Albania celebrates the National Flag Day and the 110th anniversary of the country’s independence.

Honouring a long-standing tradition, the celebration events kicked off in the coastal city of Vlora with the national flag raising ceremony that started with the rendition of the national anthem at Vlora’s Flag Square, where independent Albania’s flag was raised for the first time in 1912, in an event attended by top government and political leaders of Albania and Kosovo.

Prime Minister Edi Rama laid wreath and bowed in front of the Independence Monument, the symbol of efforts and sacrifices of Albanian patriots for independence. The President of Albania Bajram Begaj, the President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani, Albanian Parliament Speaker Lindita Nikolla, Kosovo Parliament Speaker  Glauk Konjufca, Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti, local government authorities, as well as hundreds of local Vlora citizens and visitors attended the ceremony.

After the key speech delivered by the President of the Republic  Bajram Begaj, the celebrations continued with a series of activities to mark Albania’s independence anniversary.