City council approves road named “Free Ukraine”

In the special meeting of the Council, where it was voted for the name of this street, the mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, said that the solidarity of Albania with the Ukrainian people is even greater due to the experience with the war in Kosovo.

“It’s another symbolism that we can not stand idly by! It is no coincidence that the embassies of Russia, Serbia and Kosovo are located on that street! It is important to speak with symbols. But you have to speak properly, you have to act properly and make the right gestures for the good of man. It is a symbolic sign of friendship street name Heroes of Ukraine. In this way, firstly we publicly prove our support and secondly we have made a meaningful gesture, a humane gesture, “said Veliaj, among others.

Veliaj said that the Republic of Albania, in continuation of its supportive policies towards Ukraine, proposed a joint resolution with the United States of America, to condemn the Russian attack on Ukraine. Also, a few days ago, Prime Minister Edi Rama in a direct conversation with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, promised practical assistance to the people of Ukraine.

“In this situation, as the European Youth Capital, inspired by many young boys and girls, but also full of ordinary citizens, we have decided not to remain indifferent! That is why we have joined forces in solidarity to collect and send as much aid as possible to the Ukrainians, why not to welcome them with an open heart if the need arises, just as 1500 families in Tirana have already shown their readiness. their to offer them in all forms the friendship but also the courage they so desperately need in these moments. Offering both is always possible and we Albanians know this very well. We have proved very closely on the occasion of the Kosovo war, that such gestures make the difference in the world where we live today, “said Veliaj.

He closed his speech by underlining the fact that, “our country is an oasis of hope, perhaps not of great wealth or great wealth, but definitely of generosity and a great heart.”

The full speech of the Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj at the meeting of the Municipal Council:

Greetings, Honorable President of the Municipal Council, members of the Municipal Council, and dear citizens! Thank you very much for responding to this extraordinary invitation to review and approve the report and the draft decision on naming a street “Free Ukraine”!

Given the recent developments that are taking place to the detriment of the Ukrainian people, due to the aggressive attack, unprovoked and unjustified by the Russian government, on the territory of Ukraine, the Republic of Albania, in continuation of its policies, proposed a resolution of jointly with the United States, to condemn the Russian attack on Ukraine.

But not only that, a few days ago, Prime Minister Edi Rama, in a direct conversation with the President of Ukraine, Mr. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, also promised practical but also symbolic assistance with attitudes for the people of Ukraine!

In this situation, as the European Youth Capital, inspired by many young boys and girls, but also full of ordinary citizens, we have decided not to remain indifferent!

That is why we have joined forces in solidarity to collect and send as much aid as possible to the Ukrainians, why not to welcome them with an open heart, if need be, as 1500 families in Tirana have already submitted their willingness. To offer them, in all forms, the friendship but also the courage they so desperately need in these moments.

Offering both is always possible… and we Albanians know this very well. We have proved very closely on the occasion of the Kosovo war, that such gestures make the difference in the world where we live today.

We do not want to stop there, and we will not stop!

Today, as a sign of solidarity in the Municipal Council, we propose you to pass the decision on naming the street where the Ukrainian embassy is located with the name “Free Ukraine”. It’s another symbol, as many other capitals in Europe have done. Maybe we are the first to pass it legally in the City Council but many have started this initiative, a symbolism that shows that we can not stand idly by!

It is no coincidence that the Russian embassy is located on that street, as well as the embassies of Serbia and Kosovo! – Two conflicts, Serbia vs. Kosovo and Russia vs. Ukraine are undoubtedly two hallmarks of our entire generation and memory in modern Europe.

But you have to speak properly, you have to act properly and make the right gestures… for the good of man… Therefore, we have decided to give this message and this gesture, for the good of man, with this symbol, starting from our Tirana.

It is a SYMBOLIC sign of friendship: the street name HEROES OF UKRAINE or “Freedom of Ukraine”. In this way, first we publicly prove our support, and second we made a meaningful gesture, a humane gesture I would say!

In this sensitive situation I can not stay without mentioning what is happening in Serbia! It is depressing in fact! It is not at all dignified for one country to protest and support one country’s armed intervention against another. We are all offended to see that there are still countries in the Balkans today, even those who have probably advanced more towards the EU than we do, that at a critical moment, just when it has to show European values, choose to protest in solidarity with the occupiers, with the oppressors, with the opponents of freedom.

Tirana, here too, will have to make a contrast and is doing it again. As for us, from today, we will not stop calling until this war is over and whoever has the opportunity, even within the Municipal Council to help, is invited to join us.

We have launched a first trailer with quality and concrete assistance to Ukraine and as we approach “Summer Day”, we want to turn not only this 2-week period into a campaign, but also “Summer Day” in a way of solidarity where we will use that public outing of people that is characterized on “Summer Day”, even with their outing with a package or something they can leave in our tents, which we will forward to the Ukrainian authorities at the border with Poland.

I am sure that in this way, the world will remember us as citizens, but in these difficult days also as people who know very well where they came from and who have learned from their history. We have known how to align ourselves on the right and glorious side of world history, as we did with the Jews once, with the Afghans yesterday, or with the Ukrainians today!

Because we are Albanians, of a cradle from where the figure of Mother Teresa was born, who served with dignity people in need, around the world, served interpersonal peace and in the end served life. We, as the Municipal Council and as the city of Tirana, will always walk on the path of the saint.

So we will continue to testify, without the slightest hesitation, that our country is an oasis of hope, perhaps not of great wealth or great arrogance, but definitely of generosity and a great heart:

Therefore, I invite you to vote unanimously on the draft decision “On naming a street with the name” Free Ukraine “in the city of Tirana.”

Thank you.

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