“It takes courage to build freedom. Grateful to Ylli Bodinaku and all Albanians who, in the name of freedom, democracy and a European Albania, heroically shattered the walls of isolation and dictatorship on 2 July 1990 to give the country an irreversible new direction,” President Meta said.

According to Meta, “the journey towards Europe that started with the courage to tear down the wall of the German Embassy must be accelerated with the determination to go towards full EU membership.”

“Building a future far better than past three decades is guaranteed only if we resolutely implement the required reforms, restore accountability at every level and listen to the voice of citizens through referendums. The time to build Europe in Albania is now,” Meta stated.

/m.m/j.p/u.sh/

The award was conferred to the former President Bujar Nishani in a token appreciation and gratitude for Nishani’s contribution to strengthen democracy and the state institutions, Albania’s Euro-Atlantic and European integration.

“In recognition of outstanding contributions in all high state duties, for strengthening democracy and institutions and the country’s Euro-Atlantic and EU integration, as well as protection and promotion of national interests. In honour of the integrity and high human dignity, as a model of the statesman who devotedly worked to serve the homeland,” the President’s office said.

Former Albanian President Bujar Nishani passed away following a serious disease on May 28 in a hospital in Germany.

Nishani served as president from 2012 until 2017. At 45, he was elected as the youngest and sixth president in post-communist Albania.

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