TIRANA, September 21 /ATA/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama held a meeting with the Albanian community in Michigan, where he spoke about the role of the diaspora and the transformation of the country’s image on the international stage.
In his remarks, Rama highlighted the upcoming NATO summit to be held in Tirana, describing it as evidence of the role Albania has assumed on the international stage.
Rama also emphasized that, despite its economic and military size, Albania has gained respect in international relations.
According to Rama, an economically, democratically and institutionally strong Albania is taking shape.
Further on, Rama spoke about the Albanian diaspora in the United States. He noted that Albanians living and working in the U.S. serve as a vital bridge between their country of origin and the country where they have built their lives.
Rama stated that the bond between the diaspora and Albania remains strong, despite the distance. “Present-day Albania is no longer what it was until recently—a country that unfortunately left its people exposed and unprotected. Today, Albania stands as the ultimate shield for every Albanian, wherever they may be.”
“Today, Albania is a name and a flag respected by all—an identity, as you have witnessed firsthand, that commands universal respect. In doing so, the world respects every Albanian. This stands in stark contrast to the past, when being Albanian was a disadvantage—a constant reason to start any race on unequal footing simply because of one’s nationality. Today, no one pushes Albanians to the back of the line for who they are. On the contrary, when people hear someone is Albanian, they value them because they hold Albania itself in high regard,” said Rama.
According to him, the American Dream has not withered the Albanian roots within them.
“It was 1926—a century ago—when Faik Konica began his journey in Washington. He was Albania’s first envoy to the United States—our ambassador, as we would call him today. Faik Konica began his mission by paying his respects at President Wilson’s grave and then embarked on a marathon of meetings across America—because the USA had helped prevent Albania from vanishing; and he came and stayed here to give Albania a voice, a face and an address,” said Rama.
Further on, Rama said, “Today, a hundred years later, there are hundreds of thousands of Albanians giving Albania a voice, a face and hundreds of thousands of addresses right here in the United States.”
Rama added, “Our homeland may physically span 28,000 square kilometers, but thanks to you—and to so many others—Albania’s reach extends far beyond its borders today. More than ever, Albania exists both there and here. Albania is just as present here as it is back home.” /m.q/j.p/p.s./
