TIRANA, September 21 /ATA/ During a meeting with the Albanian community in Michigan, Prime Minister Edi Rama focused on the diaspora’s involvement in the country’s political and institutional life, highlighting the voting rights of Albanians living abroad in the Parliamentary elections and the steps being taken to implement the National Diaspora Strategy 2030.
Rama noted that in last year’s Parliamentary elections, Albanians had the opportunity to vote from abroad for the first time.
“Last year, for the first time, you had the opportunity to vote from here—from outside the homeland—in Albania’s Parliamentary elections; it was the first time that ballots crossed the ocean and the bond between Albanians and their representatives was forged beyond Albania’s borders,” Rama said.
The prime minister stated that following the Fourth Diaspora Summit held in April, there is underway implementation of the National Diaspora Strategy 2030; according to him, the strategy aims to strengthen tangible ties between Albanians living abroad and Albania.
Rama emphasized that Albania needs more information and insight regarding Albanians abroad, while the diaspora requires greater access to Albania. In this context, he mentioned the creation of the National Diaspora Registry, describing it as a portal where Albanians worldwide can find information and connect with the country’s institutions.
Comparing the process of building new mechanisms to the transformation of Albania itself, the prime minister noted that any development process is accompanied by difficulties, delays and issues requiring correction.
Rama described the Diaspora as one of the most direct observers of the changes in Albania, owing to the distance involved and their periodic visits back to the country.
“Albanians abroad are the most objective supervisors of the construction site; because they are at a distance, they can process things more easily, and by returning at different times, they can better perceive the changes—since they do not live through the daily reality of the construction site with all its dust, noise, and problems, but instead see the result,” said Rama. /p.s./
