On the first day of his visit to the US, Prime Minister Edi Rama met with the Mayor of New York Bill de Blasio.

During this meeting, Prime Minister Rama praised the excellent relations between Albania and the United States, but also the role played by the US in defending the national interests of Albania.

On his part, Mayor de Blasio congratulated Prime Minister Rama for the reforms undertaken by the Government, and praised the role of the diaspora in New York.

 

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Prime Minister Edi Rama attended an event organized by the Albanian community in New York.

It was a friendly meeting where it was discussed about the Albania of today and tomorrow, about the special relations with the United States, and the contribution of the Albanian-American community to the developments occurred in Albania in the last 25 years.

Attorney General of the State of New York, Eric Scheiderman and Assemblyman of the State of New York Mark Gjonaj were among those who took the floor during this meeting.

“We Albanians nurture a profound sense of gratitude for the United States. It has been forged in our deep historic ties, which go back to the birth of modern Albania, at the beginning of last century. Our special connection has further strengthened through the long years of our democratic transition. It has further intensified with joint efforts to build our free society, strengthen the rule of law, but also in our journey in Iraq, in Afghanistan, on setting Kosovo free and our close cooperation on common security related actions and challenges. All this has led to the highest ever level of bilateral relations, the strategic partnership we signed last year. We are and remain eager to continue to build on this exceptional record, to the benefit our countries and nations” – the Prime Minister said.

The 25-year journey of Albania, albeit a difficult legacy, has marked major achievements for Albanians everywhere.

“Albania is today an anchor of stability in the Balkans; a member of NATO alongside the US and other friends and partners, a candidate for accession to the European Union; but more than anything, an ever stronger democracy, a free society with an admirable social cohesion, an oasis of respect among different faiths, something the whole world admires. And, on the other hand, I like to say and to repeat that we Albanians have never been better before. Not only in Albania, but also outside Albania. With another Albanian state, Kosovo, free and independent” – the Prime Minister said.

According to Prime Minister Rama, the strong support of the United States has been vital in these achievements, in addition to the significant role played by the Albanian-American community.

“I am sure I don’t exaggerate if I say that without the Albanian-American diaspora this dream would have been much more difficult, if not impossible to be achieved. Everything we have done and achieved is first the fruit of our commitment, of our efforts, our determination and energy. But we would not be here if it weren’t for the strong and continued help and support from the United States of America.  Every US representative that has come to Albania speaks with praise and respect for the Albanian American community and this makes us all proud. A big thank you to all of you from every one of us.” – Prime Minister Rama said.

To strengthen the ties between the diaspora worldwide and the homeland, the first summit of the Diaspora is going to be held in Tirana in November this year, and in Prime Minister Rama’s view it will build a new relationship through concrete steps of cooperation.

“I am convinced we can do more and better. I am pleased to announce here, for the first time, that in November this year, we will organize the first ever Summit of the Albanian Diaspora, in Tirana. Work is underway and very soon details for participation and registration will be made public. Our bitter and divisive past, the decade-long miscommunication, the rush to discover the World and the transition hardship in rebuilding our home have kept us rather apart. Not anymore. The Summit will be major event, where the Government and other national stakeholders will engage and discuss with the Albanian Diaspora representatives from every corner of the World, over 50 countries, on concrete ways how we can strengthen our ties and cooperate with one another. In the first place, how we can build as many bridges of knowledge, because knowledge is the most valuable thing that Albania can learn from you here and from all Albanians around the world” – Prime Minister Rama said.

With regard to the purpose of organizing the meeting of the Diaspora, the Prime Minister emphasized that he will be guided by the need to build a bridge between Albanians in the country and abroad, in order to do more to preserve the language, the image and development of our identity, as well as by the need to set up a cooperation structure.

“It will be a gathering without any distinction on who we are, where we come from, in what we believe or what ideology we prefer. It will be a meeting animated by the desire to finally get together around ideas, concrete projects, action plans and guided by the need to build the missing bridge between us, Albanians abroad and the Homeland. It will be the moment to show that we can live in different parts of the world but continue to feel one; we can be dispersed in various countries but always united around our values, our principles, our cultural and spiritual determination, our language and belonging, our unique Albanian identity. It will be the moment to discuss and hopefully agree on ways and means to structure our cooperation by setting up mechanisms to work and implement projects that allow us all to be complementary. We will start by getting people in Albania to know, through examples of success, the heroes of the Diaspora, in terms of work, achievements and daily success. Back home our joint efforts can maximize progress and prosperity also by increased trade and economic links. In the Diaspora we can do much more in preserving our language, displaying our colours and image, preserving and developing our identity, offering better services through our consular networks, work with other governments in preserving individual and community rights. The November Summit will be the moment to demonstrate that we are now able and mature enough to do more and aim higher”– Prime Minister Rama said.

The movie “Besa – The Promise” was screened during the event, and was accompanied by a photo exhibition. The film has been acclaimed by both critics and the audience where it was screened. One of the most renowned US movie critic houses, the Roger Ebert, wrote a few days ago that “Besa: The Promise” reveals the courage and generosity of Albanians.