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From Doctrine to Duty: The Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and the Accountability of the International Community
No full textThe Responsibility to Protect (R2P) was established as a global political commitment to prevent and respond to mass atrocity crimes when national authorities fails to protect its own population. Since its endorsement at the 2005 UN World Summit, R2P has evolved from a normative framework into a contested principle and has been marked by growing controversy and dispute over the nature and legitimacy of international involvement. This article critically examines the gap between the rhetorical commitment to R2P and the actual accountability of the international community in fulfilling its duties. Focusing on failures and limited successes in the implementation of R2P, the paper explores how political interests, geopolitical calculations, institutional paralysis, and the emphasis on sovereignty have undermined timely and effective responses. The article argues for a reconsideration of accountability mechanisms, both legal and political, within the international order. Without clearer guidelines, stronger enforcement, and collective political will, R2P risks remaining a symbolic doctrine rather than evolving into a concrete obligation to protect populations from atrocity crimes
Confidence, Coalition, and Sustainable Governance in the 21st Century
No full textThis study examines the transformation of international governance through three imperatives: restoring the public sector\u27s leadership amid private dominance, rethinking postCold War Good Governance models that have reached their limits, and recognising the growing ownership of reforms by host nations under the guidance of multilateral actors like the World Bank. It argues that the sustainable governance depends on four principles: confidence rooted in competence to rebuild trust; the global fight against corruption as the main barrier to progress; the formation of coalitions that view compromise as progress, not weakness; and the sustaining of hope through long-term citizen engagement. Together, these principles propose a framework for adaptive, inclusive, and durable governance-one that revitalised public institution, transcends outdated paradigms, and strengthens international cooperation in an increasingly complex global environment
Secret Diplomacy as an Instrument for the Resolution of Contemporary Conflicts
No full textSecret diplomacy, as an important form of international relations conducted behind closed doors, is one of the most effective mechanisms for resolving complex conflicts in situations where public and formal negotiation channels fail to deliver results. Its main advantage lies in the ability to free actors from external pressure, rigid political positions, and public scrutiny, thereby creating space for a more honest exchange of views and the exploration of compromise solutions. Through discretion and flexibility, secret diplomacy enables the building of trust between conflicting parties and the testing of options that would otherwise face resistance in a public context. Historical examples confirm its value: the secret negotiations that led to the 1993 Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, or the secret communication channels during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis between the United States and the Soviet Union. However, despite these advantages, secret diplomacy also carries certain risks. The lack of transparency can result in undemocratic decision-making, loss of legitimacy, and even the contestation of agreements reached in later stages of the peace process. In the modern international environment—characterized by a multiplicity of actors and spheres of interest—secret diplomacy remains relevant and often indispensable. Nevertheless, its success depends on the ability to translate results achieved in secrecy into formal and legitimate agreements, thus ensuring long-term stability and sustainability. Combined with public and institutional diplomacy, secret diplomacy is emerging as a key instrument for the prevention, management, and resolution of conflicts in the 21st century
Burnout and wellbeing pf mental health workforce in Kosovo: A mediational analysis of resilience
No full textWork-related stress and burnout are considered a global epidemic by the World Health Organization. Mental health professionals are among the professions most affected by this; resulting in decreased well-being and mental health. Resilience has been seen as a factor that can mitigate these harmful effects. Despite this, these issues have not received the attention they deserve. Objective This study aimed to investigate the level of burnout and well-being among mental health workers, examining stressors and the mediating role of resilience. Methods Its cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 76 mental health professionals (27% of all Kosovo mental health workforce), aged 27 to 62 (Mage=45.61; SD=7.48). Participants were recruited during a Continued Medical Education. They