New York, USA, with the Albanians of America: Proud of Albania

"Proud of Albania" has resumed its journey from New York with the Albanians of America, who warmly welcomed Prime Minister Rama at a gathering in the place where they have lived and worked for decades. This meeting also marks the first since the establishment of the right for every Albanian abroad to vote from their place of residence.

"I am here today, in front of all Albanians in America, to tell you that next spring, I want your vote from America to make Albania a member of the European Union by 2030. Together with you, I aim to raise the flags of Skanderbeg and Ismail Qemali in the courtyard of the European Union in Brussels, alongside all the other flags of the great European family to which we have always historically belonged, but which history has prevented us from joining. Today is the day we make history together," Prime Minister Rama addressed the gathering of Albanians.

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Dear Albanians of America,

Sisters and brothers,

This is a very special day for me to be here with you, not just as fellow countrymen across the ocean, nor merely as citizens with the right to vote in Albania, but now also as voters, with the opportunity for the first time to participate in elections from here in America.

I have strived for the sake of truth along with my party colleagues, and I have felt disheartened more than once in these years when elections have come around, but the possibility for you to vote from here in America has not existed.

Now this is a promise fulfilled, and I am here today, alongside some of my colleagues, in front of you and all Albanians in America, to tell you that next spring, I want your vote from America to make Albania a member of the European Union by 2030. Together with you, I aim to raise the flags of Skanderbeg and Ismail Qemali in the courtyard of the European Union in Brussels, side by side with all the other flags of the great European family to which we have historically always belonged, but history has always prevented us from joining. And today is the day to make history together.

This is the promise of promises, the essence of my mission at the head of the Albanian government, the core commitment of the Socialist Party from the very beginning, and this is our unwavering pledge for all three of my mandates and the very understanding of our fourth mandate for Albania.

Albania's path during my leadership towards unification with Europe mirrors the journey of every Albanian immigrant seeking acceptance and integration into Europe and America.

When I took office 11 years ago, Albania was viewed with skepticism and numerous prejudices by the world, just as Albanians were perceived, just as you were seen when you first stepped outside Albania, while the Albanian government enjoyed no respect whatsoever. The Prime Minister was almost isolated for several years; no one from European leaders visited or invited him anymore.

Meanwhile, Albania's European path was blocked.

The country was in serious economic and financial trouble. The government was buried in debts to construction companies for roads that remained unfinished and for services in the public sector, from hospitals to schools.

The government's debt to the disabled and people with disabilities alone amounted to $40 million in unpaid obligations. The risk of an energy collapse was greater than ever, with a debt of $1.3 billion to the electricity distribution company, and half of the Albanians were paying for both the other half and those who no longer paid for electricity. Hospitals lacked medicines, and families had to bring their relatives to the hospital with sheets and blankets from home.

Albania had the highest level of post-operative infections due to outdated medical instruments and a destroyed sterilization system.

Ambulances and police vehicles were left stranded on the roads due to a lack of fuel. The annual average of murders was one every three days, corruption was present in every interaction between citizens and the state; even to obtain a civil status certificate, one had to pay a bribe, while for every document needed from the state, one had to wait in the queue for hours.

Tourism in Albania was a sector sustained by the longing of emigrants and the patriotism of Albanians from Kosovo and North Macedonia. The cities of Albania were covered in dust, and devastation marked their main squares, while Tirana had come to a standstill, much like a clock perpetually stuck at 12. The drainage and irrigation channels disappeared each year among the weeds and garbage, and more than half of the arable land was left uncultivated due to lack of water, while supplying points for agricultural products were just a few throughout the entire country. Agritourism was not even considered. The minimum wage was 150 Euros, and the average salary in the public sector was 370 Euros.

The country's gross production was 12 billion Euros, and labor force participation was below 50%.

Public debt was out of control, exceeding the 80% ceiling in real terms, putting Albania in a precarious position before international financial markets.

Justice was a large marketplace where rights were bought and sold like commodities, and impunity was synonymous with the name Albania in every international assessment and report regarding our country.

Today, the bleak reality of just a decade ago has been transformed in every sector, and the new era of the state is growing ever stronger, thanks in part to close cooperation with our strategic allies, the United States and the European Union. In just one decade, we have doubled the national gross production, achieving the highest relative growth in the region. We have tripled the minimum wage, as well as the average salary in the public sector, which has reached 900 Euros this year. Labor force participation has increased from less than 50% to nearly 70%. We also lead the region in per capita Gross Domestic Product growth, exceeding 100%, a feat unmatched by any other country. While a decade ago we ranked second to last with 4,400 USD per capita, today we are above the regional average at 9,400 USD per capita, ranking third after Serbia and Montenegro, which started this transformation many years before us.

