On social media, Gonxhja shared images of the damage, showing shattered glass, destroyed doors and facades scorched by flames.

“As the minister responsible for Culture, I condemn this senseless violence without reservation,” stated Gonxhja.

He stressed that while protests are a democratic right, this right should not be accompanied by acts of violence and destruction.

Gonxhja underscored that public buildings are spaces where services are provided to citizens, while cultural monuments represent historical values ​​that must be preserved for future generations.

“Cultural heritage is an asset belonging to all Albanians—today and in the future. No objective justifies damaging it,” concluded Gonxhja. /e.i/a.f/p.s./

Gonxhja said the strategy, developed in collaboration with the Municipality of Dropull, the National Institute of Cultural Heritage, the Regional Directorate of Cultural Heritage in Gjirokastër and the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania along with local communities, will support a joint IPA-funded application.

Key projects include the Monastery of the Annunciation in Vanistër, the Monastery of the Dormition in Raven and other significant heritage sites in Goranxi.

In a social-media post, Culture Minister said the programme will expand the list of cultural assets eligible for protection, pointing to the Church of the Monastery of the Archangels above Derviçan as the next object to enter the restoration pipeline.

He noted that in the 2024-25 period, cleaning, maintenance and restoration projects commenced on an unprecedented scale, but the “extraordinary inventory” and urgency of the zone call for “important alternative financing and synergies”.

The initiative comes amid broader efforts to safeguard the historic centre of Gjirokastër, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where dozens of restoration projects in the buffer zone are already underway

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The Great Hammam in Pristina, the Jewish cemetery in Pristina, the Music School (former Saraj of Mustafa Pasha), the Atik Mosque in Gjilan and former Jadran hotel in Mitrovice were inscribed on the list of cultural heritage assets under permanent protection after a few years of stagnation following an assessment and positive recommendation by the Kosovo Council for Cultural Heritage.

More proposals will be forwarded to declare various category cultural heritage assets under permanent protection in the coming weeks and months.

Meanwhile, the Haraqi guesthouse in Gjakova’s Çarshi, one of the rarest assets in Kosovo, is about to be restored and return to its former glory as a hotel.

Kosovo’s Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports said a few days ago that another monument was saved most recently, namely the oldest cinema building in the museum town of Prizren. The building has been returned to the public.

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Saranda’s National Culture Sector said that, “During the excavations, a monumental area is coming to light. It is very important from the scientific point of view and very interesting from the tourist point of view”.

“The expedition focuses on the conservation and consolidation of the existing monuments, bringing them to light new monuments while the tourists who are expected in this tourist season have the opportunity to have a taste of them”, said the Sector of National Culture Saranda in a post on social networks .

Finiq Archaeological Park is located on a hill 283 m above sea level, 9 km east of the city of Saranda. You can come to the park by any means of transport, driving along the national road Saranda-Gjirokastra and turn to the village of Finiq.

Finiq has an ancient history. It became the capital of the entire state of Epirus in the 3rd century. According to Polybius, it was the most fortified city of Epirus. It was built on a hill in the shape of an inverted ship. /k.s/j.p/p.s./

Minister of Culture Elva Margariti shared today on social media the promotional video of pianist Kerasidis.

“A message against the war and an excellent promotion of our beautiful Albania by the 9-year-old Greek pianist Stelios Kerasidis, who is winning the hearts of the public all over the world as “the new Mozart””, said Margariti.

The video of the Greek piano prodigy shows the castle of Gjirokastra, the ancient city of Butrint, Apollonia, etc.

Kerasidis performs a piece of music with a piano set in the ancient Butrint amphitheater.

9-year-old pianist Stelios Kerasidis gave a concert in Tirana two days ago in context of the Greek Culture Week./k.s/p.s./

Minister of Culture Elva Margariti gave the news saying that, “The EU4CULTURE program is ready to set up the first construction sites”.

Minister Margariti said that, “During the routine meeting of the steering council of the program we decided on the deadlines for starting the works”.

In close cooperation with UNOPS, the revitalization projects will be developed for the first 10 priority sites, for which works are expected to begin soon.

“Thanks to the support of the European Union, we are not only healing the earthquake wounds, but we will give life to the surrounding monuments and spaces. More opportunities, more hope. Albania is our future”, – said Margariti.

The EU Ambassador to our country Luigi Soreca was also present at the meeting of the steering council of the “EU4CULTURE” program.

The monuments of culture, as part of our cultural heritage, in recent years have received special attention from specialists and relevant institutions. These cultural monuments are being maintained and restored, turning them into worthy tourist destinations as well as new destinations to be explored. Places of worship, forts and museums in recent years have turned into the most visited attractions by foreign and domestic tourists, who are drawn to the history and mystery that these places have and tell a lot about our roots and identity./k.s/j.p/p.s./