During the visit, the Parliament Speaker Spiropali addressed the Conference on Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg, organized by the Municipality of Hora, with the participation of local authorities, citizens and representatives of the Albanian Diaspora from different countries of the world.

Praising the figure of our National Hero, Spiropali underlined that, “Gjergj Skanderbeg is the solemn emblem of the Albanian nation, it is the ashes, anthem, heroism and the very flag of our national conscience. It is the Father and the Son who defended the homeland. It is the test and the trial, it is the example and the vision, it is the dream lived and the battle won in our main struggle for identity.”

Spiropali also praised the contribution of the Arberesh community of Hora to Albanian history and culture.

Hora of the Arbëresh and you, the Arbëresh of Hora, have made a major contribution to the survival and preservation of the Arbëresh language, culture and literature. Hora is an important hub of cultural, social, political and religious development of the Arbëresh community. Hora is credited as one of the most powerful supporting pillars of the Albanian National Renaissance, but also the Italian Renaissance and the struggle for the unification of Italy. Prominent names from the historical Diaspora such as Lekë Matrenga, Gjergj Guxeta, Marko La Piana, Lorenzo Petta, Giusepe Musakia, Paolo Skiroi, Dhimitër Kamarda, Gaetano Petrota, Nilo Borgia, Rosolino Petrota, Zef Skiroi, Nikola Barbato etc., as well as from the new Diaspora, such as the distinguished academics Francesco Altimari and Matteo Mandalà, do honour to the Albanian Albanian community, culture and literature”, Spiropal said.

Spiropali stressed that thanks to the efforts of Arberesh the Arbëresh community was legally recognized as a historical linguistic minority in Italy in 1999.

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