Veliaj gives the “Key of Tirana” to the closing EU Ambassador, Soreca: “Tirana, the engine of the country’s development”; Veliaj: “We are almost waiting for refugees from Ukraine”

“I am very happy that, on behalf of the city of Tirana, on behalf of the Municipal Council, I give you the “Key to the name of Albania with the European family of Tirana” – a symbolism for someone we call ‘home’. Many young people, who move freely in Europe today, do not know that you have been one of the main contributors to visa-free travel. I am convinced that even in your next job, you will be a friend of this city, in which you will always find an open door“, Said Veliaj.

Ambassador Soreca said that Tirana is his second home. “In Albania I learned that Europe is here. Europe is here because here is Europe! I believe this expression because I believe that in the future the country will take bigger steps towards progress. I believe that as in any European city, Tirana will be the engine of development of the whole country. I will return to this city as a tourist, not to mention as a citizen of this city, and as I walk through its streets, I hope people will say to me, “Good morning, Luigi.” “I will keep this key in my office in Brussels”, said Soreca.

Veliaj said that if the challenges turn into opportunities, Albania and Tirana will be more European. “Our desire is to join the EU not today, not tomorrow, but yesterday. But if the reality is what it is, then we need to work to build a piece of Europe here, and if we turn challenges into opportunities, I believe we can make Albania and Tirana especially more European, not just as the European Youth Capital . I remember countries like the Netherlands, Denmark, which were not born progressive. I very much hope that in Tirana we will learn to adapt, we will learn to use more solar energy. “If we build a piece of Europe here, then we will have succeeded in the mission,” he said

Veliaj stated that Tirana is ready to receive refugees from Ukraine, and invited other European cities to bear their weight in these moments of solidarity.

“We are today the European Capital of Youth, we are beneficiaries of IPA funds, but we must also have the responsibility of solidarity. Today solidarity takes on different meanings. Starting tomorrow, we will have a contingent of Ukrainian mothers who will come with their children to Tirana. Even if our contribution is modest, the contribution you are expected to make as a special envoy for immigration issues is extraordinary. Maybe in the accounts of your new mission, there will be both modest Albania and our modest Tirana. We have issued a challenge to all the cities of Europe: if each of the cities undertook to host up to 1% of its refugee population from Ukraine – that is, if Tirana has 1 million inhabitants, the Tirana hospitality would be up to 10 thousand Ukrainians . If each city is offered and are open to that number, the burden is distributed“, Stressed Veliaj.

The new position comes as an appreciation for the work of Ambassador Soreca in Albania, as Head of the Delegation of the European Union since September 2018 and is based on his many years of experience in migration and security issues.

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