TIRANA, Jan 27 /ATA/ Taulant Balla, Chairman of the Socialist Party Parliamentary Group and political leader for the Diaspora, highlighted the importance of the Albanian diaspora in his address to Parliament, stressing the need for a fundamental shift in how Albanian state institutions engage with it.
During the parliamentary discussions on the draft law for the ratification of the agreement between Albania and Italy in several areas, Balla described it as a landmark agreement, both in terms of the issues it addresses and the high level of bilateral relations between the two countries.
Balla expressed gratitude to the Italian government and people, acknowledging their support for Albania since 1991. He highlighted Italy’s willingness to welcome Albanians during the difficult years, starting in 1990 when the first Albanians fled through the embassies.
The Chairman of the Socialist Party Parliamentary Group pointed out that the agreement brings the diaspora to the forefront, stressing that it should be a continuous partner in the country’s political, institutional, and social life, rather than the focus of attention during election campaigns.
Balla went on saying that the Albanian Parliament has a direct responsibility to build a new, long-term approach toward Albanians living abroad, involving not only the diaspora in Italy, which is the largest community, but also Albanians in Greece, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and all other countries where they live and contribute.
Balla called for political and institutional cooperation, urging the Democratic Party’s parliamentary group to collaborate on a joint plan. He emphasized that the upcoming Diaspora Summit, set for April 14-15, is not just a government initiative but a parliamentary commitment, where both the majority and opposition should actively work to strengthen the bond between the Albanian state and the diaspora.
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