“The International Culture Weeks 2022” started at Skanderbeg Square today as part of the Albania Welcomes the World, the latest initiative launched by the government of Albania, with France being the first country to showcase its rich, elegant and unique mosaic of French culture.
French State Secretary for European Affairs Clément Beaune addressed the event via an online video link, commending and praising Prime Minister Rama for the idea and his personal involvement and commitment to pressing ahead with this initiative.
In her opening remarks, the Minister of Culture Elva Margariti said: “This is one of the best and most beautiful initiatives ever launched by the Albanian government starting today and set to become an annual tradition to allow every nation display their the most beautiful side of each nation and the beauty of Albania.”
On his part, Prime Minister Rama, who attended the event together with his spouse Linda Rama, said: “tonight is the beginning of a new cultural adventure, a fresh culture of interaction, dialogue, acquaintance and friendship and certainly an ever-increasing number of bridges of enhanced interaction, which we will do our best to create as many opportunities for sustainable cooperation in the future.”
In his remarks, the government head underlined that “today marks the beginning of a program designed to introduce into the spaces of our country, Albania’s public spaces, cultural and artistic spaces, activities, artists and people from all walks of life, as well as traditions of celebrations, cooking and culinary traditions not only in Tirana, but also in other cities and even villages throughout Albania. More bridges of acquaintances, more bridges of communication should be built and of course cooperation among us, the cooperation between the government, the Ministry of Culture and the diplomatic corps accredited to Albania, which actually are at the forefront of all this effort as it takes huge organizational work to deliver on such initiatives and these weeks of international culture.”
‘’I would like to sincerely thank all our friends who are here today, the ambassadors of the countries already involved in the program and I want to encourage others to get involved without wasting time. France is the country to open this program, a beautiful coincidence that brings us all together today after a day marked in France’s modern history with the reconfirmation of President Emmanuel Macron, who is at the same time not only the President of France but also one of the supporting pillars of the entire architecture of the European Union and for this reason today we are happy and relieved by yesterday’s result in France which is of course a guarantee for the European perspective of our entire region, including Albania,” PM Rama concluded.
