Through a post in the social media, Minister Balla stated that during this session, the discussions will focus on key issues of security, peace and democracy, with the main theme: “Pandora’s Paradox: Discovering Hope in a Turbulent World. Building Peace, Democracy and Sustainable Societies”.

“The symposium takes place at a time of great global challenges and aims to create a space for in-depth dialogue on critical issues such as democratic governance, preserving peace and building strong societies in the face of the present-day crises”, wrote Minister Balla.

He ended his post by emphasizing that, “For more than a quarter of a century, the Symi Symposium has become a unique meeting point for ideas, reflection and concrete action, which directly contributes to the strengthening of social justice, peace and democracy around the world”. /a.f//r.e/p.s./

Under the auspices of the well-known painter Helidon Haliti, the artists stayed in Kolonja for 4 days, painting in different places, works of art which they produced at the closing exhibition.

“There are artists who have come from distant Peru, Canada, Turkey, Bulgaria, North Macedonia and of course our Albanian artists who actually here, in a way, just made some kind of history, because they found each other’s chemistry and not only the color, but also the language of a kind of philosophy which actually unites the generations”, stated Haliti.

Participating artists have highly appreciated the landscapes of Kolonja, so according to them, the arrival of so many well-known painters is a promotion of nature.

“It is the first time I come to Albania, a fantastic country, I am enjoying myself here. I met many good and talented artists, above all collaborators. Here I retired from the field of Kolonja and I am enjoying it in my own way”, said Jorge Corpuna, painter.

The group of foreign and Albanian painters, part of the international association of watercolorists under the leadership of the painter Helidon Haliti, have developed a series of activities during the month of May, touring the most beautiful places in Albania with the aim of promoting them. /p.s./

Organized for the first time, the 3-day symposium is co-organized by the British Embassy in Tirana.

It is an opportunity for experts and stakeholders to explore prevention mechanisms and share best practices.

“Exploring ways to divert young people from crime and irregular migration are two of our top priorities. We need to focus much more on those who seek to exploit young people – traffickers and organized crime groups”, said the British Ambassador to Albania Alastair King Smith at the opening of the symposium.

Keynote speakers at the Symposium presented various topics related to crime prevention and discussed youth-focused interventions that provide positive choices for young people, prevent their involvement in serious and organized crime, and address key factors and drivers that lead them to irregular immigration.

The experts unanimously emphasized that strengthening partnerships and cooperation between stakeholders, building networks and sharing experiences between experts in different countries will contribute to the development of more effective strategies and policies that will divert young people from crime and risks of irregular emigration. /gj.m/p.s./

The three-day symposium was organized by the Albanian Academy of Sciences and Kosovo Academy of Sciences.

During the meeting, there were addressed topics on the challenges of viticulture and indigenous cultivars in Albania and Kosovo with a focus from scientific research to the market.

Issues of implementation of legislation related to viticulture, vineyard system and wine quality control, conservation of indigenous vines, creation of genetic collections of autochthonous vine cultivars, use of methods of identical cultures and molecular biology autochthonous vines in Albania and Kosovo, as well as the identification of diseases to protect them aim at solving problems, reviving and further developing the tradition of Albanian lands that have been one of the most ancient centres of vine cultivation and wine production in Europe.

Also, in this symposium there was addressed the issue of branding of the Albanian wines.

Illyrian-Albanian winemaking has roots and history of several millennia and is part of the cradle of European winemaking, especially the Mediterranean, which is the basic hearth of viticulture and world winemaking.

This fact is proved by archaeological findings: carbonized grape seeds 9,000 years ago were found in the cave of Konispol; there are ruins of wineries in Bylis of Mallakastra, in Tirana Square, on the outskirts of the city of Elbasan. Well-known author Henry Enjalbert writes: “Albanians, together with the Greek islands in the Ionian Sea and Bosnia, may have been the last ‘origin’ for the vine after the glacial period.”

In Albania and Kosovo, winemaking is an added value for the national economy.

There are currently over 100 licensed wineries, in addition to those of home production. About 15 types of basic wines are produced with local cultivars, from Cerruja to Vrançi, in addition to international and regional wines./m.m/p.s./

Addressing the 23^rd edition of the “Symi Symposium”, an annual gathering held under the auspices of Papandreou in Athens, Greece, bringing together top politicians and leading economic players, international thinkers and policymakers and academics, former Greek PM congratulated Rama on his parliamentary election win, noting that PM Rama joined the Symi Symposium for first time right after the Kosovo war “while this event brings all together representatives from Kosovo, Serbia, North Macedonia to discuss together issues concerning the region.”

“I met Edi when Albanians were finding themselves in a very difficult and polarized situation. I remember that I visited Tirana in my capacity as the then Minister of Greece for Europe and Greece also held the Chairmanship of the Council of Europe. Together with the Polish Minister, who headed the OSCE Chairmanship back then, we travelled to Albania in a first bid to help resolve the internal crisis in the country,” Papandreou said in his opening remarks.

“I can recall I was invited by the then Prime Minister to meet with the cabinet members and the walls were covered with bullet holes,” Papandreou added.

“We held talks with the Minister of Culture, Edi Rama, who spoke in a determined way about what he was and what he wanted to change. This was for me sufficient information to figure out who he is,” he noted.

“I later witnessed Edi Rama’s efforts upon taking office as Tirana’s Mayor, who totally transformed Tirana making it a beautiful city. Now Edi Rama has won his third term in office. This clearly shows you have succeeded in convincing Albanian people through democratic procedures that you are the future, or that they future lies with you and your Socialist Party,” Papandreou stated.

/r.e/u.sh/