The meeting focused on the ongoing cooperation between Greece and Albania in the realm of cultural diplomacy, as well as the importance of dialogue and exchanges in fostering mutual understanding between the two nations.

During a discussion on breaking down stereotypes, Ambassador Komini reflected on how gender biases shape both diplomacy and wider society. She noted that these prejudices limit both women and men, stressing the need to challenge them and refuse to let preconceived notions define our personal or professional journeys.

“Character and competence have no gender,” Ambassador Komini stated during the meeting. The Ambassador emphasized that achievements should be defined by the individual—their character, competence, and choices—rather than their gender. The discussion at COD highlighted the role of open dialogue and shared experiences in challenging prejudices and fostering stronger relationships within both society and diplomacy. /p.s./

Attending the opening ceremony was Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha and Ambassador of India to Albania Ravindra Prasad Jaiswal.

There are 30 photographs put on display showing moments from Mother Teresa’s visits to Albania as well as her funeral in India, bringing rare glimpses to the fore and drawing public attention back to a legacy that continues to inspire.

“Today, identities are shaped more by our differences than by what we share. Mother Teresa showed us a better way. She never judged people by their passport, nationality, or religion, but valued them simply for their dignity and needs,” Minister Hoxha emphasized.

On his part, Ambassador Ravindra Prasad Jaiswal stated, “Mother Teresa represents the very best of Albania and its people. Yet, her mission found a natural home in India’s timeless philosophy: that the divine lives in every human being, and serving the poor is akin to serving God. Her incredible impact on India built a connection between our nations that goes far beyond friendship—it created an unbreakable, lasting bond.”

This exhibition honors Mother Teresa’s memory and the lasting values of humanity, solidarity, and respect for human dignity that she lived by.

Through this photographic journey, Albania and India celebrate a shared icon who continues to bridge their two peoples and inspire the world beyond national borders. /p.s./

Titled “Salvador Dalí”, the exhibition will feature works from the Argillet Collection, assembled by French collector Christine Argillet, and includes a selection of rare engravings and drawings spanning from 1934 to the late 1970s.

Argillet, the daughter of Pierre Argillet – a photographer and intellectual who collaborated closely with Dalí – has one of the most extensive private archives of the artist’s graphic works. She knew Dalí personally and is regarded as one of the few individuals able to offer first-hand insight into both his creative process and personal life.

The collection, which has been exhibited internationally, will now be presented to the Albanian public for the first time.

Dalí (1904-1989) was one of the most prominent figures of Surrealism, known for his technical virtuosity, dreamlike imagery and eccentric public persona. His best-known works include The Persistence of Memory, and he developed what he described as the “paranoiac-critical method” to explore and distort reality.

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The event was organised in cooperation with the National Parents’ Club of Children with ASD and Disabilities and the “Asim Vokshi” Foreign Languages High School.

It aimed to increase public awareness and promote the inclusion of young people on the autism spectrum in socially impactful initiatives.

Participants performed songs they had written themselves in a mini-concert accompanied by guitar, while two young artists created paintings live during the event, dedicated to the occasion.

A key moment of the event was a discussion involving parents, who shared the challenges of raising children on the autism spectrum in Albania, as well as improvements in support services over the years and areas where further progress is needed.

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The day, observed worldwide to promote linguistic diversity and prevent language extinction, was commemorated by the Center for Openness and Dialogue (COD) with an event titled “Dialects of the Albanian Language and Arbëresh.”

The discussion focused on regional dialects as a core element of national identity, tracing the evolution of spoken Albanian through the centuries and its relationship with the standardized language.

Arbëresh, the historical variant spoken by Italy’s Albanian diaspora, was presented as living evidence of the language’s historical continuity and as a bridge linking Albania with Arbëresh communities abroad.

Linguists and academics including Rami Memushaj, Ledi Shamku, Ardian Doka, Anila Omari and Pëllumb Xhufi took part in the event, which also featured performances by the National Folk Song and Dance Ensemble of the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet, blending scholarship with cultural expression.

International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.

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The event was held on occasion of the 90th birth anniversary of the writer’s while the album shows the influence of Ismail Kadare’s literary work on Albanian visual art from the post-war period until 2025.