Real wages in the private sector in Albania are now fully competitive with the region, and in the tourism sector, they are nearly on par with Greece.

But most importantly, today Albania is no longer a country ruled by a powerful elite above the law, and the culture of impunity has suffered its first lethal blow in our history-the first since the establishment of the Albanian state in 1912. All Albanians, even those who are not historians, understand enough of our history to recognize that, since 1912, for the first time, individuals in political power or connected to it have been subjected to the force of the law, which is equal for all, regardless of their position or affiliation with political parties, whether in government or in opposition. Never before in our history has a high-profile political figure been investigated, tried, or convicted by a court free from political interference.

All those who were convicted in the past, from ministers of the dictatorship to former Prime Minister Fatos Nano, were political prisoners in a justice system that, whether during the communist dictatorship or in the early stages of Albanian democracy, was controlled and manipulated by the ruling party.

Today, the era of a ruling party that controls and directs justice has come to an end. I am proud that, with the vote of the Albanian people, we-the Socialist Party in power-led a profound reform in justice, a feat that none of the new EU member states achieved before joining the European Union, and which has yet to happen in our region. For this reason, Albania is receiving the highest evaluations and maximum support from the United States and the European Union. I take pride in the fact that, with foresight, courage, and unwavering determination, we accomplished what no political force or segment of the political establishment in Albania has done since 1912: we removed the political influence from the judiciary, fully aware of the inevitable political costs of the challenges that the new justice system poses even within our own ranks, where no one is untouchable anymore, and anyone sought by the judiciary receives no political protection from us.

This represents the most significant political investment of the Socialist Party in the new century and serves as the clearest demonstration of our commitment to the voters who have supported us three consecutive times and will continue to do so. Our goal is to transform Albania into a European state governed by the rule of law within the European Union, where equality before the law is upheld equally for both the ordinary citizen and the Prime Minister of the country.

You, perhaps more than many Albanians in Albania, closely follow developments in the country, and you undoubtedly read, watch, and hear about the numerous attempts through media channels to convince you either that the justice reform is a government ploy aimed at targeting political opponents through the new justice institutions, or, on the other hand, that America is the one behind this reform and that the long-awaited actions against the untouchable corrupt figures in Albania are orchestrated by the United States. Yet, America was present even before we came to power, and its influence in Albania was as significant as it is today.

America is also involved in other countries in the region, both those that are part of NATO and those aspiring to join.

How is it that America did not bring this significant gift to the Albanians who had long sought justice, while living under the oppressive grip of a corrupt justice system completely subservient to political power? Why hasn't America implemented such a fundamental reform in any other country in the region-a reform that has swept away a considerable number of corrupt judges and prosecutors in Albania, thereby facilitating the establishment of new justice institutions that are now cleansing the deep-rooted corruption that previously suffocated the country under the weight of political power and systemic corruption?

For all those who wish to see and hear the truth, and for anyone who seeks to fully understand what has transpired during this decade of our governance, the truth is simple and clear.

It is initially outlined in our party's electoral program for our first term, where the Reform in Justice was marked as a priority commitment. To all those within us who said while we were writing the program, "How can we take on this commitment when it requires far more votes in parliament than the votes we will receive, even if we win the elections?" I responded that we must not only write it down, but we must make it our fixation that without dismantling the corrupt edifice of justice and without opening the way for an independent justice from political power, everything else has no value. This is a national necessity whose time has come, and leading with this conviction, we will find the way to respond to this need, so that finally every Albanian can see, touch, and understand that equal law for all is not just on paper, but is also a reality in our relationships with justice.

It is enough to look at the entire chronicle of these colossal efforts, from the beginning of work on the reform when we were alone, and the only support we had was from the United States and the European Union, who, for the sake of truth, looked at us with suspicion as to whether we were serious until the end and whether we could carry this effort through to completion. They knew very well that this effort had an indispensable condition that our party in power had to raise its hand in parliament to vote for a reform that opened the way for an independent justice and to remove our hands from the justice system.

