Former Prime Minister Sali Berisha has honoured former Italian Prime Minister Silivio Berlusconi, who passed away this Monday, with a minute of silence from the Blue headquarters. 

In his speech, Berisha said that Berlusconi will always be remembered as a great and immortal Italian and a friend of Albania. 

He emphasized that Berlusconi has also supported Kosovo in its most critical moments, and that the latter has always expressed his friendly feelings for Albanians and respect for our nation. 

"The sun has set forever on Silvio Berlusconi. Silvio Berlusconi, the great and immortal Italian, the founder and leader of Forza Italia, the distinguished former Prime Minister of Italy, the statesman who raised more than anyone else the role of Italy in Europe and the world, the symbol of the success of free initiative, the great friend of the Albanian nation, closed his eyes forever. 

The friendly Italian nation is in mourning today, and along with it, Silvio Berlusconi's friends around the world. Silvio Berlusconi was a great and precious friend of Albania, of Kosovo, of the Albanian nation, of the DP and of me personally. His death is a great loss for the friendly Italian nation, it is a great loss for the center-right political forces in Europe and the world. 

It is a great loss for Albania and Kosovo, which he supported in critical moments with the greatest determination. I remind the Albanians that 24 years ago, when Kosovo was burning with the "Horseshoe" operation, the Lion of the Apennines led the Italian opposition. But this did not prevent him from supporting the leftist Italian government of the time, in the decision to authorize the use of NATO bases for the bombing of the Milosevic regime. In numerous meetings that I have had with him in Italy, Albania, Europe, I have closely felt his most friendly feelings for Albanians, his respect for our nation. On this occasion, expressing my boundless gratitude for his friendship towards me, towards Albania and the Albanian nation, towards the DP, I express my deepest condolences to the Berlusconi family, friends and relatives of the immortal Cavalier. 

I will honour him here with a minute of silence, immortal memory of my great friend, Silvio Berlusconi," he said.