The event promotes local traditions, folk costumes and authentic cuisine. Throughout 3 editions, the “Take me to your village” festival has gathered dozens of folklore groups in Derviçan Square.

This festival dedicated to traditional dances and polyphonic songs was organized by the “Dhropoli” Cultural Association with the financial support of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports in cooperation with the Dropull Municipality.

“Tradition, music and dance brought together hundreds of residents and visitors in the 3rd edition of the Festival. A nice celebration of polyphonic song and our cultural heritage”, appreciated Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja.

The evening brought together local and Greek dance and polyphonic groups in Derviçan.

Derviçan was filled with music, dance, tradition and smiles, welcoming hundreds of visitors from Dropulli, Greece and other areas of Albania. /e.r/ /a.g/p.s./

Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja regarded this church as a rare, invaluable treasure of our cultural heritage.

The church carries in itslef the mural paintings made by the prominent iconographer, Onufer Qiprioti, highlighting the lasting tradition of Albanian iconography and its extraordinary artistic and spiritual values.

In addition to Qiprioti’s mural paintings, the church also holds frescoes by Aliviziu, which is confirmed by an inscription found on the southern wall of the church.

According to Prof. Pirro Thomo, the Church of St. Mary in the village of Vllahogoranxi is of the domed basilica type, measuring 7.50×6.80 meters. It consists of a nave and an altar. Years later, a narthex was added. The old part of the church has six columns of stone scrolls inside, which are connected to each other with mortar and stone capitals. Two arches pass over the columns, which divide the church into three naves. The nave is connected to the narthex on the western side. The church is built of stones, connected with lime mortar. There are large stone blocks in the corners of the walls. There are antique ornaments above the western gate of the church. Above the four columns from the east, through a system of supporting arches, the drum rises, which is covered by the dome. /j.p/p.s./

Among its notable landmarks is the Church of the Taxharikoi (also spelled Taxiarches or Archangels), a protected cultural monument that reflects centuries of religious and architectural heritage.

Poliçan, regarded as one of the most scenic villages in the south, offers visitors a quiet retreat from urban life, with narrow streets and sweeping views of the surrounding landscape.

The village serves as the centre of the Pogoni region, which is inhabited mainly by members of the Greek minority.

The area is known for its diverse cultural traditions, including polyphonic singing, saze music ensembles, traditional instruments and folk costumes, attracting both domestic and foreign visitors.

/j.p/r.e/u.sh/

Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro appreciated that this event has become an important cultural meeting place, where Albania and Greece come together through shared traditions.

“Dropulli showed once again that it is a place where culture knows no borders and tradition becomes a common language”, said Minister Kumbaro, praising the participation and dedication of folklore groups from both countries.

The festival brought to the stage traditional costumes, folk dances and songs that keep the collective memory alive, creating a special atmosphere for the local people and visitors. /j.p/p.s./

Interior Minister arrived in the area for an update on the ongoing firefighting efforts on the ground.

Balla told reporters that the blazes have spread through a large swathe helped by the rugged terrain and strong winds in the area.

“It is actually the largest area ever swept by wildfires over so many years, with the flames being helped by the terrain and the winds that have spread the blazes through a long area to include almost three municipalities to date. The winds during the afternoon and late evening will keep several blazes active,” the Interior Minister told reporters.

Balla highlighted that civil emergency crews, firefighters from several municipalities, including Vlora, Fieri, Berat and Tirana, State Police and troops have been deployed in the area to help with the firefighting efforts.

Interior Minister also noted that two “Canadair” firefighting aircraft have been made available by the Greek government, adding that contacts have been established with EU Civil Protection Mechanism to assist in the efforts to extinguish the flames from air.

Balla said that efforts are being made to keep situation under control and put out the blazes in the area.

1 of 3

/u.sh/

The Minister of Defence Niko Peleshi announced that the blaze has also spread to nearby villages of Pecë and Kardhikaq in Finiq Municipality.

Sharing images of the ongoing operations to extinguish the wildfires, Defence Minister Peleshi said that under coordination of the National Civil Protection Agency, Armed Forces members have joined  local firefighters and emergency crews in the municipalities of Finiq, Delvine, Sarande, Dropull, Gjirokaster and Permet to stabilize the situation triggered by the flames that broke out a day ago.

