During the press conference on the monetary policy decision, Sejko stated that the Supervisory Council approved the Interim Monetary Policy Report, noting that new data received over the past two months indicate rising inflationary pressures, driven primarily by price increases in global markets and inflation in trading partner countries.

According to the Bank of Albania, consumer price inflation rose during July and August, reaching an average level of 3.3%. This increase was driven mainly by fuel and unprocessed food prices, while inflation in services and rents declined. The Bank assesses that the rise in inflation in recent months was somewhat faster than previously forecast, while imported pressures intensified due to rising prices for oil, energy products, food and other commodities on international markets. /p.s./

Penalosa is well-known for the transformation of the city of Bogotá during the time he held the post of mayor and is in Tirana to promote his book translated into Albanian “Equality and the City”.

Veliaj said that Penalosa has inspired many mayors around the world to transform cities into more livable spaces for citizens.

For his part, Penalosa thanked Mayor Veliaj for holding him in high esteem and encouraged him for more success in setting Tirana’s good example for other Balkan cities.

Peñalosa proposes in his book a just and equal city, social integration and legitimacy. This book, translated into Albanian, serves as a manual on how to achieve a just city, where no one feels inferior or excluded. /a.f/p.s./

Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj expressed his happiness for the return to the capital of a good friend for Albanians, an advocate and lifelong promoter of Albania.

Former ambassador Arvizu thanked the head of the Municipality of Tirana for the assessment and said that after 10 years he finds a totally transformed Tirana for the better.

In his speech, Veliaj also listed the most important contributions of former ambassador Arvizu to the city and Albania, during his term as US ambassador.

He said that Ambassador Arvizu played a crucial role in promoting political reforms, encouraging political unity and transparency, which were essential for the country’s progress towards integration into the European Union, as well as contributed to the strengthening of US-Albania relations, through efforts in promoting cooperation and partnership in all fields. /p.s./

In his speech to the journalists, Prishtina mayor praised the efforts of the prime minister of Albania for development of the all-Albanian space.

“I had the honor to present the Key of the Capital to Prime Minister Edi Rama, evaluating highly his steadfast commitment to all the space where Albanians live. Our two countries have common language, tradition, religious tolerance and our destinies are intertwined and broken by the same polar star that guides us towards progress and unity. Therefore, I also appreciate Prime Minister Edi Rama for the unsparing support he has given in the international arena for Kosovo and we consider him as our important weapon with which we are strongly connected and we must use it every day. I congratulate him for the rapid development that Albania and the Albanian people have done in recent years”, said the head of the municipality of Pristina.

He added that, “We are happy that Albania has become a tourist brand, like a beautiful, wonderful pearl that is visited by the whole world”. /p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama shared today photos of the efforts for the erection of this sculpture at the entrance of Shkodra.

Rama wrote in the social media that this work is one of the winning projects of the “Art in Public Space” International Competition. The artist has conveyed through it the message of having no more closed doors, but creating equal opportunities for every person.

This artistic masterpiece, one of the winning projects of the International Competition “Art in Public Space”, a program under the auspices and funding of the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation, will be placed at the entrance of the city of Shkodra, bringing a new aesthetic and cultural dimension to the area.

The size of the sculpture is impressive. The key will be 20 meters long and 10 meters high and symbolizes power and communication through art./r.e/p.s./

This monumental sculpture has been created by Alfred Mirashi, known otherwise as Miloti, winner of the International Competition “Art in Public Space”, announced by Albania’s Ministry of Culture.

This is a work of art that conveys a powerful and clear message: Do not keep the door closed any longer, but offer chances and create opportunities for everyone in an equal way.

“The Albanian Key” is inspired by the Eagle, the symbol of freedom. /p.s./

Mayor Veliaj said that the connection between Albania and Germany is very special, also because of the great number of Albanian emigrants who live in Germany today. Meanwhile, President Krach expressed his happiness that he will cooperate with a dynamic city like Tirana.

“Present-day Albania is more modern; Tirana is more open. When I grew up, Germany was like a dream. When we watched Altin Lala play in Hanover, for us it was like a beautiful dream, which we didn’t know if it would come true. Today, I am glad that we meet as equals! I am very happy that Hanover has become home for many Albanians, not only from Albania, but also from Kosovo and North Macedonia. But, we want you to consider Tirana as your home, as gratitude that comes from our hearts for the fact that you have opened up the Hanover region, making people feel at home, treating them as equals, and giving them opportunities to shine. Therefore, I give you the ‘Key’ of our house, which is a symbol for friends who always want to find the door open, as you and your team will have”, said Veliaj.

