TIRANA, February 14 /ATA/ The Ambassador of the United States of America to Albania Yuri Kim joined today the former political persecuted and their relatives for opening of the exhibition in the former internment camp in Tepelena during communism.
Yuri Kim reacted to the fact that 3000 people were kept in this camp in terrible conditions while only during two months in 1950, 285 children lost their lives from diseases.
Yuri Kim called on the Albanian authorities to continue to collect and publish documents and data related to this painful part of Albania’s history.
“I was honoured to join the former political persecuted and their relatives for opening of the permanent foreign exhibition in the former internment camp in Tepelena. During its operation, in the years 1949-1953, the Tepelena camp held over 3000 people, in terrible conditions. In just two months in 1950, 285 children died of the disease.”
“I was touched when I heard Simon Mirakaj, who was forced to live there from the age of four to nine. He talked about what he and others endured in the camp. It is very important that the Albanian authorities continue to collect and publish documents and data related to this painful part of Albania’s history. People continue to suffer, especially those who have not yet found the remains of their loved ones. Peace cannot come without truth and reconciliation.” /a.a/r.e/p.s./
