Mirëma të gjitheve; Good evening everyone!/
Gëzuar 100-vjetorin e Pavarësisë Shqipëri!/
Happy Independence Day Albania!/
Happy Independence Day to all Albanians wherever they live!/
Distinguished Deputy Assistant Secretary Philip Reeker,/
Distinguished Senators, Congressmen,/
Distinguished former US Ambassadors to Albania, /
Distinguished men and women in uniform,
Dear friends and compatriots,
We are gathered today to celebrate a very blessed day for Albania and Albanians: the first 100th anniversary of our Independence Day. May God bless all those generations which paved the way to the very wise and brave men and women who contributed for the proclamation of Independence on November 28, 1912!
All Albanians celebrated and continue to celebrate, in Albania and all-over the world; and we are proud tonight to celebrate in this very blessed land called the United States of America, that for centuries has been hosting freedom dreamers and freedom makers; that hosted the founding fathers of “Vatra” exactly 100 years ago; that hosted the great Albanian thinkers and patriots: ambassador Konica and bishop Noli; Belushi brothers as well. We are proud tonight to celebrate especially here, in Washington DC, I believe, in the Capital of the Democratic World.
Special thanks and gratitude must go to the founding father, Ismail Bej Qemali, who had the clarity, the wisdom and the vision to act fast and determinedly, in order not to lose the momentum that historical conditions provided, in order to seal the centuries-long dream of Albanians for having their own independent state, their own beautiful, proud, freedom-loving Flag.
Today, we Albanians are and feel proud of being a valid partner in producing freedom and stability; of having our Flag lined-up together with the other 27 NATO member-states; we feel proud that we stood the challenges of the first 100 years, and we are so confident that we will stand the new challenges of the next 100 years.
Albanians are so confident for their future, because their past is so glorious, full of heroes and freedom-fighters. It was exactly on November 28, 1444, that our National Hero, Gjergj Kastrioti – Scanderbeg, raised the very same Flag proclaiming the independent and unified state of Arbëria, which included all Albanians under one and the same Flag.
Dear friends,
It would have been quite unfair to portray Albanians only as good and brave freedom-fighters, because Albanians have given the world Mother Theresa, one of the greatest examples of compassion, love and maturity. She remains a great reminder of what our mission in life should be.
Keeping all these in mind, during these two decades in democracy, Albania has played and will continue to play a very constructive and moderate role in our Region, despite the difficulties this approach have had and will continue to have for Albanians, who practically live in half of the states of the Region.
But, we are determined and fully convinced that the only and ultimate station for Albania and the Region is Brussels; it is the European Union. The faster we reach that station, the better it is for the whole region, even wider.
Albania and Albanians will continue to be a factor of stability, of good understanding, of open and sincere friendship, based always on the values and principles of democracy; working for a Europe Whole, Free, and at Peace.
Dear Friends,
On behalf of the whole Albanian Nation, I have to thank the United States of America and their distinguished Statesmen for the direct and principled support that they have provided for us, for the Albanian Nation.
100 years ago, President Wilson’s determination sealed the existence of Albania on the map of Europe;
Almost a century later, President Clinton’s determination freed the other half of our nation, adding dear Kosova to Europe’s map;
And a few years ago, President Bush Jr. and President Obama welcomed Albania to NATO, a meaningful re-birth for all Albanians.
Thank you America! We owe you so much!
But, besides many, America has another very precious jewel on its crown, it has the wonderful patriotic Albanian-American community; part of which fills this hall tonight.
Dear compatriots,
Your patriotic and democratic contribution, that of your fathers and grand-fathers, all-together has been an added value to Albania’s heritage, which You so well preserve and transmit from generation to generation. Thank you my dear compatriots!
My dear non-Albanian-speaker friends, I apologize for closing my remarks in Albanian, but I found it so difficult to translate the following lines into another language:
“Sa të rrojë gjithësia,
Sa të rrojë gjithë dheu
Do të rrojë Shqipëria,
Edhe emri i Mëmëdheut.”
Gëzuar!
May God bless you all!
May God bless our Independence Day!
God bless the United States of America!
God bless Albania and Albanians wherever they live!
Thank you.
*Ky fjalim u mbajt ne pritjen qe dha ambasadori Gilbert Galanxhi ne Washington me 11 dhjetor 2012 me rastin e 100 vjetorit te Pavaresise se Shqiperise