In his speech, Begaj praise the organizers for turning this idea into a mission and for choosing Ulcinj to host this fair.

“Ulcinj has a rich history, a deep culture and a proud tradition of welcoming people. It is a place where the Albanian language lives on through family, memory and creativity,” said the president.

President Begaj called books a national priority and vital to Albanian society. He praised past generations for their courage and sacrifice. He also stressed that protecting our language, culture, and education is a duty for the state, creators, and our youth. /j.p/p.s./

They also visited together the Center for the Book and Promotion of Albanian Culture – Ulcinj Bookstore, for which at the beginning of this year, the Albanian government disbursed an amount of 50 thousand euros.

Hasani ensured that there will be more support for the functioning of this center.

Hasani also met with leaders of Albanian political parties in Montenegro, with whom they exchanged ideas and discussed important issues related to the political situation and regional developments. /r.e//a.f/p.s./

Meanwhile, Albania’s Geosciences Institute reported that another tremor measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale hit the country two hours later, at 02:42 am on Wednesday early morning.

According to data from the Geosciences Institute, the epicentre of the earthquake was recorded at a depth of 15 km in the coastal Montenegrin town of Ulqin, and some 17 km from the Albanian north-western town of Lezha.

The tremors were felt in several cities across Albania, namely Lezha, Shkodra, Kavaja and Tirana.

/u.sh/

Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj shared his video-message in the social media. And he wrote that he is looking forward to seeing everyone in Tirana on November 28.

“This year, all Albanian-speaking cities celebrate November 28 differently. Our city, with its rich 2500-year-old Illyrian-Albanian culture, will be represented by our two folklore associations in the great pan-Albanian festival in the city of Tirana. I invite all the citizens of Ulqin to participate in the grand parade of Albanians on occasion of the 111th anniversary of the Independence of Albania. See you on November 28 at the “Martyrs of the Nation” Boulevard in Tirana, where the cultural values of our city will be proudly presented”, said Bajraktari in a video message. /r.e/p.s./

A large number of publishing houses, cultural institutions and representatives of literature from Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Albania, etc., have brought the latest publications to this fair.

The fair consisted of other events like book promotions, discussions, conferences.

Yesterday evening, there took place the prize distribution event of the 21st Book Fair “Ulqini 2022”. The “Olive Branch” award went to writer Xhahid Bushati for the collection of poems “Wandering Sparrow” (Mediaprint). The “Servantes” award went to Erion Gjatolli for the translation from Italian of the novel “Fever” by Jonathan Bazzi (Toena). The “Liburnia” award went to writer Ridvan Dibra for the novel “The Woman You Wanted” (Onufri). The “Olcinium” award went to Fatmir Toçi, author of “Arbëreshët between reality and myth” (Toena).

The prizes were extended to the winners by personalities of the written culture, who were present: by the director of the National Book and Reading Center Alda Bardhyli, writer Odise Kote, translator Bujar Hudhri, academician Neritan Ceka.

The jury that this time evaluated the publishing houses participating in the fair, consisted of personalities in the field: Arta Marku Qëndro (chairwoman), Dorian Koçi (member), Ismet Kallaba (member).

Tomorrow will be the last day of the 21st edition of the Ulqin fair. /j.p/p.s./