There is no doubt that without the support of our allies, we would not have been able to overcome the extraordinary resistance from forces opposed to the justice reform. However, to think that this reform could ever become a reality and that a ruling party in Albania could itself be held accountable by an independent judiciary-as the Socialist Party is being held accountable today at the highest levels-is to misunderstand the situation.

The truth is that at this phase in its history, Albania has only one state-building force: the Socialist Party of Albania. Without its leadership, Albania would not have been able to implement justice reform or tackle corruption without regard to political affiliations. It would not be able to sit at every high-level international table and forum as an equal among equals, nor would it have become an international success story in the Mediterranean, with the highest tourism growth in Europe and its international airport experiencing the highest passenger increase in Europe. Additionally, it would never have hosted the first EU-Western Balkans summit in its history outside the borders of the European Union.

Albania at the helm of the UN, Albania here in New York at the UN Security Council table, and Albania as the host of the European Political Community Summit next year, where leaders from all democracies on the continent-from Britain to Ukraine and from Sweden to Turkey-will gather in Tirana. Furthermore, Albania will host the NATO Summit in 2027 when all NATO leaders will arrive in Albania. This is a revitalized Albania this decade, which you know better than anyone else, from a somewhat awkward name when asked, "Where are you from?" It has transformed and continues to transform into a name of pride when you say, "I'm from Albania."

Undoubtedly, the invaluable support of our strategic allies, both those in Washington and those in Brussels, was essential. However, without our vision and determination to transform the people's vote into a great power, to dismantle the corrupt justice system, and to definitively pull political power out of the territory of the judiciary, never, ever, would the new justice have taken life and exercised, as it does today, the equal force of law even over the very figures of political power.

I am here to tell you that I am as proud of everything good we have done so far as I am aware of how much more remains to be done. Therefore, I have come here to ask you to continue and fulfill together this mission we began a decade ago, to elevate Albania to the top by 2030, making our path towards Europe irreversible, and doing for our country, for our state, for our flag, what every Albanian like you in America or Europe has done for themselves, for their families, and for the future of their children by becoming a proud, inseparable part of the community where they live and work today, here in America or across the ocean in Europe.

Now, I have had a debate with my friends and colleagues about whether to take questions from you or not. Most said, "Prime Minister, give a long speech and don't take questions because you never know." I cannot leave without taking some questions from you and answering some of your queries, which will help ensure that this meeting addresses the issues you are interested in discussing with me.

Thank you very much once again for this warm welcome!

Thank you also to the friends who gave me the extraordinary pleasure of being at the NBA opening last night, because you know that if no one invites you, you can't go; there is no way to buy those tickets. But since this is the homeland of basketball, I want to share some news that I couldn't give in Albania without sharing it with you. You know we have begun work to establish the Manchester City Sports Academy in Durrës, and we are in talks to set up an NBA academy in Durrës as well.

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Mr. Prime Minister, welcome to the USA to meet the Albanian brothers and sisters in the diaspora. I come from Dukagjin, Shkodër, where the sky meets the earth, I have lived in the USA for 28 years. As a staunch anti-communist and fervent democrat, I am honored to be here today to meet the Prime Minister of the Albanian people in America. "Where the tooth aches, the tongue speaks," and we have communicated effectively. I have a message on my phone where you mentioned that the road in Dukagjin, which we have been without for 30 years, has finally been addressed. For the first time, significant leaders have come to Dukagjin, as they have never visited before. Came to Dukagjin and lifted the fines imposed on those who had been penalized there, spoke about legalizing the lands of our fathers and grandfathers, and you said, "The road of Dukagjin will be taken care of," which has now become a reality. I also request that it be asphalted, as everything else is in good shape, and I felt a great sense of pride when I drove on it.

My second thank you goes to the mayor of Shkodër for being nominated for the position. I also express my gratitude to all the democrats who supported him, as he is the right choice for Shkodër. Additionally, I want to thank you for your efforts in negotiating our path to Europe. We in the diaspora have a strong desire for our country and are eager to invest. At my age, I am willing to invest up to $500,000, whether in agriculture, livestock, or tourism. Thank you for being here today, and thank you to all our fellow compatriots.

Prime Minister Edi Rama: Thank you, thank you very much. Now, let me respond before anyone else asks me, as I always enjoy when people say, "I am an anti-communist and a democrat," because I used to be one too, an anti-communist and a democrat. However, the communists took the Democratic Party from us, and I said, "It's better to join with the communists who don't deny where they came from than to stay with those who were the worst of the communists when they were in the communist party and then switched sides, pretending they came from the moon."

