Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja announced the initiative during a meeting in the municipality of Prespa with Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni and North Macedonia’s Culture and Tourism Minister Sedat Sulejman.

“Prespa unites us through its nature, history and culture. We want to protect this heritage, create more opportunities for local communities and promote sustainable tourism,” Gonxhja said.

The European Union will provide 2 million euros to fund a feasibility study for the trilateral nomination, he added.

Gonxhja highlighted restoration work on the murals at St. Mary’s Church on Maligrad island, improved lighting at the church and along the access path, and the Sterjo Spasse House Museum in Gollomboç as projects that have enriched the Albanian side of the region’s cultural and tourism offer.

He also cited the EU-funded ACT4PRESPA project, which brings together institutions from all three countries to conserve, digitise and promote the heritage of Great and Small Prespa.

Plans include developing joint tourist routes, research missions and expeditions to promote Prespa and Ohrid, alongside artistic, sporting and youth exchanges between the neighbouring countries.

The joint UNESCO bid aims to strengthen cross-border heritage protection and create new development opportunities for local communities through sustainable tourism.

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Deputy Minister Albana Koçiu described the “Stone City” on the anniversary as a shared heritage of humanity and a source of great pride for Albania, saying that for more than two decades it has showcased its values to the world.

The inscription on July 15, 2005, followed a lengthy process of documentation and evaluation, during which Albanian institutions, heritage experts and the local community worked together to demonstrate the city’s outstanding universal value.

The Academy of Sciences said Gjirokastra’s inclusion on the UNESCO list was supported by research from historians and architects, the commitment of the Ministry of Culture and the Institute of Cultural Monuments, as well as by local residents who have carefully preserved the city’s distinctive tower houses, the old bazaar, an 18th-century mosque and churches dating from the Ottoman period.

The living heritage reflected in its cobbled streets and its 13th-century citadel stands as evidence of historic urban life and a rare example of preserved Ottoman architecture.

Gjirokastra is not only a museum city, but also a symbol of Albania’s cultural identity, a heritage treasure connecting the country with its history and strengthening its place on the world’s cultural map.

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The art of crafting, playing and singing with the lahuta – regarded as one of the most treasured elements of Albania’s cultural identity – has now gained international recognition as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage.

Speaking on his podcast “Flasim” (Let’s Talk) on Sunday, Rama described the inscription as “one of the most meaningful successes of our Ministry of Culture and Tourism in protecting and promoting our national and cultural identity.”

Rama said the tradition of making the lahuta and performing epic songs accompanied by it had been formally recognised by UNESCO under its urgent safeguarding mechanism.

He recalled that the nomination file, prepared in line with UNESCO’s highest standards, was submitted in March 2024, and thanked all those involved in the process for their commitment and dedication.

The tradition of singing, playing and crafting the lahuta represents a core element of cultural identity in Albania’s rural northern regions and adjacent areas, cultivated over centuries in territories including Malësia e Madhe, Dukagjin, Malësia e Gjakovës, Rugova, Drenica, Plavë and Guci.

Through the hands of the lahutar, the Epic of the Frontier Warriors (Eposi i Kreshnikëve) and other northern Albanian ballads have for centuries conveyed values of bravery, resilience, honour, loyalty and hospitality.

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The presentation was held at the KUB Pyramid venue in Tirana on Tuesday, bringing together experts and officials to review the dossier ahead of its joint submission with Montenegro and the final phase – formal submission to UNESCO for evaluation.

The Shkodër Regional Directorate of Cultural Heritage (DRTK Shkodër) stated that the meeting aimed to finalize the document and align the nomination with bilateral goals and UNESCO standards.

Since 2023, DRTK Shkodër has contributed expert input on the region’s cultural heritage, in coordination with other local institutions involved in the management of the Lake Shkodra Watershed.

Albania and Montenegro will submit a joint nomination file, with the goal of advancing sustainable development and supporting local communities on both sides of the border.

If granted UNESCO status, the Lake Shkodra area will benefit from improved cross-border cooperation and higher environmental management standards.

Lake Shkodra is the largest water system in the Balkan Peninsula and sits on the border between Albania and Montenegro. It is recognized as one of the region’s most significant ecological and tourist destinations.

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