Ibrahim Rugova Corner in Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library
Dr. Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, the President of the Republic of Kosovo, during her official visit to Hungary, visited the Wenckheim Palace housing the Central Library of Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library on 18th June 2025, where she opened the "Ibrahim Rugova Corner".
Ibrahim Rugova (1944-2006) is an Albanina writer from Kosovo, literary scholar, political leader and the first President of Kosovo, who is mostly remembered as the ethical guide and intellectual power of the peaceful independence movement in Kosovo. Referred to as "the Ghandi of the Balkans", Rugova was the representative of non-violence, the protector of the democratic values in the conflict-ridden West-Balkans region.
Opened today, the Dr. Ibrahim Rugova Corner is the result of the cooperation between the Hungarian Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo, the Municipality of Budapest and the Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library.
The corner is meant to be a bridge between past and present. It gives an opportunity for students, researchers, readers and visitors to get to know the published works, speeches of Rugova, and also the critical interpretations of his thinking. Aside from these, there are also books and writings about peace and democracy.
The books of Ibrahim Rugova, the first President of Kosovo, and the published works about the culture and history of Kosovo, was accepted by Ágnes Kovácsné Koreny, the General Director of Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library from Dr. Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, the President of the Republic.
Gergely Karácsony, the Lord Mayor of Budapest, and Zsolt Németh, the president of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament, also attended. Dr. Krisztián Csaplár-Degovics historian praised the heritage of Ibrahim Rugova during the event.
The books are available in the Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library stock for all, who are interested.
Photos taken by: Adrienne Gallov