The 20th anniversary of BANTAO (Balkan Cities Association of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs)

The Balkan Cities Association of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs (BANTAO) was born in Ohrid (Figure 1), Republic of Macedonia, on 9 October 1993 at the first Congress of the Macedonian Society of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs (MSNDTAO) [1]. At that very moment, bloody wars raged in former Yugoslavia. Fratricide, destruction and cruelty were the norm. Nevertheless, in spite of the hatred and political intrigue, Balkan nephrologists were willing to cooperate with one another. The war in Yugoslavia created hate among people and between the newly established countries. There were even problems with the recognition of the names of the new countries. To overcome this, the nephrologists in the Balkans decided to apply the ancient principle of using the names of the cities, instead of countries, in founding BANTAO (Figure 2). So it came into being as the Balkan Cities Association of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs. The idea was to create a nephrology association from the Balkan cities and form a collaboration across the iron gates of borders and beyond the perverse and bloody political nationalistic ideology. The main goal of BANTAO was to promote scientific and technical cooperation for renal diseases and artificial organs among cities of the Balkan Peninsula and with the international nephrology community. It was important to create opportunities for the exchange of expert experience and knowledge and to take part in collaborative projects. This was a rare opportunity to transcend divisions, obstructions and distrust in this unfortunate and turbulent part of Europe. A task force was formed from representatives of different cities from the Balkans: S. Kodra (Tirana), D. Nenov (Varna), Z. Kirjakov (Sofia), Gj. Masin (Skopje), M. Polenakovic (Skopje), F. Akcicek (Izmir), E.J. Dorhout Mess (Izmir), Lj. Djukanovic (Belgrade), A. Radmilovic (Belgrade) and S. Strahinjic (Nis). Momir H. Polenakovic, President of the MSNDTAO, was elected chairman of this task force. Some Western European nephrologists (H. Klinkman, J. Vienken, E.J. Dorhout Mees, D. Falkenhagen and P. Ivanovich), the European Society of Artificial Organs (ESAO) and the International Faculty for Artificial Organs (IFAO) have greatly assisted our initial efforts to establish the BANTAO. The first BANTAO Congress was held in Varna, Bulgaria from 22 to 24 September 1995 (when the Balkan wars were still at their height) under the presidency of D. Nenov (Varna). The congress in Varna was successful, with >80 papers presented by nephrologists from the Balkans and other European cities. The first BANTAO Congress had a positive impact on the nephrology community in Europe. Our Spanish colleague, the late F. Valderràbano, published a congress report [2]: ‘Nephrologists of the Balkan countries meet across political frontiers and war fronts— an example to politicians! BANTAO: a new European medical association overcomes political obstacles. This is an extraordinary initiative of nephrologists working in cities throughout the Balkan countries who have been able to create a scientific association and to organize its first congress, despite the boundaries of war, the rupture of international relations and other serious political problems which emerged in the Balkan countries after the disappearance of the former Republic of Yugoslavia. The main goal of BANTAO is to promote scientific and technical cooperation in the field of renal diseases and artificial organs between the Balkan cities. This goal will be achieved not only through a periodical congress, but also through lecturer exchange, fellowship exchange, scientific research methods exchange, joint meetings and courses, publications and cooperation in the field of renal transplant. BANTAO wants to work closely with other international societies and especially with EDTA-ERA. BANTAO represents an extraordinary initiative and should receive both scientific and economic support from the EDTA-ERA. The exceptional effort of collaboration shown by our Balkan colleagues, who have been able to carry out scientific activities in extremely adverse human conditions, is an example to the European nephrological community, which should not hesitate to offer all possible help to this new association’. As Valderràbano suggested, ERA-EDTA (four supported CME courses) and also ISN (two events) have given encouragement and practical help to the BANTAO