The President of the Republic of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani has concluded her visit to Calabria, Italy, carried out at the invitation of the Arbëresh community of this region.
She expressed her gratitude to them for keeping the Albanian language, culture and traditions alive. “Arbëresh culture is an important pillar of our culture,” said the President.
At the meetings with the mayors of these municipalities, President Osmani talked about the drafting of joint projects for the further cultivation of this culture.
During her stay in Calabria, in a special ceremony at the municipality of Frasnita, President Osmani was bestowed the “Gjergj Kastrioti-Skënderbeu” award by the mayor of this municipality, Mr. Angelo Catapano. And in Frasnitë, the President inaugurated the “Kosova” square, which has been so named by the Community of Frasnitë, as a sign of respect for the commitment of the people of Kosovo to freedom and civilizing values.
During the visit, President Osmani also gave a speech at the University of Calabria.
President Osmani also met with the president of the Calabria Region, Roberto Occhiuto, with whom she talked about the further expansion of cooperation between the Republic of Kosovo and the Calabria Region, as well as with the president of the Province of Cosenza, Mrs. Rosaria Succurro, with whom she discussed the economic, political and cultural relations between the various municipalities of Kosovo and the Province of Cosenza.
This was the first-ever visit of Madam President to the villages inhabited by Arbëresh in the Italian Republic.