/r.e/u.sh/

The Minister of Defence Niko Peleshi said that a “Cougar” helicopter and servicemen are trying to extinguish the blaze that broke out in the area overlooking the villages of Sofratike, Terihat, Goricë, Frashtan, Lugar and Grapsh, to protect local residents and their properties.

Defence Minister announced that firefighters, State Police and local emergency crews are fighting the flames.

/r.e/u.sh/

On this occasion, a handover ceremony took place in Dropull City Hall, in the presence of the H.E. Mr. TAKADA Mitsuyuki, the Ambassador of Japan in Albania and Mr. Dhimitraq TOLI, the Mayor of Dropull. During the handover ceremony, Ambassador Takada reconfirmed his government’s commitment to supporting Albania’s development in the waste management sector and other sectors. The Ambassador underlined the importance for citizen and industries to know and understand the importance of waste management and recycling of waste, as well as, at the same time the importance of applying the principles of 3R (reduce, reuse and recycle) for waste minimization. On the other hand, Mayor Toil expressed his appreciation to Japan and the Ambassador for the support given to Dropull and Gjirokastër County overall, and his commitment to improve waste management in Dropull.

Japan has continuously supported Albania with several grants for equipment and vehicles provision and technical cooperation projects. Environment protection is one of its priority areas for the official development assistance (ODA) provided to Albania. Ever since the establishment of the Embassy of Japan in Albania in 2017, the Embassy has signed 43 grant contracts under the GGP scheme, totaling around 3.3 million Euros. 19 out of these Projects are related to environmental protection and waste management with a total value of around 1,500,000 Euro.

At a meeting with women and girls in the area of Dropull, southern Albania, PM Rama noted that “the government has supported business and entrepreneurship in Dropull and elsewhere across the country is much stronger than previously.”

“The government has pursued low tax policies. Tens of thousands of new small and medium-sized businesses benefit under a zero-tax policy due to remain in place until 2029,” he said.

“The government has increased the bottom wage beyond our projections. We planned the monthly gross salary to increase to 40,000 lek by end of this term in office in 2025. The opposition pledges everything, yet they are unable to deliver on their promises as they stand no chance of ever taking office. We plan to increase minimum wage to 45,000 lek by end of this mandate and to 60,000 lek later,” he said.

He also noted that the wage system reform is well underway and the average monthly wage will grow to 900 euros from 530 euros currently.

/gj.m/u.sh/

This project is valued at EUR 78,000, and it aims to aims to enhance the waste management capacities of Dropull Municipality focusing on improving its waste collection infrastructure by providing a brand new waste collection truck and 32 (1100L) waste containers.

Dropull is a border municipality with Greece where Kakavija border crossing is located. Due to this, the number of people passing through this Municipality is very high throughout the year, leading to an increase in the uncontrolled waste generated. This project will increase the Municipality’s capabilities to tackle this issue, increasing the environmental hygiene.

The signing ceremony took place at the Embassy of Japan in Tirana. During the ceremony, Ambassador TAKADA said that this project will contribute to improving the waste management sector of Dropull Municipality, by upgrading its waste management infrastructure and waste collection service coverage. He added that the Government of Japan has provided support to 5 out of the 7 Municipalities in Gjirokastra County. Mayor Toli expressed his appreciation to Japan and the Ambassador for the support given to Dropull and Albania overall, and his commitment to improving waste management in hiss municipality.

Japan’s ODA in Albania focuses on Environmental Development and Equitable Growth. One of its ODA Grants chemes isthe “Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project” (GGP) which is being implemented in Albania since 1998. Each year the Government of Japan provides funding through this scheme to support public institutions, local government authorities, or NGOs with projects in the fields of waste management, health care, disaster prevention, environmental protection, etc. Ever since the establishment of our Embassy in Tirana in 2017, the Embassy has signed 39 grant agreements under the GGP scheme with a total amount of about 3 million Euro. Projects related to environmental protection and waste management amount make up about one third of the projects implemented through this scheme.

/u.sh/