President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj declared this Thursday that the diaspora is an extension of culture and identity of the Albanian state.
During his speech at the Third Diaspora Summit, Begaj said that Albanian citizens living abroad should have the right to vote from where they live.
“Albania is a geographically small country, but you have given it a global scope far greater than its size. Today, the communities of Albanians found even in the most distant countries of the world embody above all the free spirit of the Albanian.
Today, hundreds of thousands of Diaspora Albanians have become success stories. Diaspora is the most efficient promoter of our culture and identity, the visiting card of Albanian’s in the world. You, in your path full of sacrifices, have never forgotten Albania. Everyone, according to the possibilities, has always made a contribution to the nation.
Albania does not have the luxury of neglecting the diaspora. We should not see it as a separate part, but as a natural extension of our culture and identity. History teaches us that our country has only benefited from its sons abroad.
Albanian citizens abroad should be able to exercise their constitutional right to vote without having to come to Albania. They must vote, according to a model that many other countries apply successfully.
This will turn the diaspora into a direct actor of the political and administrative configuration in Albania. Secondly, the diaspora needs political representation that will give voice to the priorities of Albanians abroad. All these are processes that cannot be fulfilled in the blink of an eye, but they are not unattainable objectives and, above all, they are necessary initiatives for us as Albanians to be together even though far away”, emphasized the Head of State.
/abcnews.al
