Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Speech at the Meeting with Albanian Teachers in Greece, where, for the first time, a financial support program for 50 teachers is being launched, which will later expand to Greece and other countries:
I am very pleased that we have turned the initiative we discussed last time into a reality. I would like to especially thank the ambassador for giving special attention to this initiative, which has greatly facilitated our work. Of course, I must also thank the teachers for their commitment.
This is just the beginning of the process. This is the first group of “swallows” heralding the spring of the Albanian language in Greece, and of course, we’ve learned a lot from this entire journey. We understand that it’s not just a matter of identifying and registering teachers and providing their salaries through the Albanian state, but there are other elements that need to be considered and addressed. We will do this through close collaboration with you, and our ambition is to significantly increase this number and, in fact, reach a point where no area is left without the opportunity to learn the Albanian language. This is our goal.
I am glad that, in a way, a considerable effort by many of you who started this work a long time ago has finally been rewarded. You have shown a lot of dedication, and of course, we’ve had significant challenges along the way. But beyond the reward, there is also respect, and beyond the contract, there is gratitude.
I know that the gratitude of the Albanian state toward you is something that you particularly value, and I am happy that today we can talk about something that has been accomplished, rather than something we will do in the future. Naturally, some may ask, “Why did it take so long?” Because everything we do takes time, and it took time because the legacy has been extremely heavy, and our position has been very, very difficult.
Today, we are in a completely different position, and I’m happy to say that our relations with the government and authorities here are in a much better state than before. Of course, they still need to improve even more, and we will do everything we can to make them even stronger. However, the most important thing is that a big window of opportunity has opened for us to become part of the European Union. Once that happens, we will transition as a nation, as a state, and as an Albanian society to an entirely new level. Many things, which have already changed significantly for Albanians in Greece and Europe, will change even more. The feeling of equality will no longer just be an awareness of what we’ve managed to achieve for ourselves, but it will be officially sealed when we become equal members of the European Union.
Being at the same table as Greece as equals will make us stronger as a neighborhood here in the Balkans, and we will be able to do things that we could not have done without this new status. This is not something for the distant future—this is something tangible that will be the result of all our efforts and will come to fruition in the next few years. I am proud of the progress we’ve made so far, but we must continue to give our best. We must not let this historic opportunity slip away. Let’s raise the red and black flag in the courtyard of the European Union, alongside all the other flags, and the flag of this country where you are now respected citizens, contributing to the economy and society with dignity. You deserve all our admiration and, of course, the full respect of the Greek state.
Thank you!