• “We are here to do nothing but our best.”

It is truly a special pleasure for us to be gathered here today for yet another symbolic and meaningful moment in the contemporary history of our city, the capital of Albania—a moment when Tirana is officially designated as the Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue for the year 2025. I would like to begin by quoting a saying from Eqerem Çabej, who writes: “If you want to understand a nation, walk through the streets of its capital.”

Today, walking through the alleyways of our capital is not as easy due to an extraordinary transformation—the largest transformation the city has ever undergone in its history.

Nevertheless, today, those same alleyways and streets of Tirana stand as proof of this remarkable change. Moreover, the fact that Tirana has been chosen for four consecutive years to carry the torch of significance—in 2022, the European Capital of Youth; in 2023, the European Capital of Sport; in 2024, the European Capital of Tourism; and in 2025, the Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue—proves that this transformation is not just something we hope to see, but something tangible and visible to all.

Additionally, this moment of Tirana being named the Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue is not just an acknowledgment of the city itself, but a recognition of our society, our history, our culture, and our way of living together. The religious harmony we enjoy here is clear to all, and it holds particular significance in today’s world, where such harmony is becoming increasingly rare. To put it simply, as Pope Francis has described it, it is a brotherhood of faith.

This year offers a unique opportunity to further strengthen this message, and I am very pleased to announce that soon we will be launching another major international competition, conceived in collaboration with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. This competition will focus on the creation of a grand Faith Park.

Thanks to our collaboration with the President and the government of the UAE, we are proceeding with this project. We have already identified the land, which will be located on the outskirts of the capital. This park will be a large space for people of all faiths and beliefs, religious or non-religious, where nature, flowers, plants, and fruits will symbolize the diverse sources of various faiths.

Beyond this, many other things have already happened, and even more are set to take place in Tirana. In the coming months, the city will host numerous activities, exhibitions, concerts, festivals, and cultural and artistic events, all working to create a mosaic of Mediterranean identity, in line with its role as the European Capital of Culture and Dialogue in the Mediterranean.

This hasn’t happened overnight, but neither has it taken an eternity. And of course, the best is yet to come. I am confident that Tirana has not yet realized its full potential. What we see today is undeniably a transformed city—almost unrecognizable to those who return after many years.

I would like to express my gratitude to the team at the Municipality of Tirana, especially Anuela, and the entire leadership. I also want to thank everyone who has been and will continue to be involved in organizing this ambitious calendar for the year of Tirana as the Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue. And I thank all of you for your almost heroic patience, without any complaints. I don’t believe I’ve said anything new, but I sincerely hope the best is yet to come for all of us. And I assure you that we are here to do nothing but our best.

Thank you very much!