Divisions on the unification day

The celebration program for the 568th anniversary of the lezhe Covenant predicts in details even the number of dancers and their clothes. The program compiled by the state predicts that the speeches in this ceremony will be by led the Mayor of Lezhe, and President of the Republic and the Prime Minister. But President Topi, who had confirmed his presence since Thursday, was not present this Friday at the ceremony.

What happened that made him change his mind overnight? This is clarified very officially by the Presidency: to the President was denied the right to give a speech in the activity. This change was announced to the President this Friday, on the verge of the ceremony.

The State Protocol Director at the Foreign Ministry communicated to the Presidency’s Cabinet that only the Prime Minister would hold a speech in the meeting. This was confirmed by a second program, called the Covenant Agenda, sent by the Lezhe Municipality, as organizer of the event. On this new agenda was written that after finishing his speech, the Mayor would invite the Prime Minister for his speech.

The Presidency considered this act as exclusive, an indecent official behavior, a flagrant violation of the State Protocol norms and a lack of respect for the Lezhe institutions and citizens. In these conditions, the President refused to formally participate in this ceremony.

Who is right? If we address to the Albanian Republic Ceremonial, the official greeting speech in important manifestation and celebrations is made right after the opening speech, held by the highest hosting authority, in this case, the Mayor. The greeting speech is held by the highest state authority, appointed according to the program of the event, or even earlier, with protocol. According to the Albanian protocol, the priority in the Albanian Republic is the Albanian President, The Parliament Speaker and the Prime Minister.

In absence of the President, the speech should have been held by the Parliament Speaker, Jozefina Topalli, and not Prime Minister Berisha. But the Albanian Republic Ceremonial has another rule that says that the President of the Republic, the Parliament Speaker and the Prime Minister will never make their greeting on the same activity. If President Topi would have a speech, Prime Minister Berisha would be unable to speak after him. At least this is what is written in paper. In practice, the speech was held by Prime Minister Sali Berisha. 
The Head of the Albanian State, President Bamir Topi, greeted from Tirana the citizens of Lezhe and the entire people for the 568th anniversary of Lezha’s Convention.

President: Joining energies and political wills

The Head of the Albanian State, President Bamir Topi, greeted from
Tirana the citizens of Lezhe and the entire people for the 568th
anniversary of Lezha’s Convention.

The President declared that “in the history of a nation, same as in the life of a man, there are dates and places that with their symbolic and importance remain irreplaceable, are commemorated with the biggest respect and inspire the road towards future”.

“March 2nd remains the symbolic day of unification, when the strong and wise men left their divisions aside and decided to politically unify the Albanians. They laid the foundations of the new European state of the Albanians, and with this act they opposed one of the biggest occupying empires that Europe has ever known. With a high patriotic conscience, with the clear vision for the Albanian nation and identity, with the political ability to join under one single flag and nation, the Albanian leaders, led by Gjergj Kastrioti, founded the Albanian Covenant and the new Albanian state”, Topi declared in his speech.

The Head of the Albanian State noted that “the Albanians and their nation need a covenant about the democratic values and norms, a political mentality that sees beyond the political headquarters or the interests of the moment, in order to unite the best energies and civilized political wills, for better understanding the historic chance of the Albanian nation for perfecting the model of the state in service of the citizens, for making a more humane society and more active citizens, for noting the real values, for reinforcing the democratic culture and the political-economical independence of the free citizens, and for making what is expected by us, what we owe the citizens and what the citizens deserve, for a state and an Albanian nation in well-being, development, democratic stability and without losing any more time, joined in the big European family”.

Berisha: Albanians led by Scanderbeg’s vision for freedom

The 568th anniversary of the Lezhe Covenant was commemorated in the town of Lezhe, in the 100th year of Albanian independence.

In the activity organized by the Municipality there were personalities from Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro. After the reception at the city’s Municipality, in the Scanderbeg’s tomb was held the ceremony with wreaths, in honor of the National Hero who united all Albanian noblemen by creating the Albanian nation and its survival during the years. After this ceremony, the participants visited the Covenant’s Obelisk.

“The 100th year of independence, as a jubilee, makes us very proud, and we have the obligation to celebrate in a great way every celebration of this year, since 100 years of independence are a great wealth and heritage that will serve us as an experience in perfecting the elements, the relations and the institutions that make this state”, the declared Viktor Tushe, the Mayor of Lezhe.

In this ceremony was present the vice Chairman of the Kosovo Parliament, Xhevat Haliti.

“We have been suffering and experiencing horrible oppression by Serbia for the last 100 years, and we are here today to thank you for what you have done for us, you and the Albanian state. We thank the Albanians throughout the world, who defended and helped us in our just cause for the freedom of Kosovo”, Haliti declared.

Prime Minister Berisha declared that Scanderbeg’s vision for freedom led the Albanians in the wars through centuries.

“The biggeset honor that we can make to the Albanian noblemen that gathered here 568 years ago; the biggest honor that we can make to our legendary leader, Scanderbeg, is to follow with determination their vision, the western national vocation, and make everything possible for entering the EU, for turning Albania, Kosovo and the lands where the Albanians live, in developed lands and countries”, Berisha declared.

The activities continued with a concert.

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