Secondly, my friend, as the history of these years shows, Albania is not divided between communists and democrats. Albania is divided, firstly, between workers and slackers; secondly, between patriots and nationalists who refer to the flag only to hide behind it; and thirdly, between those who see Albania and their daily work beyond politics. The example of Shkodër you provided is the most meaningful. For over 30 years, members of the other party held power while claiming we were communists. Once they gave us a chance, look at how Shkodër is changing. We are both anti-communist and anti-fascist, and above all, for us, there is a common denominator, which is Albania, and there is a shared virtue regarding work.

As for investments, I believe that within a few weeks, we will announce a new program for all mountainous areas specifically for emigrants coming from those regions. This program, called the "Mountain Package," will provide everyone in the diaspora who wants to invest their savings in their homeland with a new opportunity that includes numerous tax advantages, eased obligations, and direct support from the government. So what I tell all Albanians living in Albania or in Europe, who have their work here, their families here, and have decided to stay here, is not to "return forever," but rather "if you invest your savings in Albania, in your grandfather's house, to turn it into agrotourism or for agro-processing," you will ultimately earn more from your grandfather's house than from the job you have here that pays you a salary. The figures from those who have started doing this speak for themselves.

We have a significant number of Albanians who have returned from emigration to invest in Theth, and today we have concrete examples of those who have returned, invested in Theth for hospitality and tourism, and are sending extra money to their brothers and sisters in Italy and Greece. Because in Italy and Greece, America may be different, and it is different; it's no longer profitable as it was several years ago. So I firmly tell you, whoever has inherited land, especially in northern Albania, makes a significant investment for themselves and their children if they place their savings there. Regarding property titles, everyone who comes to invest in this way will have our immediate support to obtain direct title to the land for use and to enjoy it for a lifetime.

Welcome to the promised land of America, and may God grant you a long life, as well as to everyone who works honorably for our homeland. I have two requests. My name is Gjelosh Vukaj, from Vermosh in Kelmend. You made a commitment about land ownership, and I want to say that people care deeply about this. For those awaiting their land titles, could you give us a timeline-an actual date for when we might expect to receive them? People want to invest but feel hesitant when they don't yet have ownership. We need your support to find a solution-not just for ourselves but for our community. This isn't solely about political issues; it's about ensuring security for our families. We look to you for that support, Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Edi Rama: Thank you! Once again, to anyone who owns land, especially in the northern regions - I emphasize these regions because investments there have shown a significant and growing interest from tourists. If you own land and want to invest, you only need to express your interest, and with the new mountain development package, the state will immediately take steps to support your investment. As you start investing, you'll also receive the title to the land. We have simplified the procedures as much as possible for all emigrants wishing to invest in rural areas. You're more than welcome, and this approach is 'trust but verify.' If things don't go as I've said, you're free to say I'm just like the others-but I assure you, I am not.

**Citizen:** "Hello, I believe that time is something that can never be reclaimed. Thank you for your time and for the time of every Albanian here today. First, I've faced judgment for attending this event, as I'm a singer and an entrepreneur in New York, and people have asked me why I would support you. But that's not my question. I'm here because I want to educate myself, to know who you are, to learn more. This is my first time hearing you speak up close. I've heard that one thing we Albanians in New York struggle with is not our work ethic or our ability to succeed, but our ability to come together, not to make demands of you but to ask: what can we Albanians in New York do for you to help change each other's mindset? This isn't about politics or religion-this is about Albanian identity. We can be a bit stubborn, more or less."

**Prime Minister Edi Rama:** "Many of our Renaissance figures have said that uniting Albanians is no easy task. Gjergj Fishta, Faik Konica-they expressed this sentiment even more forcefully. But I also believe that if Albanians abroad have found it hard to come together, that's partly due to the politics within Albania. We came out of the communist dictatorship deeply wounded and divided because that dictatorship operated on a simple rule: either you're with me or against me; a soldier or an enemy. Unfortunately, in the name of anti-communism, the worst remnants of communism took over the very party that had originally sprung from an anti-communist spirit, the first major hope for Albania to join Europe and they deepened the divisions, spreading them into every neighborhood and even into families, causing divides over who was a democrat and who was a socialist. This division has haunted us for many, many years. I believe, however, that if we overcome this divide and start looking at politics and political parties in terms of our interests and not as though they're football teams, we can achieve far more. Let me repeat: Shkodra is the clearest example of how prejudice and division held the capital of northern Albania back, leaving it behind other cities, as it was placed in the hands of those who continuously masked their incompetence with the flag of anti-communism."

