Diaspora Summit, President Bajram Begaj: You are our power and strength!
The President of the Republic, His Excellency Bajram Begaj, today welcomed the opening of the IV Summit of the Albanian Diaspora. During this speech, President Begaj emphasized the success achieved by Albanians all over the world and in various fields, the contribution of the Diaspora in Albania, and assessed as the main challenge its transformation into a partner of the future of Albania. “Albanians are there: from the tops of artificial intelligence, to international institutions, to the auditors of the best universities, to successful enterprises, to operating rooms, to sports fields and art scenes. The Diaspora does not represent only a story of individual success. You are our power and strength! You are our best ambassadors, who contribute, without orders, but with pride!” - declared the President of the Republic, emphasizing that this great potential must be exploited.
This is the first summit held after the Diaspora's participation in the Albanian political elections, and the President of the Republic stressed the importance of its representation through a concrete strategy. "Today we are at another step, in a new relationship, with a new contract, a contract where the Diaspora is not seen as a source of remittances, but as a true development partner, where the state does not only ask for contribution, but opens doors and creates real opportunities, where the connection is not only of the heart, but also of the mind, the economy and the common future", - said the Head of State, underlining as a challenge the inclusion of the Diaspora as an organic part of our Albanian system.
In this context, the President of the Republic emphasized the importance of investments for advancing this cooperation.
"Therefore, we must invest more in the Albanian language, in education, in professional networks and in cultural centers around the world, so that the younger generations do not inherit Albania as a distant memory, but as a living and strong connection," declared President Begaj.
At the opening of this Fourth Diaspora Summit, the Head of State honored with decorations successful Albanians abroad and international contributors who have served Albania.
SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC,
SH. TZ BAJRAM BEGAJ,
AT THE OPENING OF THE IV DIASPORA SUMMIT
Good evening and greetings to everyone!
Welcome!
Dear compatriots,
Dear friends, guests and participants,
It is a special joy and pleasure to greet you at this Fourth Summit of our Diaspora, at this summit where the Albanian family gathers again after a 1-year journey, a journey that demonstrates the unwavering will to turn our cooperation into a long-term state project.
The Diaspora Summit takes place at a key moment: never before has Albania been so close to joining the European Union. Albania is at an important stage in this process.
In this journey, the Albanian Diaspora is irreplaceable. It is not simply a part of our history, but the force that determines how far we can go as a nation. It must be part of the way we think about the state, about society, and about the future.
Albania and Albanianness do not end where our borders end. It is a heart that beats wherever there is an Albanian.
When we talk about the Diaspora today, we are no longer just talking about nostalgia, about desire, or about numbers. We are talking about global impact. Albanians are there: from the peaks of artificial intelligence, to international institutions, to the auditoriums of the best universities, to successful ventures, to operating rooms, to sports fields, and to art scenes.
Our diaspora does not just represent an individual success story. You are our power and strength! You are our best ambassadors, contributing without orders, but with pride!
But this great potential of yours must be utilized.
For years, the connection between the state and the Diaspora has been more emotional than strategic. More words than concrete actions. More celebrations than real plans.
The time of that model is over. Today we are at another step, in a new relationship, with a new contract, a contract where the Diaspora is no longer seen as a source of remittances, but as a true development partner, where the state does not just ask for contributions, but opens doors and creates real opportunities, where the connection is not only of the heart, but also of the mind, the economy and our common future.
This summit is precisely about this transition: from the question "what can the Diaspora do for Albania?" - to the question: "what can we do together?"
For decades, the Diaspora has been the economic lung. Thanks to you, many families have been financially supported and have moved forward, but I think the time of transfers only for consumption is coming to an end.
Our goal is to turn your savings into development capital, into real investments in energy, tourism, agriculture, technology and new ideas.
We want our Diaspora to be a partner in the future of Albania, to invest your mind and capital here, in your country.
But partnership requires commitment, it also requires representation. The right to vote is no longer a promise. It is a reality. Albanians abroad vote and elect their representatives.
As we look towards 2030, the strategic objective of our membership in the European Union, we must not forget our compass: our national identity.
The Arbëresh world is living proof that Albanian identity survives centuries even when it is far from the homeland. But today the challenges are different. Therefore, we must invest more in the Albanian language, in education, in professional networks and in cultural centers in the world, so that the new generations do not inherit Albania as a distant memory, but as a living and strong connection.
Dear compatriots,
Our history has often been a history of departures. Our future must be a history of connections. A nation small on the map, but large on the globe, does not have the luxury of being divided. And our common challenge is not just to talk about the Diaspora, but to make the Diaspora an organic part of our system.
On the road to Europe, our Albanian Diaspora is our most trusted voice, representative of public diplomacy.
In economics, you are our bridge to the world.
In knowledge, science, research and development, you are our most valuable resource.
Our country has an asset that many countries dream of: a vibrant, talented, and successful Diaspora.
Now is the time to turn this wealth into a strategy that delivers concrete results.
Therefore, I heartily invite you not to see Albania only as the place you fled from! See it as the place where you can leave a permanent mark. We are not building a new home here just for ourselves. We are building our common home.
You are not invited here.
You are in your home.
Welcome home!
Good luck with the summit!
Thank you very much!
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