On his part, President of the Hanover Region Steffen Krach, underlined that, “This is our first visit here, but it will not be the last. We are happy and we look forward to cooperating with you, with your Tirana, which is a dynamic city”./p.s./

The head of the municipality expressed his gratitude to the ambassador of Qatar, stressing that he will be remembered for the “Schools, kindergartens, for the aid we distributed in the days of the earthquake and the pandemic, for the vaccines, for all the organizations we did around the World Cup in Qatar, for the sports days we celebrated, for the help he gave us for the Year of the Youth and for this year when Tirana is the European City of Sport.”

“And finally the excellent news of the Qatar Square we will have at the end of the New Boulevard, a donation of 11 million euros from the Qatari government, ”said Veliaj.

On his part, Qatar’s ambassador in Tirana Ali bin Hamad Al Marri thanked Veliaj for the fruitful cooperation that Qatar and Tirana have achieved.

“During my 5-year mandate in Tirana, I have found an open door of cooperation, thanks to the mayor of Tirana, through whom we have done a lot of good work, and I am very happy that this cooperation has yielded tangible results. In difficult days, we stood by each other, whether during the earthquake or during the pandemic. Even on good days, we have always stayed together; we had the opportunity to speed up the final project of the New Boulevard. I can’t help, but be proud that during my mandate the projects were also approved”, said the ambassador. /r.e/p.s./

Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj received Franceschini today and as an expression of gratitude handed him the “Key of the city”.

“This is a sign of an open door and hospitality for friends from Italy”, said Veliaj.

Expressing grateful thanks to Mayor Veliaj, the Italian minister praised the changes in the Albanian capital. He stressed that Tirana is a model of dynamic and open development, where you can breathe in the fresh air.

The Italian minister added that Tirana is a European city and should be seen more and more as a host country for Italian youth.

On the other hand, Mayor Veliaj praised the contribution of Italy for Albanians and for our country.

“We are lucky to be Italy’s neighbors and we consider ourselves really lucky because it’s very important who your neighbors are. Looking at what is happening in Ukraine, the neighbors are important and we cannot take them for granted,” Veliaj said.

Minister Dario Franceschini and Mayor Veliaj also discussed cooperation in various fields and cultural exchange between the two countries.

/r.e/p.s./

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Edi Rama, Parliament Speaker Lindita Nikolla, Minister of State Arben Ahmetaj were present at the handover ceremony of the new homes to the quake-affected families.

In his speech, PM Rama thanked President Erdogan for the great help in the reconstruction of new homes in Laç saying that it is not easy in today’s diplomacy to find people who say “Yes” and mean “Yes” and say “No” and mean “No”.

“Here you can see President Erdogan saying that Albania has a special place in his heart and what hurts Albania, hurts him, too. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk put in the spirit of modern Turkey the great thought that humanity is a single body and every nation is part of that body. If a part of this body is sick we should worry as if we were sick. Erdogan’s spirit is deeply rooted in the spirit of Turkey, in Turkey’s approach to the way Turkey views the world and its friends,” PM Rama underlined.

PM Rama said that, “The meaning he gives with deeds, not only with words of brotherhood is the embodiment of what the Prophet Muhammad says, “None of you will have faith till he wishes for his brother what he likes for himself.”

Bringing another episode during the time when work had just begun with the Turkish Minister in charge of Reconstruction in Albania, Mr. Murat, PM Rama said that, “An earthquake hit Turkey, everyone here was alarmed that now the earthquake hit Turkey at home President Erdogan will forget the reconstruction here. But, I was confident that this would not happen, not only because Turkey has the possibility to do both things at the same time, but even if he did not have the possibility Erdogan would not abandon his job here halfway to go and do his job there, because, I say, “Erdogan not only says what he believes, but also makes a reality what I mentioned, the messages of the prophet, “None of you will have faith till he wishes for his brother what he likes for himself”.

Further on, Prime Minister Edi Rama and President Erdogan handed over the keys of new homes to several families whose homes were damaged by the November 26, 2019 earthquake. Residents who received the keys to the new homes thanked Turkish President Erdogan for building the new homes.

“We thank you from the bottom of our hearts; may you live long and success in your life,” said one of the residents.

Another resident reminded that during the hard time two years ago, Prime Minister Edi Rama gave us strength because he had a friend, the President of Turkey, Erdogan. The Albanian knows how to evaluate the good; he does not forget either the friendship or love of the Turkish people “.

After handing over the keys, President Erdogan and PM Rama cut the inaugurating ribbon of the new blocks of apartments in Laç./k.s/j.p/p.s./