When it comes to work here, I believe you are faster and more adept at reading Albanian politics. I'm speaking to all Albanians living abroad because, first of all, each of you starts your day by going to work, not by sitting in a café discussing others' business before beginning your own. Secondly, you know how to appreciate hard work and success, unlike many back in Albania who often find it hard to accept others' achievements. And thirdly, most importantly, you need Albania, without a doubt, but Albania needs you even more in this stage of its history. Albania is like you, and it's now at the same point you were once in - starting from scratch, doing the hardest work, bearing heavy prejudices. One of the reasons for your success, as I understand it, is that Albanians here have supported each other; those who arrived earlier have helped those who came later.

For this reason, the diaspora today must play the same role for Albania as the Albanians here have played for one another. You must be involved as participants in elections, as guarantors that Albania will not move backward. Albania has made extraordinary progress, but this progress is still at risk unless we all push forward together in this last stretch to make Albania a member of the European Union.

Thank you for the judicial reform. Having worked in the American justice system for 25 years, I am very pleased with the significant steps you have taken regarding the Albanian judiciary. Earlier, you mentioned our contributions as immigrants. I would like to add that for 32 years, we have supported our brothers and sisters, providing food and clothing to our relatives when Albania and the Albanian state couldn't even provide them with bread, let alone clothes and food.

While we have contributed to our fellow Albanians, we have also made them somewhat complacent; they sit in cafés and drink, relying on those of us who provided for them. We have supported the homeland for 30 years. My question is: What specific plan do you have for the youth and intellectuals who are not only in the Albanian diaspora but also in Europe, including Kosovo and North Macedonia? What concrete plans do you have to ensure that members from the diaspora have representation in the Albanian parliament every four years, given that the vote will be for the diaspora?

Since you started with history, I'll touch on it a bit as well. I wasn't with the Democratic Party (DP) because I sensed the party's decline from the moment I joined and decided to leave. It was important for me to recognize that it had fallen into the wrong hands. Unfortunately, it took many years for others to see what I saw, and sadly, Albania had to suffer greatly from those poor hands that took charge of the most beautiful party to emerge in Eastern Europe, the Democratic Party. But that's history.

Regarding your direct question, there's no doubt that without the support of emigrants, Albania would have faced far more severe situations than it did, especially during the tragic crises of the past, like the one in '97. It was undoubtedly the emigrants who kept Albania afloat with their direct aid to families and the country's economy. The amount of money that emigrants have sent to Albania every year has far exceeded all other income from various sectors or even foreign investments, and that is indisputable.

Now, concerning the involvement of emigrants or those who are currently residents in different countries directly in politics and their representation in parliament, we have opened a platform inviting all those who wish to run for deputy to participate. We will select candidates from those who have expressed interest, including individuals from America. I recently met a young woman here who had come all the way from America and is one of the candidates interested. So, rest assured that in the list of deputies for the upcoming elections, you will find Albanian representatives from the diaspora across all regions. It will then be up to you to support them with your vote so they can enter the Albanian parliament.

I come from Canada, where I have lived for about 25 years. I would like to ask if you plan to visit us there in Canada, as we are a large community and are all very connected to Albania. Personally, I have witnessed the support I received in Albania because I invested in a distillery hotel and had a smooth journey with backing from both the Chamber of Commerce for the Diaspora and various ministries. Therefore, I can testify to the improvement of the situation in Albania, for which I am grateful. The Albanian community in Canada would love to have you visit.

The Renaissance figures have said: 'Albania, do not fear as long as you have your sons in America.' They didn't mention 'as long as you have your sons in Canada,' but I don't believe those in Canada will take offense, as they are an exceptional community. However, I do have a concern regarding promises; when I give my word, I must honor it. Therefore, while I cannot guarantee that I will be able to visit before the elections, I assure you that I will come to Canada after the elections, especially since you will be supporting me with your votes.

I'd like to express my gratitude and ask a question. After six years, I returned to Albania this summer, and I must say the changes have been phenomenal, making me feel incredibly proud to be from this country. I had the opportunity to bring a friend of mine, who is also my employer, to Albania, and he was genuinely impressed by the transformations, the beauty our country offers, and the level of service. This was a significant affirmation for me, as we've even started a blog to showcase why people should visit Albania.

