President Bajram Begaj was this Wednesday present at the Diaspora Summit in Tirana, where during his speech he said that Albania is lucky to have such a unique community as the Arbëreshë people located in Italy.

He said that the people of Arbëresh♪7 over the centuries have given the best example of integration and development of an organic relationship between Albania and Italy and have made an invaluable contribution to both countries.

“Each element that reflects love for the homeland is impressive and unique, in Arbëreshë we look at ourselves in the mirror of history. They constitute an invaluable treasure for learning not only who we were, but also for understanding who we are.

Their exodus was dramatic, but their story is one of success. They are an example of integration and the development of an organic relationship between two neighbouring peoples, Albanians of origin and now Italians, Arbëreshë proudly preserved the traditions and language of their ancestors. They also built institutions where personalities of the Albanian renaissance and important personalities of Italy were educated and graduated”, said Begaj.