Veliaj: Albania, our joint project

Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj has indicated at the 105th anniversary of Independence in “Square. Skenderbej” that Albania is the joint project.

In New Square “Skenderbej”, laid down and surrounded symbolically by stones and trees from all Albanian trains, at the sound of the National Heritage executed for the first time by about 60 guitarists, Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, Tirana Mayor Susan Jaholar, head of the District Council, Aldrin Dalipi, MPs, ministers, representatives of the religious communities, war veterans and citizens of Tirana, participated in the ceremony to raise the National Flag.

This is certainly the best day for all Albanians, wherever they live. It's a sacred day for all of us, a moment to remember how many roads we've made since that distant day 105 years ago, when the fathers of the nation declared our Albania's independence. November 28th 1912 was the crowning of a war and a long effort to establish our Albanian state. But it wasn't actually the end of the road. Fathers of the nation who raised the flag in Vlora that day, patriots who raised Albania's flag in all major cities knew that very well. 28 November was just the beginning of a challenge still difficult to get that war-torn country, conquests and build a modern European state”, he said.

Veliaj stressed that such important days for Albania's history should serve today's generation to realize that the courage and sacrifice of our ancestors was for better Albania and a secure future.

I believe that 28 November is a day to remember and respect all those who fought for independence and who did their part to advance the Albania project. But I'm sure if we had the opportunity today to ask any of those men and women who had the fortune of becoming part of that day, the message they would give us is that 28 November is above all a day to look forward, to being united and to work hard towards the future as we dream and plan the other 105 years of our state”, the head of Tirana's municipality added.

Therefore, he stressed, the message this day conveys to us is that each generation, at any time, should make its contribution to Albania's project. “Albania is not only our homeland, it is not just our country. Albania is our joint project. And I believe this is the most important message of this day. Albania is the joint project for each generation to do its part, its duty, its mission and move the country forward. You also know the history of “Square Skender Behem” You know this square was the longest-lived infrastructure project of Albanians, which began in 1913 and ended just a few months ago in 2017, 104 years of work. It is a project that in many forms actually reminds us of Albania's history, the way a century ago gave birth to a project that was then inherited from generation to generation, until it was finally successfully crowned in 2017 to return to the 0th kiloometry of all Albanians, in a space that symbolically represents our unity as a nation, but also the long way to achieve our forefathers, Veliaj stressed.

Meanwhile, earlier Tirana Mayor Andy Seferi, accompanied by Tirana Mayor Susan Jaholar, head of the District Council, Aldrin Dalipi, members of Tirana's Municipal Council, representatives of religious communities, and citizens of Tirana, placed flower wreaths at the Monument of Independence at “Rinia” park. In the case of Independence Day, Tirana City Hall has organised a series of festive activities that have started since this morning and will be closed in the evening with opera “Skenderbeu” at the National Opera and Ballet Theatre.