Albania celebrates 99th year of independence

Yesterday was an important day for Albania as the country celebrated its 99^th independence day.

In January 1912, with the outbreak of the First Balkan War, the Albanians had risen up against the Ottoman Empire and declared Albania independent.

After a series of territorial successes, the Ottoman government agreed to fulfill Albanian revolutionaries’ demands on September 4, 1912.

Then on November 28, 1912 the National Assembly of Vlore, made up of 83 Muslim and Christian leaders, pictured below, set up a provisional government.

It also approved the flag as a symbol of the Albanian nation. The double-headed eagle, pictured below, shows their dual Christian heritage through the Western Catholic tradition and the Orthodox east while the open-winged eagle symbolizes their refusal to submit to foreign conquest.

The country was finally recognised internationally in the Treaty of London in May 1913.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Sali Berisha and senior officials attended the homage ceremony at the Martyrs Cemetery in Tirana, paying respect to those who had fought for Albanian independence.

In Vlore the President, Bamir Topi, other VIPs and thousands of citizens paid homage at the tomb of Prime Minister of the first Government of Independent Albania, Ismail Qemali, at the Park of the Flag, where the president laid a wreath.

Before the independence celebrations Prime Minister Sali Berisha had visited Israel last week where he met their Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and was elected an honorary member of the Albania-Israel Friendship Society.

Mr Netanyahu highlighted the friendship between the two countries, which had been strengthened during the Second World War when Albania became a safe haven for hundreds of Jewish refugees and not a single Albanian Jew had been turned over to the Germans.

Mr Netanyahu, who accepted an invitation to visit the country, praised Albania for moving from one of the poorest countries into one of upper-middle-income economies and successful policies on privatization.

He added: “We are looking forward to co-operate closely and encourage Israeli investment projects in Albania, in the field of tourism, technology and science.”

There more information about Albania in God’s Secret Listener, published by Lion/Hudson/Monarch of Oxford.

Signed copies for the special Christmas price of £6, including postage within the UK, can be obtained by emailing John@jbutterworth.plus.com