There were 8 participants of this Revision Planning Meeting held on Google Meet held on 22 November 2025. Some participants could not join due to excessive rains. We received prior intimation from Prof. Luigj Turmalaj about the excessive rains and his inability to join. The following proceedings were undertaken over 2.30 hours period of the meeting:

• In the beginning, Dr. Arjjumend explained the organization of the information about RG on the dedicated website minoritymap.org
• Following the short presentation of above on screen, Agenda 1 [Decentralization Plan of Regional Gathering] was taken up for the discussion. Dr. Arjjumend introduced the matter by quoting the proposal of Alfred Haxhari. The apprehension was that none of the place in Albania has a capacity to accommodate or handle a gathering of 3000 or more people. Therefore, only the representatives of shepherd communities from different zones should be invited to gather.
• Alfred Haxhari described his proposal in Albanian to all the participants. Dr. Petrit Dobi intervened to seek some clarification. Martine Wolff also added her clarification quoting the proposal of Alfred Haxhari.
• On the proposal of Mr. Alfred Haxhari, Dr. Arjjumend reflected that such a conference of the representatives from shepherds and other stakeholders will be suitable at the conclusion phase of Regional Gathering phases. However, if we do only this one event attracting 100-200 people cannot be adequate and effective from hard advocacy point of view. Several participants agreed on this preposition. This concluding event may be possible towards end of May 2026.
• Petrit raised a couple of questions about the size of zonal gathering and the types of stakeholders to be invited. Martine Wolff answered about the size of gathering to be 500.
• Arjjumend narrated his views about decentralization plan. It is better to divide Albania into zones wherever shepherds live. At zonal level, a zonal gathering can be organized with the expected participation of 300-500 shepherds and other stakeholders. “Western Balkans Declaration for Pastoralists” will be documented well before first zonal gathering, and signatures of present participants will be taken on the Declaration. He explained that the shepherds are the primary stakeholders and their gathering is critical to raise their voices collectively. Signatures cannot be taken from homes of shepherds; instead, they must gather and sacrifice their time, money and efforts. They should not be given welfare at home.
• Kristiaq Skenderi presented his optimistic ideas about the possibility of gathering 3000 people. A long debate has happened among the participants in Albanian language. Dr. Petrit, Mr. Alfred and Mr. Hafuz Domi had discussed quite long in Albanian. Again, the collective opinion seemed to shift to the centralized gathering of 3000 people. But the participants were still not confident and sure.
• Lastly, the discussion moved back to the decentralized zonal gatherings in Albania and other WB countries, followed by the concluding event of representatives. Matine Wolff, Dr. Petrit specially vouched this process.
• The meeting concluded with the following decisions:
  1. Decentralized Zonal Gatherings are convenient idea and zonal gathering would have better chances of success.
  2. 5-6 zones in Albania were identified, namely Zone 1: Skhoder; Zone 2: Elbasan; Zone 3: Diber; Zone 4: Korce; Zone 5: Gjirokaster. The 6^th zone may be Kukes, but still not sure.
  3. For each zone, there will be one Zonal Coordinator, who will then provide basic data in a table to be supplied by Dr. Arjjumend. This data will need to be filled within a week. The data will be updated on website accordingly.

Invitation and Agenda

Dear Friends,

Greetings and wishes for your sound health & prosperity!!!

Referring to the Western Balkan Regional Gathering of Pastoralists scheduled to take place in April-May in Albania and other WB countries, we need to discuss several critical things, for example:

1. Decentralized Plan for Regional Gathering
2. Organizing Committees at Zonal Levels
3. Pre-Gathering Preparatory Activities
4. Western Balkans Pastoralists’ Declaration
5. Invitation of Partners and Collaborators
6. Organizational Issues

May we join together to plan things systematically? Please join at Google Meet https://meet.google.com/woe-hcww-qtr. Kindly confirm your participation.

Meeting Date: 22 November 2026, Saturday

Meeting Start Time: 18.00 Hours [6 pm] – Central European Time or Tirana Time

If you wish to recommend someone’s name to attend this planning meeting, please send the names and emails. Or, you may also forward this letter. Please note that this is not a general meeting. This is a special meeting to revise the RG plan. We can conduct a meeting with Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro colleagues separately. Let us plan Albania first.