President of the Republic of Albania, Bajram Begaj, this Friday held the first day of his tour in Calabria. After Catanxaro, he stopped at Pallagorio, in the province of Crotone, a town known in the Arbëreshë language as Puheri.

The press office of the president announced that the head of state was welcomed by the local authorities and the Arbëreshë community with a festive ceremony.  During his stay in Crotone province, President Begaj visited the ancient settlements of Arbëreshë, “San Nicola dell’Alto” and the village of “Carfizzi”. The President of the Republic was welcomed by many citizens in “Carfizzi” and a plaque dedicated to this visit was discovered in the central square. From the “Santa Filomena” square, President Begaj addressed the audience with a speech, where he praised the cooperation between Albania and Italy in strengthening historical, cultural and economic ties.

“Besides the institutional side, this visit also has a very big emotional side. It is an extremely strong emotion to see these small children with the Albanian and Italian flags and greet you in Albanian with ‘Mir se erdhët!’ (welcome in Albanian language). A few months ago I made a state visit and met with President Sergio Mattarella and the following day I made a visit to “Vila Badesa”. Albanians moved 400 years ago from the South of Albania. What is common with what I see today is that they took with them a part of their spiritual food that I saw here inside the church.

The head of state expressed his gratitude to the local authorities and the Arbëreshë community for their hospitality and everything they have done to protect the national identity.