
By Adrian Thano
Janusz Bugajski is one of those cases that reminds you that sometimes Albania has more friends abroad than inside it.
Even though he lived far away, he gave Albanian interests the attention often lacking in the West.
With the passion of a friend, he became a vocal defender of these interests in the region over the past three decades. He did not need to benefit from Albania beyond its borders, he simply believed in it.
As such, it was more useful than the "patriotism" of those who use this country as a banner of partisan interests.
I feel good that in the last years of his life he found space in DITA to share his thoughts.
He did it not for protagonism (there were plenty of other, bigger stands) but out of the conviction that Albania deserves more dignity.
His words will remain, and with them, his friendship for Albanians.
The loss of Bugajski personally brings me back to the other shortcomings that this newspaper has experienced over the years.
Precious friends and collaborators, who have left indelible marks with their pen and thought: Arben Duka with his piercing verse, Shaban Murati with his diplomatic thought, Andrea Stefani with his public courage, Nasho Jorgaqi with his elegance of speech and historical memory, Moikom Zeqo with his encyclopedic mind.
Life is a path of no return, where we all walk with steps that fade with time.
We are temporary travelers at a common station, where some stop earlier, others later.
No one ends up doing everything they wanted to do or wanted to do. That's why it's good to live with care for words and humanity.
We write today, they read tomorrow. Then the places are switched.
Every life that has touched another is never extinguished. Not just in the media.