EXHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHS FROM PRESEVO IN BELGRADE

16. July 2018.

Belgrade – A photo exhibition of Krenar Halimi called "Presevo, the City of Equality," which is dedicated to the refugee crisis, during which about one million refugees, who, on their way to Western Europe, passed through the city, will be opened at the “Steamship” Cultural Center in Belgrade on Wednesday, July 18.

The exhibition is accompanied by a short documentary film by Gazmend Idrizi and Valon Arifi, which deals with the challenges faced by the refugees and the local population during the refugee crisis.

Valon Arifi, one of the authors of the film and the Chairman of the NGO "Youth for Refugees", said that by that exhibition, Presevo was returning to Belgrade’s cultural scene after many years.

"We leave hatred to others, while we are committed to equality, justice and freedom," Mr. Arifi said.

He also said that the residents of that town in South Serbia showed a high degree of humanity and empathy towards those who passed through Presevo after having fled the war.

“Apart from providing them with basic things, such as food, water, footwear, clothing and medicines, the citizens of Presevo were trying help them feel that they were free and equal with the local population, and I think we all have succeeded at doing it, " Mr. Arifi said.

He added that that kind of welcome was also felt by the distressed people who were fleeing war-torn areas, and that Presevo had become a kind of example of a city with many economic and social problems, whose people had overcome all the prejudices and negative attitudes towards refugees.

'Presevo is inhabited mainly by Albanians, but no one in it should feel like a minority. And so it was with the refugees that went through the local reception center, "Mr. Arifi said.

Source: “Danas” daily, Jugpress and Coordination Body