I was also encouraged to hear that young people in Albanian society can engage in politics and have a meaningful influence in improving our country. That's a wonderful step forward, and I hope to see it realized very soon. My question is: when can we expect the New York - Albania route to be established?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: Thank you! As you may know, I'm thrilled to share that Albania boasts the fastest-growing international airport in Europe. Currently, we are in negotiations with the American airline Delta to establish direct flights from the U.S. to Albania, although I can't specify when these negotiations will conclude.

In addition, we are preparing to open the international airport in Vlorë, which will feature the longest runway in the region, specifically designed to accommodate transoceanic flights. We are also in talks with Air Albania to facilitate a direct flight. While I can't guarantee when the first flight will occur-because making promises and failing to deliver can create complications-I assure you that we will make that announcement right here in New York.

**Speaker**: I live in New York, I also conduct business in Tirana and Kosovo, and in New York in the tourism sector. I am one of the main tour operators in Albania in the field of tourism and a major taxpayer in Albania. Given that I have strong ties to Tirana, I live there for three months in the summer due to my business, and I have a personal family problem. I want to support a category that has many problems in Tirana. I have a child in a stroller. In Tirana, there is no access for this category in any public or private institution. This category is categorically necessary, and I personally suffer from this. I know that locally it doesn't concern you, but on a national level, it is your responsibility. I am ready to volunteer to make this category accessible where they need to go.

Secondly, Albanian tourism suffers from a lack of seasonal workers. I have a suggestion that I have seen in other countries. Can you, with your policies, collaborate with universities to offer students in Albanian universities the opportunity to work from May 15 to September 15, so that it counts as credits for universities as it happens here in America, and their salaries be tax-free from the state? But we as businesses should be recognized for that as an expense.

Lastly, I am from Tropoja. To go from Thethi to Valbona, we need to go from Miloti, if possible from Dukagjini to Lekbibaj, if a new 23 km road can be made. I know that the Development Fund has a project for this. If the road from Thethi to Valbona is realized, it will take one hour.

Thank you, and I wish you good health.

**Prime Minister Edi Rama**: Now, before I respond to you about these topics that are real and are true problems, I want to say and assure everyone that if we were to sit down to discuss together what still doesn't work in Albania, what still needs work to be fixed, and how many problems still need to be solved, you can be sure that I would win the competition with these. Because I am very aware of the problems that still need to be resolved and many aspects that need to be addressed and corrected. So, when I talk about what we have done and say I am proud of what we have accomplished, I am referring to where we started from. And I have in mind the fact that in a short period compared to history, Albania today is on the map for good, but I do not have in mind where we need to go. So if in relation to where we have been we are like day and night, in relation to where we need to go, we are the light that has just emerged, but the sun still needs to rise high. These problems, along with other problems, are the reason why I am still here and why I say that we need one more effort in these 5 years that conclude the decade to position Albania where it rightfully belongs in the European Union and to give the opportunity to another generation to carry it forward.

Now, returning to the specifics, the truth is that this is a big problem for all those with disabilities. We have not issued building permits without access for people with disabilities for a long time; in all new schools, there is access, and in all institutions and all new and private constructions, there is access. However, there are many institutions that have been there for a long time and do not have that access. So it is not that we are not aware of it, but it requires a lot of work still to create access for everyone. Just last week, I received a message from a parent who had a child in a stroller in a school built a long time ago, and every day they had to carry the child on their back to the floor where the class was. We moved them to a nearby school that had access and was a new school. So this is a topic we face regularly.

Regarding employees, it is very true that tourism is experiencing a huge boom, but it is also facing a significant problem that needs more employees and qualified workers. However, it is equally true that especially this year we have seen an encouraging number of qualified tourism workers coming from Greece to Albania, because salaries today in the tourism industry in Albania are almost the same as in Greece, but the taxes are much lower, and the expenses are much lower than they are in Greece, so the accounting at the end is better.

We are also studying this inclusion of students, perhaps not exactly in the way you suggested, and maybe we should look at it from this aspect as well, but we are studying it. However, the main problem in the tourism industry today is qualified workers. It's not just about taking someone and putting them to work; they need to have a certain qualification, and that is a very big challenge.

