EU ambassadors pose in Albanian traditional costumes

TIRANA, May 15 – Foreigners visiting Albania since the early 19th century and photographed in Albanian traditional costumes, including EU Ambassadors to Albania during the past twelve years have been featured in a special exhibition by photographer Roland Tasho. The “European Portraits” exhibition featured at the National Museum of History until May 12 showcased a 1814 portrait of Lord Byron, writer Edith Durham, albanologists Theodor Ippen, Ferenc Nopcsa, and journalist and novelist Josef Roth all wearing traditional Albanian national costumes. European Union Ambassadors to Albania are also seen in pictures dressed in Albanian traditional costumes and armed with traditional weapons. Among them is also Ambassador Ettore Sequi, the head of the EU Delegation to Albania photographed by Tasho in Albanian traditional costume and wearing a pistol.
“This is one of the most beautiful works during my 30-year career,” says Tasho, who has been photographing foreigners in Albanian costumes for the past 12 years.
An acclaimed Albanian photographer, Roland Tasho has spent many years of his life documenting the life stories of Albanians who have settled abroad.
The exhibition was part of the European Week events organized by EU Delegation. The European Film Week held from May 11 to 14 was another event organized by the EU Info Centre in Tirana. For the first time it was organized outdoors, in the EU Info Centre garden. The event featured a number of European films, taken from the official programme of the Fourth Prishtina International Film Festival.