After the public tributes for the most revered Albanian writer Ismail Kadare at the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet, the farewell ceremony continued with the execution of the national anthem and the Prime Minister’s memorial address, which – as he said – had been asked for by Kadare’s spouse, Helena.

Rama described presence of Mother Teresa’s symbols a kind of serendipity as a show was being planned to be staged at the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet while the State Protocol was arranging the ceremony for the internationally acclaimed novelist.

“This Mother Teresa’s silhouette and portrait over the body of Ismail Kadare was not brought here as part of the preparations for the state ceremony, but it was placed here previously. The notification that the hall was occupied and Mother Terea’s portrait could no longer be removed from there was forwarded together with this picture of the stage design that was being installed for a show this evening. I told them to let it right there, saying it couldn’t be better. Nobody would have ever imagined what coincidence brought it here especially for Ismail and there could be no other way than her portrait to dominate the final farewell ceremony for the Albanian who belongs to the whole world,” PM Rama said.

“Having known him, I knew right way that under the silhouette of his dear saint, Ismail would feel be taken under protection from all of those many who didn’t love him, but also from those a few who did, but he would in no way want them to be around during his departure from this world to the next,” Rama said.

Ismail Kadare leaves behind a towering legacy in Albanian literature and culture.

/u.sh/