Speech of Prime Minister Edi Rama at a meeting with veterans, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Albania:

Happy 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Homeland!

Welcome!

I don’t have many words to add to those listed by the Speaker of Parliament. I just want to express, on behalf of the Government, my deepest gratitude to all of you and all those who are here present and also, to bow respectfully, along with all of you, to honor the glorious memory of all the heroes and witnesses of the anti-fascist war.

On the other hand I want to emphasize that we are very proud that today we are here, respectfully and with an ongoing effort to incarnate through our government and through our struggles, those ideals, those dreams and expectations that led many girls and boys on the road of a war for liberation, which was crowned on 29 November 1944.

And of course it is unfortunate that liberation day is not talked about by those who fought the war and liberated the country, but by those who betrayed it or by those who were not even there.

On the other hand there is no doubt that the effort to constantly attack and question the date determined by those who were on the battlefield, is an attempt to hide November 29 behind November 28 and to not recognize Liberation War it has tremendous value of ranging the Albanian people and Albania on the side of the winners of a battle to the death and saved the world from the plague of Nazism and Fascism.

Well, we see with regret of all who desperately try to encroach November 29 and confuse it with everything great that liberation day brought, as a result of the establishment of a dictatorship. There are two things that cannot be confused with each other because, like today, on 29 November 1944 the Albanian flag was raised and was flown free, along with the flag of the United States, along with the flag of Great Britain, along with the flags of the entire free world. What happened between the two 29 Novembers, the first of 70 years ago and the one today, it is a totally different story that does not give anyone the right to hit big on the liberation date of our homeland.

Thanks to everyone. Respect and gratitude for all and I assure you that we will do everything to be every day at the height of the dreams and hopes of all those who fought, worked, sacrificed, lived with the great desire to see Albania a country worthy for our children.

Thank you very much!