Albania dedicates a monument to Shimon Peres

 

By Yoni Peres

TIRANA, Albania — Albania is a small country with a population of about three million people, 70 percent Muslim. It is situated on the Adriatic coast, neighboring Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia and Greece. For 500 years it was under the Ottoman regime. Following the Balkan war of 1914, it became independent. During World War II, it was conquered by the Fascist Italy and later on by Nazi Germany.

In 1944, the state became communist and atheist under the rule of the paranoid dictator Enver Halil Hoxha, who built thousands of underground bunkers throughout the country. Only in 1992, Albania changed direction towards openness and privatization, confronting unemployment, corruption, organized crime, and poor infrastructure.

Since the 1990’s, the state has made great strides toward democratization and stabilization of the economy. It joined NATO in 2009 and was approved for entry into the European Union in 2014.

Jews settled down in Albania in the first century. The second wave came in 1492, following the Spanish expulsion. With the rising of the Nazi regime, Jews fled to Albania and the local villagers provided them with refuge.  Albania was the only European country where the Jewish population had expanded by the end of World War II — from 200 to 2000!

Albania was one of the states that voted in the United Nations for the establishment of the state of Israel.

In 1991, a formal relationship was established between Albania and Israel.   The first official Israeli visitor to Albania was my father, Shimon Peres, then minister of foreign affairs, in 1994.

Albanian Prime Minister Berisha  visited Israel in 2011. Prime Minister Eddi Rama followed in 2015 and met Shimon Peres at the Peres Center for Peace.

Eighteen months ago, Yuval Fisher, Israeli deputy ambassador in Tirana, began negotiations for a memorial to Shimon Peres with Erion Vilaj, a charming, dynamic young mayor of the capital city, with the support of Boaz Redkin, Israeli ambassador. Finally, the ceremony was set for July 26. I flew as the family representative.

I found a very pleasant and cozy city, with extremely warm and welcoming people. There is no comparison to any other Muslim country that I have known so far.

I walked the streets of Tirana very safely. From what I was told, Albania has a beautiful country side with mountains, beaches, lakes and water falls and I am planning to come back for a visit with my family.

The ceremony was simple and humble, yet very exciting and moving, inaugurating a unique sculpture, designed by a talented local artist, located on a tiny plaza, on a busy crossroad in the heart of Tirana.

I fell in love with this unique country and people, which unfortunately suffers a negative stigma. I have no doubt that in the near future it will become a busy economic, cultural, and touristic center of attraction.

I recommend everybody visit this unique spot!  I include some views for everyone’s enjoyment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

Peres, a retired veterinarian, is the middle of three children of Shimon and Sonya Peres.  He regularly favors San Diego Jewish World with his correspondence.