Bilateral conference addresses Albanian-Greek relations

TIRANA, Nov.18 – “Albania and Greece: two neighboring countries that share problems and values,” was the topic of the conference organized in Tirana on November 18, by the Institute for Dialogue and Communication (IDC) and The Greek Embassy in Albania. The event was sponsored by the SOROS Foundation in Albania. The aim of this conference was to bring together diplomats, scholars and experts of different fields in order to discuss the relationships between Greece and Albania, by going beyond the stereotypical images of conspiracy and hostility. The clich고and folk theories about the relationships of the two neighboring countries presented a fertile ground for serious and intensive discussion. The event was opened with the salutary comments of the Head of IDC, Piro Misha, Foreign Minister Besnik Mustafaj and Constantinos Kokossis, Ambassador of Greece.
Participants included some of the most important Albanian journalists, scholars, civil society actors, professors and politicians. Analysts such as Mustafa Nano, Blendi Fevziu and Mentor Nazarko were also present. From the Greek side there were also distinguished figures of the press and academia. Economics professor Antigone Lyberaki gave a speech about economic benefits of immigration. Modern history professor Spyros Sfetas gave an interesting speech about etymological commonalities and other cultural ties. The final message of the event was call to move beyond the bondage of the past in order to have a better future.