Kelmend commune honoured with ‘Nation’s Honour’ order

TIRANA, Aug. 13 – The Kelmend commune in the northern region of Shkodra has been honoured with the Nation’s Honour presidential order for its distinguished contribution to the national identity. The order was handed over by President Bujar Nishani attending the Logu i Bjeshkeve local festival, an artistic and ethnographic manifestation featuring traditional singing, dancing and colourful costumes in Kelmend, Malsia e Madhe, the northern region of Shkoder. Local residents and visitors from Kosova, Montenegro and Albanian diaspora attended the festival.
The Kelmend natives greeted and hailed the visit of President Nishani as the very first visit paid by an Albanian head of state to Kelmend throughout all its history. The commune also known for its mountain and cultural heritage tourist was awarded the order for the “distinguished contribution provided to the national identity; for the bravery and heroism demonstrated in the uprisings for independence against Ottomans; for the heroic resistance to preserve the national borders from chauvinist partition; for the first anti-communist uprising (in 1945) where the blood of martyrs was transformed into a memory and willingness to seek democracy; for its distinguished leaders and sons that it has produced throughout the centuries.”
While praising the Logu i Bjeshk췥 as a mark of Albanian ethnicity, ethnography and culture, President Nishani stressed that under the conditions of globalism, the cultural identities if they are strong and manage to be cultivated, are distinguished and evidenced more than before.
“If we would hold dear to our hearts the fortunes of Albanian culture and those of shaping of our successors, we must echo not only such artistic, ethnographic and patriotic demonstrations such as Logu i Bjeshk췥, but we must attempt to carry out an educational, informing and researching reading.”