completed the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (Demerouti et al., 2003), Brief Resilience Scale (Smith et al, 2008) and WHO-5 Well-Being Index (WHO,1998). Data processing was done with SPSS 27.0 and Microsoft Excel 2019. Results The prevalence of Burnout high scores was 50 (65.8 %) while the 27 (35.5 %) resulted with low resilience scores, 42 (55.3%) declared themselves very satisfied with their job. Only 7 or 9.2 % scored low in Well-being. Among the most commonly perceived stress factors were inadequate payment, ingratitude from others and lack of motivation to work. Significant negative correlations of burnout were observed with Job Satisfaction (r = -.332, p \u3c 0.004) and Well-being (r = -.413, p \u3c 0.000). A mediation analysis conducted to test whether Resilience mediates the relationship between Burnout and Well-being suggests that there is no significant mediation (B = .0001, BootSE = .0549, 95% CI [−.1148, .1172]) and that the impact of Burnout on Well-being is direct (B = −1.161, SE = .334, p = .0009, 95% CI [−1.8286, −.4934]). Conclusions About 2/3 of mental health professionals report burnout. Despite this, over half of them are satisfied with their jobs and about 1/10 of them have low well-being. Other factors (but not resilience) may be protective in this case. Despite the fact that low sample size may be limiting factors, these findings should be taken seriously and addressed by mental health authorities in Kosovo through preventive strategies/programs. Additionally, further studies with more appropriate design are indicative
The relationship between lateralization of hemisphere and socioscholary competencies in 10–11-year-old students
No full textThe lateralizing dominance that defines right-handers and left-handers appears as an important predictor in the explanation of the effect of social and scholary competence. The purpose of this research is conceived through examining the relationship between lateralization on one hand and social-scholary competence on the other, and at the same time elaborates the effects of criteria variable on socio-scholary competence. In the research design, a total of 87 subjects (N=40 males and N=47 females) were taken, where the socio-scholary competences of the students were measured through the Scale of Social-Scholary Competence (SHKSSH). The researchers\u27 expectations were in the direction of the existence of a relationship between the criterion variable and the research variables, while the results of this research confirmed the non-existence of differences between right and left lateralization in the manifestation of social and scholary competencies in students, concluding in the absence of the expected effect between lateralization and the research variables. At the same time, the correlation analysis did not confirm any statistically significant relationship between lateralization and socio-scholary competencies. The research findings indicate the need for psychostimulating programs and activities on socio-scholary competencies not to be burdened with activity designs that are based on lateralizing dominance. Socio-scholary competencies are unaffected by dominant lateralization
Assessment of the Approach and Use of Medicines among Minority Communities in Kosovo
No full textIntroduction- Since Kosovo declared independence in 2008, it has made considerable progress in rebuilding the post-war healthcare system. However, the system continues to face major challenges, suchas insufficient funding, slow healthcare reforms, and tha lack of adequate services in certain regions. These groups often encounter difficulties due to social, economic, and cultural barriers, which affect access to and utilization of pharmaceutical therapies. Objective- This study has the objective to analyze the access and use of medicines by minority communities in Kosovo, focusing on the factors that help or hinder the use of medicines and healthcare services. The research is designed to provide valuable information that can help health policies to ensure fairer and more appropriate services for these groups, by promoting health equlity and social justice. Methodology- This study employs a quantitative, descriptive, and analytical design, utilizing a random sample of 300 participants from minority groups. This approach enables the identification of key influencing factors, including geographical, cultural, and economic barriers to medicine use. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire specifically designed to evaluate access, utilization, and experiences of minority communities in relation to medicines and healthcare services. Results- A total of 300 respondents participated in this study, all of whom were patients attending Primary Healthcare Centers in the municipality of Ferizaj. The data analysis revealed that 298 participants belonged to Roma, Ashkali, ang Egyptian communities, while only 2 participants were from the Bosniak community. Regarding the age distribution, the most represented age group was 31-45 years, with 83 participants, while the least represented age group was 18-30 years, with 65 participants. Furthermore, 206 of these patients stated that they have poor access to medicines in pharmacies operating within the primary healthcare system. Conclusion- In general, it is concluded that access to medicines and healthcare services for minority communities in Kosovo remains limited anf often inadequate to meet the real needs of these groups
