Vlora commemorates Ismail Qemali

TIRANA, Jan. 25 – The southern Albanian city of Vlora commemorated this week the figure of Ismail Qemali, the leader of Albania’s independence in 1912 following almost 500 years under Ottoman rule.
In a ceremony held on his 167th birthday and 92th death anniversary, local and central government officials, historians and intellectuals laid wreaths at the memorial in his hometown of Vlora, where he declared Albania’s independence 98 years ago.
A conference with speeches by researchers and historians followed the commemorations held on Jan. 24.
Ismail Qemali is remembered as a distinguished leader of the Albanian national movement, a founder of the modern Albanian state and its first head of state and government. Together with Isa Boletini and Luigj Gurakuqi, he raised the flag on the balcony of the two-story building in Vlor롷here the Declaration of Independence had just been signed. He was prime minister of Albania from 1912 to 1914.