President of Albania, Bajram Begaj, started today a several-day official visit to the municipalities inhabited by the Arbëresh comunity in the Calabria region in Italy, at the invitation of the local authorities and the Regional Institute of the Arbërs Community of Calabria.
President Begaj was in the town of Catanzaro with the President of Calabria, Roberto Occhiuto, and with other representatives of the municipalities and provinces of the region, with whom he discussed the commitment of Italy and Albania in support of the historic Albanian diaspora there.
Special attention was paid to the intensification of economic and commercial cooperation between Albania and the region of Calabria.
“I am blessed to be here today, with you. I thank the President of the Region of Calabria, the Regional Institute of the Arbëresh Community of Calabria! I thank them for the invitation, for the hospitality and for all the support.
“Calabria is the new homeland of our ancestors, who were forced to leave their lands not willingly but forced by the invaders,” said Begaj referring to the exodus of the 14-th century.
He further added: “Nevertheless, they inherit, preserve and promote the Albanian language, tradition, culture and every other element related to their Albanian identity.”
Begaj added that Italy occupies the first place in Albania for trade exchanges, but together with the regional head, he will try to make Calabria the first.
“We will look into the future for all the opportunities that both countries can offer for economic and commercial cooperation. The President has achieved this by establishing a direct airline that takes 50 minutes from Tirana to Calabria. The first steps have been taken. We will now see other opportunities for cooperation through universities and increased commercial exchange”.
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