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Shkruar nga Pamfleti
President Bajram Begaj is on a visit to the United States to participate in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Dayton. Begaj was welcomed with a ceremony by students from the “Gjuha Jonë” school of the Albanian-American Association “Bijtë e Shqipes”.
The President praised the contribution of the Albanian diaspora since the end of the 19th century to public life in the United States of America, as well as the intergenerational activity to preserve the Albanian identity.
The Head of State recalled the journey of the Diaspora, highlighting the activism of patriots who gave life to the Albanian cause through the political, economic, educational and cultural institutions of America.
The President also praised the initiatives of Albanians to establish associations and cooperation networks among themselves with the aim of integrating Albanians into American society, while at the same time preserving national identity.
"Thanks to the democratic values and standards of the country that you have chosen as your second homeland, in this champion country of democracy and respect for human rights, Albanians of the Orthodox, Catholic and Muslim faiths built their Albanian-speaking places of worship, which became not only religious, but also cultural and educational centers ," he said.
President Begaj also praised the contribution of Albanians who emigrated later, after the fall of the communist regime, who, according to him, gave a new impetus to the Albanian community by increasing the number of Albanian organizations, schools, and businesses.
As President Begaj emphasized, in the face of challenges, they have made efforts to establish multidimensional centers for the preservation of national, cultural and linguistic identity: "Precisely in this country, in this multicultural environment, the "Bijtë e Shqipes" school helps prevent the complete assimilation of new generations, keeping Albanian elements alive in your daily lives. I am aware that your challenges to keep Albanian schools open and functioning are numerous. They are related to securing sufficient and necessary funds, to competition with the American school system, to the difficulties in securing qualified teachers and quality teaching materials in the Albanian language, or to motivating parents and students to attend classes regularly."
The President of the Republic pledged to do everything in support of this noble mission. During his stay in Philadelphia, the President of the Republic also visited the St. George Orthodox Church, one of the oldest Albanian Orthodox churches in the USA, as well as the first Albanian printing house, managed by women entrepreneurs.
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