18 October 2010

PRISHTINA -- H.E. Mr. Edwin Loughlin together with his wife, Mrs. Suzie Loghlin, and Ms. Vlatka Ljubenko, Academic and Cultural Relations Officer of the Canadian Embassy in Zagreb, Croatia, paid an official visit to The Bislimi Group Foundation on Monday, 18 October 2010, in Prishtina, Kosovo.

At the Foundation's headquarters, Ambassador Loughlin and his team were introduced to TBG Foundation and its programs. During that meeting, the Ambassador was also introduced to the Victory University College, a strategic partner of the Foundation.

The Foundation's Executive Director Mr. Halit Bislimi, Program Coordinator Mr. Liridon Latifi, and Academic Services Coordinator Mr. Arden Abazi briefed the guests from the Canadian Embassy in Zagreb on the current educational and academic programs of the Foundation, its mission and objectives, and more specifically, they talked about the Canada Education for Peace Initiative 2010 (CEPI). The CEPI 2010 was a study tour program that was supported by a DFAIT grant through the Canadian Embassy in Zagreb, which enabled five qualified Kosovo students to spend four weeks in the Halifax area of Canada to learn more about the Canadian education system and to attend a summer course on Children and War at Dalhousie University.

Ms. Leonora Selmani, Manager of Public Relations at the Victory University College, briefed the guests on the mission and objectives of the College as private higher education institution in Kosovo. 

The Foundation's staff informed Amb. Loughlin about its upcoming projects, including the creation of the Canadian Corner at the Victory University College in Prishtina, which would provide interested individuals with information on the Canadian education system, opportunities to study at Canadian universities, etc.

The Ambassador was very pleased with the work of the Foundation. Both parties agreed that CEPI 2010 was just the beginning of the cooperation between TBG Foundation and the Canadian Embassy in Zagreb, which also represents Canada in Kosovo as well. More projects of Canadian content and relevance to bilateral relations between Canada and Kosovo especially in the field of education and cultural activities will follow in the near future.

After the meeting, the Foundation sponsored a working lunch for Ambassador Loughlin and his team after which Mr Halit Bislimi, on behalf of the Foundation, presented to Amb. Loughlin a Certificate of Appreciation for his personal and his embassy's contribution to the CEPI 2010 project. Tokens of appreciation were also presented to Mrs. Loughlin and Ms. Ljubenko.

From the left: Ms. Ljubenko, Mrs. Loughlin, Amb. Loughlin, Ms. Selmani, Mr. Bislimi, and Mr. Latifi

Amb. Loughlin is presented with a Certificate of Appreciation by Mr. Bislimi