Professor Muhamet Kelmendi Calls on Assembly to Consider the Name “Republic of Dardania

Professor Muhamet Kelmendi has called on members of the Assembly of Kosovo to begin considering changing the state’s constitutional name from the Republic of Kosovo to the Republic of Dardania as soon as the new legislature is constituted.

According to Kelmendi, this is not merely a formal name change, but an issue concerning history, culture and national identity. He believes the matter should be addressed through an in-depth debate on the country’s historical heritage.

He argues that Dardania is an ancient name supported by historical and archaeological sources. In this regard, he also cites the Oxford Classical Dictionary, which describes the Dardanians as an ancient people who lived in the region of Kosovo and the upper Vardar Valley.

Kelmendi stresses that present-day Kosovo was the central area of Dardania, although the latter extended across a broader territory. He says that archaeological, epigraphic and cultural evidence examined in a study published by the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo, as well as research into late antiquity, links the central territory of the province of Dardania with present-day Kosovo.

According to him, studies of the Dardanian Kingdom date its political formation to the 4th century BC and portray it as an important political and military force in the Balkans. For this reason, Kelmendi says the name Dardania is not a modern creation, but a name with deep roots in the history of this region.

The professor also emphasizes that the Dardanians’ relationship with the Illyrian world has been part of a long historiographical tradition and archaeological research. Some contemporary studies consider the Dardanians part of the Illyrian world, while the ethnic continuity between ancient populations and Albanians, according to him, should be analyzed on the basis of scientific arguments rather than slogans.

Kelmendi believes these very elements make a serious national, academic and constitutional discussion on the possibility of restoring the name “Republic of Dardania” essential. He insists that the process should not be rushed, but conducted through institutional, academic and constitutional channels.

In his proposal, he suggests forming a special commission comprising historians, archaeologists, linguists, constitutional lawyers and institutional representatives. According to him, this body should comprehensively examine the issue of the name Dardania and then submit the relevant recommendations to the Assembly.

He says that if history and cultural heritage are considered part of the state’s identity, then they should also be discussed at the highest institutional level. According to Kelmendi, using the name Dardania would connect the present-day state with the documented ancient heritage of this area and with a name that existed thousands of years ago.

However, he clarifies that any such change must fully comply with the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. The current Constitution names the state the “Republic of Kosovo,” so changing it would require a constitutional amendment rather than an ordinary decision by the Assembly.

Under Article 144, an amendment may be proposed by the Government, the President or at least one-quarter of the members of the Assembly. It must then be approved by two-thirds of all members, including two-thirds of those holding seats reserved or guaranteed for non-majority communities. The proposal must also undergo prior review by the Constitutional Court.

Kelmendi stresses that his appeal is not intended to prompt a symbolic or rushed step, but the formal launch of a historical, academic and constitutional process. He calls on lawmakers to conduct the debate with dignity, relying on facts, arguments and respect for the Constitution.

In conclusion, the professor tells lawmakers that responsibility for opening this discussion rests with them. He calls for serious consideration of the possibility that the state, through a democratic and constitutional procedure, could restore the ancient name “Republic of Dardania,” while wishing them success in serving the country and its history.