Vebi Velija passes away

TIRANA, May 26 – After a grave illness, Vebi Velija, President of VEVE Group Balkan Regional Industry and Consultation Corporate and of ALSAT TV network in Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo, and founder and President of “Velija Foundation” Cultural Institution, passed away May 15. He was 61.
The funeral was held in his hometown Gradec in Gostivar, Macedonia.
Velija was well-known for his engagement and commitment to economy and politics, through the ALSAT network and the Velija Foundation. During the last two decades Velija contributed to the development of freedom, democracy and regional cooperation in all Balkan spheres.
VEVE Group founded by Velija at the beginning of 90’s became one of the biggest companies drawing foreign investments in Balkan, especially in the sectors of energy, food industry, tourism, transports, and telecommunication.
Velija was born in 1948 in the village of Gradec, Gostivar. After graduating with an Economics degree, he started his business in Croatia in 1971. Later, in 1981 he concentrated his businesses in Vienna, Austria. Velija came to Albania in 1990 by founding businesses in media and telecommunication, the tobacco industry, the food processing industry, financial services, construction, oil and the energy sector.
Velija was also President of the Union of Industrialists and Investors of Albania. He founded the first Albanian satellite TV, the ALSAT network which broadcasts in Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo and through satellite to Europe, America, Canada, etc.
ALSAT TV started in Tirana as the first TV covering the whole of Albanian-speaking area in the Balkans. It also received its license as the first national Albanian TV station in Macedonia, while a year ago Kosovo gave ALSAT a license as well.
Velija was also the founder and President of Velija Foundation which started in July 1994 and continues as the expression of its founder’s belief that a nation might survive with little food but never with little culture. The Velija Foundation is a nonprofit national organization functioning through the financial support of its founder.
Throughout its existence the Velija Foundation has attempted to bring to life and address the support of national culture, introduction of European and international cultural traditions in Albania and the adoption of such traditions by people in Albania through the common sharing of universal human values; encouragement and organization of educational and humanitarian activities.
Velija is author of books like “Quo Vadis Albania,” a view into the vision of Albania’s economic recovering program, and “Between Economy and Politics” containing discussions, speeches and writings.
Velija was also a member of the Business Advise Board in Stability Pact and the Southeast Europe Cooperation Initiative.
Velija was known for his donations that became famous beyond Albania’s borders. His donations come in the form of the annual international award called “Premija Kadare”, named after the most famous writer of the region, Ismail Kadare, who is the chair of the award’s jury.
The first laureate was internationally known Argentinean writer Ernesto Sabato, followed by the equally famous Czech writer, Milan Kundera.
The Foundation grants generous funds to award the best works in national film, theatre and folk song festivals, as well as the best annual works in the fields of literature, journalism, photography, television and painting.
Both the Velija Foundation and the Premija Kadare International Award represent a continuous contribution to the promotion of culture, not only within the framework of the Albanian nation, but also internationally, thereby reflecting the timeless efforts inherent in every human being to leave behind something eternal and valuable that speaks of culture as a means of uniting people from all places and for all times.