On 28 January 2021, the “Kader in World Letters” Conference was held in the Rector’s Office of the University of Tirana, honouring Ismail Kadare’s 85th anniversary.

This conference was organized by the National Book and Reading Centre in cooperation with the University of Tirana in the presence of the Minister of Culture, Ms. Elva Margariti, Rector of the UT, Prof Dr ARtan Hoxha, NBRC Director Alda Bardhyli, Academic Vasil Tole, the Publisher of Kadare’s works, Mr. Bujar Hudhri, writers, researchers and professors.

In his remarks, the Rector of the University of Tirana, Prof Dr Artan Hoxha, noted among others that: “In our university, Kadare’s work represents a vision of how the university must perfect itself, think, transmit commitment in improving the quality of life and cultural emancipation.”

Furthermore, the Rector brought again to attention the fact that “at the heart of the pantheon of great personalities of culture, literature, science, politics, which the University of Tirana has honoured with the “Doctor Honoris Causa” title, such as: Orhan Pamuk, Alain Bosquet, Vedat Kokona, Ferid Murat, Romano Prodi, Ibrahim Rugova, Dritëro Agolli, Francesko Altimari, Matteo Mandala, Lucia Nadini, Marie Royce etc…, lies Ismail Kadare, who in and of himself brings a strong light to this pantheon that inspires us with universal notes and values of thought”.

The conference included papers on literary and linguistic aspects of Ismail Kadare’s works by professors of the Faculty of History and Philology of the University of Tirana: Prof Assoc Lili Sula, Prof Assoc Viola Isufaj, Prof Dr Mimoza Kore, Prof Assoc Kristaq Jorgo, Dr Elsa Skënderi Rakipllari etc.