Albania, Kosovo to open joint Diaspora cultural centres

TIRANA, Sept. 18 – Albania and Kosovo have launched a joint initiative to establish joint cultural centres in the Albanian Diaspora. The initiative was discussed this week during a meeting Kosovo Diaspora Minister Ibrahim Makolli had in Tirana with Albanian Culture and Tourism Minister Aldo Bumci.
“Of course this will not be a unilateral initiative, Albania and Kosovo will conclude a joint initiative and establish the necessary mechanisms to promote culture and preserve the national identity. We have a big community of around 3 million Albanians abroad, a community which must preserve connections with one-another and it is exactly within this framework we are undertaking this joint initiative with the Republic of Kosovo,” said Bumci.
The Kosovo Minister described the opening of the cultural centres as a joint national treasury which must be preserved. “Even though two separate countries divided by borders, the Albanian Diaspora has always been united,” said Makolli.
He announced that Kosovo would soon open its first cultural centre in Turkey, where one of the biggest Albanian migrant community lives. The centre is expected to become operational before Nov. 28 under a deal Kosovo has signed with Turkey.
Establishing joint cultural centres in Switzerland and the United States is the next challenge.