Speaking at a Flag Day ceremony at the Palace of Brigades in Tirana, attended by Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani, Parliament Speaker Niko Peleshi, Prime Minister Edi Rama, and his spouse Linda Rama, other senior Albanian officials, diplomats and relatives of the 1912 independence signatories, Begaj said Albania must “move forward together” on its path to the EU.

Begaj said Albania had made “significant progress” in its accession talks, noting that all negotiating chapter clusters had been opened and that closing them by 2027 was a strategic objective.

He underscored Albania’s “enduring strategic partnership” with the United States and said the country remained a reliable source of regional stability and a steadfast NATO ally.

Begaj highlighted the introduction of diaspora voting for the first time this year, calling it a “historic step” that strengthens democratic participation. He praised Albanians abroad as a key source of expertise, investment and cultural diplomacy.

Addressing domestic challenges, the president said state performance should be measured by judicial standards, the quality of public services, citizens’ trust in institutions and the opportunities offered to young people. Independence, he said, required responsibility, unity and political dialogue that placed the national interest above party interests.

Begaj called on Albanians to overcome internal divisions that slow the country’s progress toward the EU and to focus on priorities that move the nation forward.

In closing, he invoked the legacy of Albania’s independence founders – protecting national identity, strengthening statehood and safeguarding freedom – and said today’s task was to build a modern, fair and European Albania. He ended with a traditional toast in honour of Flag Day and the country’s red-and-black flag.

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