As for the road, it is true that I am aware of this and of other important segments deep in Albania. But I want to say one thing. Ten years ago, Tropoja was completely abandoned, and when I went to Tropoja and said that tourism would be the turning point, I was seen as an irreparable communist. However, look, Tropoja today has become part of the map of tourist destinations. We have made a series of interventions and continue to do so in that area, where many private investments have begun, especially in the Valbona Valley. You know this, but there are also private investments in other points up to Lekbibaj, and of course, we will continue to create access; it just requires a little patience. When they ask me, "What about this road here? What about that road there?" I always ask, "How many children do you have?" "I have 3, I have 4." "Did you have them all at once, or did you have them one after another?" "No, I had them one after another."

Our problem is that we found Albania with all the children on the roads, not a single segment finished, but only debts and road segments inaugurated for campaigns. The clearing of those debts and the completion of those segments has been a torturous task in itself. Of course, we will continue. Everyone was asking for the Dukagjin road, but they had lost all hope. Now the Dukagjin road is opening, and we will continue with other roads in the north. Because I strongly believe that despite the fact that we are used to seeing tourism connected to the coast due to our history and past, I believe that the most valuable mine for tourism in Albania is the north of Albania. And there, when the volume of investments grows and when luxury hotels begin to open, a significant change will happen, and there will be more revenue for people, but also for those who invest there, even if they do not live there all year round.

Many issues have been raised regarding the north, concerning life and tourism. I have seen the 30 years of democracy so far as a deceptive dream, but thankfully, justice is now being put on the right path. I have not received yet, the land i have in Albania. The land remains empty with a VKM (Council of Ministers Decision); I have gone through many lawsuits. When will I win my land, since I am from Myzeqeja? I have land in Vanër of Libofsha. I wish you all the best on the path you have started, we are always with you.

**Prime Minister Edi Rama**: I understand you. Thank you! Unfortunately, you are not alone; there are many others who have issues with land ownership. The issue of property in Albania has been a huge mess for many years. You know, something has happened in Albania that hasn't happened in any other post-communist country in Europe. Albania had the most brutal communist regime in Europe, which isolated the country not only from the East but also from the West. You know very well what power that regime had to do whatever it wanted; however, that regime took all property titles, all property documents, after nationalizing every property, after crippling every owner, and after prohibiting any form of ownership, and they put them into iron safes and left them as they were. Not a single piece of paper was burned, torn, or replaced.

What we are doing today, and which is one of the strongest and most difficult, most challenging conditions for sitting at the table as members of the EU, is systematizing the entire property situation into a completely digital cadastre where no intervention can be made, neither from within nor from outside. This is not an easy process, but still, we have made progress here and will continue to make progress. So step by step, we are trying, and this is another reason to continue this effort.

I have been here in New York for 30 years; I have worked as a teacher and now as a worker, and I am satisfied. We have had connections with your leadership, and we are very happy with you as a prime minister. I only have one question: you should think a little more about the pensioners in Albania, as they are in very bad condition, but personally, I am fine. Thank you very much.

**Prime Minister Edi Rama**: Thank you very much for asking this question, as this is a question asked every day in Albania, and it is a major concern for me and for us. I speak as a political force that is still unblemished and that has to do with pensioners. Now, this is not just a matter of "thinking a little more about them," because, to be honest, I personally think more about them than anyone else, as we see that no matter what we say, no matter what progress we have made, however much we have increased economic figures, if we do not translate that economic growth into benefits for them, our mission is not fulfilled, because everyone in Albania has benefited from economic growth except for them, the pensioners.

Today, everyone has much higher salaries. I mentioned that in the public sector, we have increased the average salary to 900 euros. If you look at the increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or as you hear it here in America, we have the highest growth in the entire region compared to ourselves; likewise, revenues per capita, etc. However, this growth has not yet reached the pensioners, and for this, we are currently making efforts. But there are some things that need to be understood. Why? And it should be understood what we are doing now, as it is not the case that we are not doing anything.

Pensions, unlike salaries and other state expenditures, are directly linked to the social insurance contributions of those who are employed. Since over the years, social insurance contributions have not been paid, the gap has become very large. The pension that someone receives today is actually the sum of contributions that someone else is paying today from their salary, and if that someone else does not pay, then the state must cover the pension from taxes. As we speak now, we cover half a billion euros every year to pay pensions because otherwise, it wouldn't be feasible from the insurance system.