The event was a dialogue on literature, painting and cultural reflection. The album, with a foreword by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ermir Nika and curated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abaz Hado confirms in a scholarly manner the influence of Ismail Kadare’s literary work on Albanian visual art, bringing together paintings that were inspired by his novels.

This is the second album in the framework of the project “Kadare in figurative arts”, after the publication “100 portraits”, which UET Press published last year on occasion of the one-year anniversary of death of the distinguished writer.

Kadare’s literature became a silent form of resistance during communism and a source of inspiration in the following decades. /j.p/p.s./

“Mossanga” offers a literary journey behind the Iron Curtain at the height of the 1960s, where memory, power and man in Albania intertwine into a deep and reflective narrative. During the conversation between Fate Velaj and publisher Bujar Hudhri, it was emphasized that “Mossanga” is not simply a historical novel, but a text that turns memory into language and power into human experience.

Attending the promotion event of the book was Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Elisa Spiropali together with writers, artists and intellectuals.

The minister spoke about the author’s multidimensional profile and his contribution to culture, art and diplomacy.

The “Mossanga” is a work that approaches the communist dictatorship not through indictment, but through recognition, reflection and sensitivity.

The author himself shared with the public his journey during the realization of this work, as well as the inspiration from real events of experience and events of that period.

Fate Velaj is the ambassador of Albania to Austria. He has written several books; he paints and is passionate about photography. He studied Art and Culture Management at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna. /j.p/p.s./

Deacon is one of the most important contemporary British sculptors.

Richard Deacon’s COD exhibition is in context of UK Culture Week, with a collection of sculptures and lithographs that are being shown to the public for the first time.

Attending the opening ceremony of the exhibition “Range” was Prime Minister Edi Rama, representatives of the British Embassy to Albania and the British Council, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports, journalists and art lovers.

The “Range” is open to the public until December 12.

The exhibition brings to the public an in-depth perspective on the creative process and artistic philosophy of one of the most influential British sculptors, winner of the Turner Prize (1987) and pioneer of contemporary sculpture.

The “Range” presents a new collection of works that combine ceramics, photography and stainless steel, exploring the diversity of form, material and scale. These works of art reflect Deacon’s quest for the organic union of technique with creative experimentation, where language and form are conceptually intertwined. /r.e/a.f/p.s./

The exhibition is a unique journey through Albanian history and identity, through the lens of the distinguished Swiss anthropologist and academic Eugène Pittard.

The exhibition brings for the first time to the Albanian public a collection of photographs taken in 1921, which reflect the people, traditions, cities and landscapes of Albania at that time.

Visitors also watched a documentary film and saw through VR glasses an installation archival material that combines history with contemporary technology, offering an extraordinary sensory and emotional experience.

Present at the inauguration event were the curator of the exhibition Elton Koritari, the political writer Luan Rama, the researcher Kudret Isai, as well as the Swiss Ambassador to Albania Ruth Huber, who emphasized the significance of this project as a rare testimony of Swiss-Albanian friendship and the preservation of historical memory through art and photography.

During the evening, there was also promoted the official catalog of the exhibition, which summarizes the rare works and documents presented in this project, which will remain open to the public until November 13, 2025.

Pittard contributed strongly to the rights of Albania, its sovereignty and played a vital role in Albania’s admission to the League of Nations. Together with his wife Helene Pittard, he came to Albania and met the most famous political and cultural figures of Albania in the 1920s. /j.p/p.s./

There were “Butrint 8” and “Butrint on the Crossroads of the Mediterranean” by Professor Richard Hodges, whom the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja appreciated as an old friend and priceless collaborator.

These publications enrich the scientific literature and inspire future generations, marking another 25 years of fruitful cooperation for the preservation and development of Butrint, an extraordinary treasure of our country.

Richard Hodges joined Butrint Foundation as its Scientific Director (1993-2012) to initiate new excavations and site management strategies at Butrint. From 2000-2012 he supervised the International Center for Albanian Archaeology and Gjirokastra Conservation Project.

Meanwhile, Butrint continues to attract visitors from all over the world. According to figures made public by the head of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Butrint has welcomed 257,670 visitors during the current year, proving its significance as a gem of our cultural heritage. /j.p/p.s./