The Konrad Adenauer Foundation

 

Freedom, justice and solidarity are the basic principles underlying the work of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS). The KAS is a political foundation, closely associated with values of Christian Democratic Politics. As co-founder of the CDU (Christian Democratic Union) and the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Konrad Adenauer (1876-1967) united Christian-social, conservative and liberal traditions.

 

The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung is committed to fostering democracy and the rule of law, to implementing social and market-economic structures and to promoting human rights. With its worldwide networks to the political and social elites and with its long-term partner structures, it participates in shaping policy in developing and emerging countries. By training and educating young professionals, the KAS promotes the developing process in social groups and political parties. The Foundation fosters decentralization processes based on the values of freedom, solidarity and justice by facilitating projects for public institutions in order to enhance their technical and administrative performance.

 

The KAS works in accordance to its Christian responsibility. Its charter stipulates the task to elaborate the groundwork for the political working by means of research and consultancy. This is more than just giving advice on actual political questions. It means to research on the implications of modern democracies in nowadays time of media which includes preparing reforms by political education and to evolve to a foresighted policy which helps avoiding crisis beforehand.

 

Currently the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung holds nearly 80 foreign offices and projects in over 100 countries, virtually worldwide. That is why the foundation had built an international consulting network.

 

www.kas.de

 

The Konrad Adenauer Foundation in the Republic of Kosovo

 

The Konrad Adenauer Foundation opened its Skopje office on 1 July 2000 and a small local office in Pristine in 2007. Since then various seminars, workshops and conferences were organized throughout the countries.

 

Human beings in their distinctive dignity and with their rights and responsibilities have always been at the heart of our work. We are guided by the conviction that human beings are the starting point in the effort to bring about social justice and democratic freedom while promoting sustainable economic activity. By bringing people together who embrace their responsibilities in society, we develop active networks in the political and economic spheres as well as in society itself. The guidance we provide on the basis of our political know-how and knowledge helps to shape the globalization and European integration process along more socially equitable, ecologically sustainable and economically efficient lines.

 

Ever since, the Foundation’s work is primarily directed at promoting the dialogue between people of different ethnic origin and religious orientation. The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung creates the foundation for political education free of stereotypes in a liberal and democratic form. In this framework, local young politicians, journalists and decision makers from politics and society are informed and trained in practice through workshops, seminars and conferences on political, economic and social issues.

 

We cooperate with governmental institutions, political parties, civil society organizations, universities, media and handpicked elites, building strong partnerships along the way. In particular we seek to intensify political cooperation in the area of development cooperation at the national and international levels on the foundations of our objectives and values. Together with our partners we make a contribution to the creation of an international order that enables every country to develop in freedom and under its own responsibility.

 

The focus of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung in the Republic of Kosovo

 

Political education Politicians have an opportunity through seminars, trainings and workshops to prepare themselves for taking over political responsibility;

 

Civic education and strengthening civic society The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung views political and civic education as part of its core business. Our aim is to empower citizens to promote our liberal democracy and to assume an active role in politics and society. Towards this end, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung provides background knowledge in politics and economics and promotes the emergence of active citizens in our democracy. Beyond providing knowledge about institutions or a forum for current debates, civic education projects the value-based foundations of our democratic order. For this reason, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung addresses questions not only about how, but also about what and why things are happening in democracy and politics. Instead of confining itself to teaching knowledge, it communicates the conditions and objectives of political action based on fundamental values.

 

European integration process The Konrad Adenauer Foundation underlines with its activities the great importance of the European integration and enlargement process for the future of the continent by organizing seminars and conferences on current European issues, in order to accompany the transformation and integration process in Southeast Europe;

 

Support of inter ethnic and interreligious dialogue This is the only chance to keep the integration of Kosovo. People of different races and believes shall live peacefully together. To create awareness among the population for religious and ethnic diversity and to build tolerance, as well as to contribute to the democratization process of the country by promoting freedom of expression, inter-ethnic and inter-religious dialogue and pluralism.

 

Free media In the framework of global democracy promotion, one of the special priorities of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung is the support of free and independent media as an essential precondition for the opinion-making of citizens in a democracy. The central objective of the media activities of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung is to strengthen the role of media in the process of democratization and transformation. This can be achieved only when all relevant players are involved. Apart from the journalists, key stakeholders are the media owners, politics, civil society and science. It aims at achieving a shared understanding of the role of media in democracy.

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

Preparing and promoting of publications is a very important part of presenting political ideas and experience, information and scientific research works. It is also a way of showing transparency of the work of the Foundation.

 

Therefore, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation is paying particular concern on constantly issuing publications, magazines and brochures as well as supporting the publications of its partners.

 

For ordering the publications please contact: phone: +381 (0) 38 229 874; e-mail: prishtina@kas.de