Mehmet Prishtina/
Ishte nder i veçantë qe në zhvillimin e aktiviteteve te shumta në kuadër të manifestimit tradicional kulturor-shkencor “Drita e Gonxhës”, në Selanik të takoja motrën Leisa, e cila ishte sekretare personale e Nënë Terezës.
Në kumtesën e saj, ajo shpjegoi momentet e fundit që kishte përjetuar në ditën e ndarjes nga jeta me shenjtoren dhe Nenën e botes me 05 shtator të vitit 2007. Nderi u shtua kur ajo më kërkoi që t’i dorëzoja fjalimin tim të shkruar në anglisht më rastin e konferencës se organizuar në Selanik nga shoqata “Diaspora Selanik” me në krye Dr. Luan Zyka.
Ky takim me motrën Luisa, e cila për ta nderuar veprën e Nënë Terezës erdhi enkas nga Kalkuta dhe se bashku me motrat tjera të cilat ishin nga vendet e ndryshme të botes qe shërbenin ne Selanik, besoj fort se do lenë gjurmë të pa shlyera në historinë e komunitet shqiptar ne Selanik dhe boten shqiptare gjithandej.
THESSALONIKI BRINGS US TOGETHER!
By Mehmet PRISHTINA
We are honored that tonight we are together here in the Catholic Church in Thessaloniki, as guests of the Albanian Community of this city.
Tonight, a delegation from the birthplace of Gonxhe Bojaxhiu – Mother Teresa, from our Skopje, headed by the director of ISCHA, prof. dr. Skender Asani. In Thessaloniki they are bringing the echo of a colossal work they are doing within the framework of research projects, especially those related to our spiritual and cultural heritage, which also includes the heritage of Albanian Catholic families, among which that of Bojaxhiu, from where our Gonxha and Mother Teresa of the whole world came out, who gave humanity the most unique model of devotion to God and man.
ISCHA in Thessaloniki is coming with the LIGHT OF GONXHA to bring as much light as possible to our inter-Albanian communication, but also with other neighboring nations, with whom we are separated not only by common geography, but also by the future, which must be freed from the mists of the past.
This evening that is bringing us together tonight, could not have been magnificent without the contribution of the Albanian Community in Thessaloniki, headed by Luan Zyka, a devoted intellectual and activist, whom if you had as a friend, you are very lucky.
Such a fate has followed me too, because friendships are not entirely accidental. Friendships are conceived as a fruit whose taste is formed based on the care and respect we show to each other. This was proven historically, then when Thessaloniki offered hospitality and warmth to Albanians as well.
As a heterogeneous metropolis of Balkan peoples who lived together for centuries, in Thessaloniki even the Albanians at the beginning of the XX century have developed political and cultural activities.
Many merchants from Korça had their homes in this city, as well as the former prime minister of Albania, Hasan Prishtina, who was killed in 1933, in this city. On Vasilis Ollgas street, where the house-palace of Hasan Pristina is still located, a few meters further are two houses-villas of the Albanian merchants Mehmet and Ahmet Kapandzi.
At Mehmet Kapandzi’s villa, from August 1916 to the end of 1917 stayed Esat Pash Toptani, who commanded several Albanian military forces that served in support of the French army during the First World War.
Ismail Qemali lived in Thessaloniki for several years, who married a Greek girl named Kleoniki. During the Uprising of the Young Turks in July-August 1908, Çerçiz Topulli, Bajo Topulli and Mihal Grameno stayed in Thessaloniki.
King Ahmet Zogu stayed in this city for a few months with his companions after leaving Albania in 1939..
A very important event for Greeks and Greece is also connected with Thessaloniki. On October 26, 1912, the then Turkish commander with Albanian nationality, General Hasan Tahsin Pasha, donated the city of Thessaloniki to the Greeks and not to the Bulgarians.
Hasan Tahsin Pasha, after giving (donating) Thessaloniki, left first for France and then for Switzerland where he died in 1918 in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Thessaloniki, as we are seeing even now, became a host city for thousands of Albanian immigrants, who in this city found perspective, both in terms of social survival, but also in the aspect of developing professional careers. Proof of this is also the opening of the school for learning in Albanian language, which for the new generations is becoming a beacon that illuminates the path of Dhaskal Thodri in the sacred mission of Albanian letters.
A deep gratitude for this organization tonight goes to the Community of Albanians in Thessaloniki headed by Luan Zyka, but also for the leaders of the Catholic Church, who opened their doors and hearts for our caravan from Skopje, which is continuing its journey in search of inter-fraternal and inter-human unity and understanding.
See you in other organized events, with joint activities and work!
Thessaloniki, September 3,
