Crotone – A rich program of events will place Calabria at the center of international attention, especially of those countries from which theCalabrian arbëria: was presented at a press conference at the headquarters of Province of Crotonein the presence of its President, Sergio Ferrariof the Councilor for Linguistic Minorities of the Calabria Region, Gianluca Galloof the Commissioner of the Arbëreshe Foundation of Calabria, Ernesto Madeoof the Mayor of Pallagorio, Umberto Lorecchioand the event organizer, Valerio Caparelli. The first institutional appointment scheduled in the institutional calendar will already take place starting from Tuesday 30 April with the visit of President of the Republic of Albania, SELF Bajram Begaj, who returns to Calabria a few months later to continue his tour of meetings with the Arbëreshe communities that he had not been able to visit on the occasion of his first visit, which took place last October. The first stage will be held in Arbëresh village of Civitawhich opens the tour of visits to the communities residing in Pollino National Park.
Wednesday 1 MayPresident Begaj will reach the communities of Aquaform, I sign And Longwhere in the afternoon he will officially meet the Bishop of the Eparchy of Lungro, Monsignor Donato Oliverioand then continue in the midst of joyful and colorful events Firmo valley. A start of the tour that includes a series of institutional messages of great importance, made up of dialogue and mutual exchangeboth of a cultural nature and of a socio-economic relationship between theAlbania and theArbëria of Calabria. “With the visit of President Begaj, the pact of friendship, collaboration and development between Albania and the Calabrian Arbëreshe community and, more generally, with Calabria and all of Italy is strengthened – thus begins the thought of welcome that the Councilor for Linguistic Minorities of the Calabria Region, Gianluca Galloaddresses the President of the Republic of Albania –. Even more important is the impulse that derives from it in terms of protection and valorization of a unique historical and cultural heritage, symbol of a tradition to be defended from the processes of commodification typical of modern times, to continue to be an engine of democracy and freedom. An opportunity of fundamental importance and great value, to be seized and transformed into a virtuous model”.
The following steps follow May 2again in the province of Cosenza, starting from San Martino di Finita and, subsequently, among the communities of Saint Benedict Ullano And Cerzeto, where the President will unveil a huge mural and inaugurate the new City Hall. But the highlight of this intense program will come Friday 3 May with the celebration of a highly anticipated event throughout theBalkan area: The centenary of Anselmo Lorecchio to Pallagorio, an Arbëreshe locality in the Crotone area which gave birth to one of the major personalities who inspired the revolution that led to Albanian independence. At the Pallagorio demonstration, in addition to the authoritative presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Antonio Tajanihe was born in President of the Albanian Republichigh authorities of the Republics of Kosovofrom the North Macedonia he was born in Montenegro. To make the centenary program unique, two very important cultural events: a conference on the figure and thework by Anselmo Lorecchiocoordinated by University Foundation “F. Solano”, with the participation of authoritative teachers and researchers from some Italian and Albanian universities; the concert in honor of President Begaj, who will receive the honorary citizenship of the Municipality of Pallagorioby the Fanfare of the 12th Carabinieri Regiment “Sicilia”.
Saturday 4in addition to the meeting that will be held in Saint Basilwhere he will inaugurate a large statue of Skanderbegon a joyful day of celebration that will see many other communities arrive from other regions of Italy, the second series of meetings between the Arbëreshe communities of the Albanian President will end, not before having revealed two busts of the national herowhich Begaj donated to the municipal administrations of Saint Sophia of Epirus And Lamezia Termeto underline his appreciation for the associative work of the young people of fraction of Zangarona (Community meeting and bust unveiling at 4.30pm). “We once again give a joyful welcome to President Begaj – declared in his speech the Commissioner Ernesto Madeo – who honors our land with a new visit, which will not yet conclude his tour of meetings with our communities, so much so that he will be brought back to us again in 2025. A sign of great attachment towards the Calabrian Arbëresh people, who feel fraternally close and to which it offers all its closeness. I am sure that this experience will also represent another milestone in the new path that the Foundation has been tracing for just over a year. Vision and operational steps that must see all the different sensitivities present in our Arbëria united in a single organism”.
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