For this reason, we have made all these efforts; we found ourselves ten years ago with just one pension agreement, and today we have over 20 agreements, and we managed to sign an agreement with Italy, which was the most difficult, to ensure that all those who have worked abroad can receive a pension based on the social insurance contributions they have made abroad, plus the social insurance contributions they have made in Albania when they worked in Albania. So, it's not about whether the government wants to or doesn't want to. The issue is about the possibilities we have to increase pensions meaningfully. What we are doing is, by the end of this year, to significantly increase the year-end bonus, which when we came to power was 30,000 lek or 3,000 new lek, and currently, it is 5,000 new lek, 50 euros, and we want to significantly increase this while we want to start a growth plan, considering establishing a legal condition that for every percentage of economic growth in the country, a portion of that economic growth goes directly to the pensioners. This is the plan.

Hello. I want to bring up a problem regarding children born in America who have difficulties registering in Albania, and I'd like to know where the issue lies. After the child's parent obtains the birth certificate, they notarize it and get an apostille stamp before going to the civil registry office in Albania. However, the employee raises an issue because the certificate is just a copy. Even though it's notarized and has the apostille, it's not accepted; they require the original certificate.

**Prime Minister Edi Rama**: I understand your concern, and I appreciate you bringing it up. Let me assure you, I have the answer ready. Many of you who have lived here for over ten years know that for any issue related to the Albanian state, you had to come back to Albania. That is no longer the case. Now, you have the e-Albania platform, where you can access many services directly without needing to travel, just as if you were in the center of Tirana. The only remaining services that still require your presence in Albania are a few consular ones, like needing the original certificate or needing to see you in person.

We're working on changing that, and I believe that by the beginning of next year, likely in January, you will be able to handle this from abroad without the need for original certificates, stamps, or signatures. Every Albanian, no matter where they are, will have access to their state services on their phone, just like those living in Albania.

So, please be patient for a few more months, and the New Year will come with your grandchild registered. This is also a great reason to encourage them to have more children, as registration will be quick and easy!

- There have been multiple requests for the return of Fan Noli's remains to Albania, and we have seen coverage in the media about this. What steps can be taken regarding this issue, and is it part of the government's plan?

**Prime Minister Edi Rama**: The issue is that Fan Noli, as you know very well, is the father of the entire Albanian-American community; he is the founder of the Autocephalous Church and It's not easy to bring his remains back to Albania. We are making some efforts for some of our key figures whose remains are abroad, but there are certain figures that the countries holding them want to keep for their own reasons, so it's not straightforward. However, we will continue to try.

Thank you very much, and before I let you go, I want to say a couple of words about something that our party representative mentioned regarding what is said in Albania: "Edi Rama can't be defeated by vote," "We need to protest" and so on.

I truly believe that every Albanian who acts with their own logic, not out of partisanship or what the party tells them or what their in-laws say or what history misread tells them, it is very clear that this effort is not my personal endeavor; it is not the effort of a party. This is an Albanian endeavor to finally bring Albania out of the darkness of history and all the shadows of prejudice and underestimation from abroad, without looking back.

They have always seen us as illegal migrants in Europe; they have always treated us as a country that doesn't deserve respect. On the other hand, we have had to put in tremendous effort to begin bringing Albania into the light it deserves. For me, the most important thing is that at the end of the day, everything else will require its time, but one thing is clear: we Albanians, regardless of our beliefs, sympathies, or where we live, should not negotiate this but rather set it firmly between ourselves and any foreigner we face: that is Pride.

We must make pride for Albania our country's calling card, for our state, and for everyone who holds an Albanian or American passport that states "Albanian Nationality." By establishing this as a non-negotiable condition with every neighbor, every friend, and everyone who looks at us from afar or does not wish us well, we may well lay the cornerstone for a proud and secure home for all future generations.

This isn't about who wins or who loses. It's a matter of "With a proud Albania or with a bowed-head Albania." I believe that a proud Albania is the aspiration of every Albanian who carries the red-and-black flag in their heart even when it's not at home. Every Albanian wants not only to speak the name Albania forcefully and for others to see it with respect, but also to leave that name to their children as a name they should all be proud of.

That's why I am here!

That's why I believe that the majority of Albanians will continue on this path. Every other path is one of keeping our heads down, as we have until we started to raise them. Today, they hear us, respect us, and accept us at every table, in every forum. Wherever the flag of Albania is raised, they know whose flag it is and they see it with respect.

Thank you!

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