Endoscopic Findings in Patients with Dyspepsia at the Private Clinic Gastromed AFM , Pristina, Kosova
No full textBackground: Dyspepsia is one of the most frequent clinical problems in daily practice. This paper aims to evaluate the endoscopic findings of the upper gastrointestinal tract in patients with dyspepsia at a private clinic in Pristina. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the Private Clinic Gastromed AFM in Pristina from January 2025 to July 2025. The study included adult patients who underwent upper endoscopy due to dyspeptic complaints. Results: Sixty upper endoscopies for dyspepsia were performed on 34 males (56.7%) and 26 females (43.3%), with a mean age of 48.13 years (SD ± 16.946). Regarding complaints, epigastric pain was the most common (19 patients, 31.7%). Nineteen patients had previously undergone surgical operations. More than half of the patients used medications (NSAIDs, 11; amlodipine, 4). Only five patients used tobacco, while three consumed alcohol. Two patients had a pollen allergy, and two were lactose intolerant. The urease test was positive in 16 (26.7%) patients. Eighteen patients had alarm signs. Significant endoscopic signs were present in 33 patients (55%), half of whom had erosive esophagitis and erosive gastritis. Conclusions: The most frequent complaint was epigastric pain. More than half of the patients had significant endoscopic signs. Erosive esophagitis and erosive gastritis were observed in half of these patients
Strengthening Pharmacovigilance for Cardiovascular and Diuretic Agents: Challenges, Trends, and Future Directions
No full textCardiovascular and diuretic agents are among the most widely prescribed drug classes globally, particularly in aging populations with comorbidities such as hypertension, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. Despite their therapeutic benefits, these agents are frequently associated with adverse drug reactions (ADRs), including electrolyte imbalances, renal dysfunction, hypotension, and arrhythmias. The aim of this work is to explore the current landscape of pharmacovigilance related to cardiovascular and diuretic drugs, highlighting trends in ADR reporting, underreporting challenges, and signal detection methods. Real-world case data and post-marketing surveillance findings will be discussed to underscore the importance of early risk identification and mitigation. Additionally, we will propose strategies to enhance pharmacovigilance systems—such as leveraging digital health tools and promoting stakeholder education—to ensure drug safety and optimize patient outcomes
Effective Control of Hypertension with Single-Pill Combination Antihypertensive Drugs
No full textArterial hypertension is a major global health concern, often requiring effective management strategies to reduce cardiovascular risks. This study underscores the clinical effectiveness of Single Pill Combination (SPC) therapy in managing hypertension among patients previously on monotherapy or suboptimal treatment regimens. Although BMI and comorbidities such as dyslipidemia were prevalent, they did not consistently predict treatment response—highlighting the complex interplay of factors influencing blood pressure outcomes. Although there was variation in how each patient responded, SPC therapy generally led to better control of blood pressure. Further research is still needed to understand what other factors may influence the success of this treatment over time
The Economic Impact of University–Industry Collaboration: The Case of Albania
No full textUniversity–industry collaboration (UIC) is now considered a strategic driver for development and economic growth, knowledge transfer, and innovation capacity, particularly in developing economies. This paper examines the economic impact of UIC in the Albanian context, where structural challenges in higher education and low industrial competitiveness have historically limited the establishment of mutual partnerships. By analyzing national policies, university institutional frameworks, and firm-level data, the study highlights the opportunities and barriers that shape effective collaboration. Findings indicate that UIC in Albania remains underdeveloped, often characterized by informal relationships and a lack of financing mechanisms. However, promising initiatives in sectors such as information and communication technology (ICT), agriculture, and renewable energy suggest an increasing alignment between academic research and market needs. The paper concludes that strengthening institutional frameworks, aligning university curricula with labor market demands, and developing joint public–private funding schemes are essential to realizing the full economic potential of university–industry collaboration in Albania