President Bajram Begaj and his Italian counterpart, Sergio Mattarella, received on Monday at the Quirinal Palace the mayors of all Arbëreshë municipalities in Italy, “representatives of the Arbëreshë communities, who for more than five centuries have kept alive an irreplaceable part of our shared European history and identity”.
During his welcoming speech at this meeting, the President of the Republic praised the historic and fraternal ties between Albania and Italy, describing the Arbëreshë community as a living testimony to this friendship. “Friendships between states can be built on common interests, while brotherhood arises from history, from memory, from human bonds. You, dear Arbëreshë, are the foundation of this brotherhood”, said President Begaj.
President Begaj especially thanked President Mattarella for the unifying meeting, describing him as “a great and valued friend of Albania and a steadfast supporter of our country’s European membership”. “Our meeting today is much more than a protocol event; it is a living testimony to the special friendship between Albania and Italy, a friendship that has deep historical roots but remains just as strong and inspiring in modern times”, said the President of the Republic.
Appreciating Italy’s continued support for Albania, President Begaj described it as a reliable ally, strategic partner and one of the most committed supporters of Albania’s European aspirations. A special place in his speech was given to the role of the Arbëreshë and the Albanian community in Italy in strengthening Albanian-Italian friendship.
The Head of State praised their model of integration into Italian society, stressing that preserving national identity and integrating into the host society are not mutually exclusive, but enrich and strengthen each other. . “The Arbëreshë and Albanians living in Italy, as well as Italians living in Albania, are part of this rare human closeness that exists between our two peoples”, stressed President Begaj.
“Today, alongside the historic Arbëreshë community, stands the new Albanian community, which for decades has lived, studied, worked and built its future in Italy. They have become an important part of Italian economic, social, academic and cultural life. Two communities separated by centuries of history, but united by their ability to integrate, to contribute and to maintain their connection with their origins and roots.”
Based on these examples, President Begaj stated that integration and preservation of identity can go hand in hand in Europe: “In a Europe facing numerous challenges, the experience of the Arbëreshë and of today’s Albanians in Italy conveys a very valuable message: integration and preservation of identity do not exclude each other. On the contrary, they can enrich society and strengthen mutual understanding between peoples”.
Alongside the connection between the peoples, President Begaj praised the Albania-Italy alliance, as members of NATO, and the goal of being together also in the European Union. He stressed that EU integration remains a strategic objective, with Italy as one of its main supporters. The President of the Republic invited the mayors of the Arbëreshë municipalities to continue preserving and passing on the language, traditions, rites and culture to younger generations, concluding his speech with the message: “Make the young people fall in love with this tradition”. At the end of the meeting, the heads of the two states exchanged high-level decorations as a sign of mutual appreciation for the role and contribution to this brotherhood, friendship and strategic alliance between Albania and Italy.