Italy was the "window of hope" for all Albanians during the “dark decades” of the communist regime, because by secretly watching Italian television, listening to Italian music, even though it was banned and severely punished, they were able to get a taste of freedom, stressed Monday President of the Republic, Ilir Meta.

The Head of State made this remark as he greeted through a video message, the event organized by the "Napoli Novantanove" Foundation in "Parco Old Calabria", in Cosenza, Calabria, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the landing of Albanian emigrants on the shores of Italy, on 8 August 1991.

In his speech, addressed to the local and central authorities of the Italian state present at the ceremony, President Meta said that the arrival of 20000 Albanians 30 years ago in Bari was an event that changed the Italian history of emigration.

“I am really privileged to greet you in this event so important for the history of Albanian emigration, in memory of the arrival in Bari, of the ship ‘Vlora’, on August 8, 1991.

I would like with all my heart to be physically with you, but I promise you that I will come to Calabria soon, both to visit your 'La Nave della Sila' Museum, dedicated to Italian emigration, as well as to meet our dear Arbëresh.

The arrival of 20,000 Albanians 30 years ago in Bari, Italy was an event that changed the Italian history of emigration, but also symbolized the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter for both our countries and peoples.

The ‘Vlora ship, with the suffering and tired Albanians on board, became a symbol of the journey to freedom, a symbol of hope for a new life and a better future.

Their landing off the coast of Italy witnessed in front of the whole world the tragedy and pain of a people suffering for decades from violence, oppression, misery and isolation.

The arrival of the 'Vlora' ship, with its human cargo, in search of a future with rights and opportunities, is a scene that, anyone who has experienced, who was born in Bari or has followed it in the media of that time, never forgets.

The 'Vlora' ship, departed from Durrës with 20 thousand illegal immigrants on board, was the second largest landing in Puglia, after the one in early March of the same year.

That day, left engraved in the collective memory of our two peoples, but also beyond, the images of a ship that symbolized the suffering of a people, but also the hope for a better future, in a country like Italy.

Although none of them, who were on board the ship 'Vlora', had previously trodden Italy, spoke the language, knew Italian music, culture and history.

During the dark decades of the communist regime, Italy was the window of hope for all Albanians, who managed to touch freedom, secretly watching Italian television, listening to Italian music, even though it was banned and severely punished.

This early love of Albanians for Italy has also been seen recently, with the great support they have in Albania for the football team of the Italian National Team.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Municipality of Bari and all the people of the Puglia Region, for the rare solidarity and the great support they gave and showed in those difficult and dramatic moments”, underlined the President among other things.