Honourable members of European Parliament,

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

We feel proud and deeply flattered that one of the professors of the University of Prishtina, Mr Ukshin Hoti, is nominated for the Sakharov Prize. No matter how the nomination itself of any of our professors would be an acknowledgement of our work, Mr. Hoti is much more than simply one of our professors.

Besides being highly regarded for his professional skills as a lecturer and pedagogue, Mr. Hoti was loved by the students for his moral principles and courage to always side with students. He was among the few professors who publicly defend the students in 1981.

With time, he became a symbol of the denied right for freedom, a symbol of sacrifice, a symbol of wanted liberty. He became a living legend, someone the students were looking for each of their professors.

We, the student of the University of Prishtina express our full support for the nomination of Mr. Hoti for the Sakharov Prize, because we believe that this would be a moral satisfaction not only for Mr. Hoti but also for all the other imprisoned students and professors of our University.

with respect,

Student Independent Union

of the University of Prishtina

Bujar DUGOLLI, president

University of Prishtina

Students Independent Union

Tel/Fax ++381 38 533 843

e-mail upsup@albanian.com