tel: +389 44 356 188
www.seeu.edu.mk/en/
[email protected]
