Mayor Erion Veliaj is conducting a visit in the Vatican together with a group of young people as part of turning Tirana into the "Capital of Youth", where this Thursday he met an Abanian and Kosovo family in the "San Pietro" square. 

In a short interview there, Mayor Veliaj was told that Tirana is the Capital of Youth while in 2023 it will be the Capital of Sport, while he stressed that Albanians have suffered a lot, but are now free to travel and be European citizens. 

Furthermore, Tirana's Mayor underlined that he was born in the 80-ies, when religion was forbidden and that he is the example of a past era, adding that Albania has hosted foreign citizens in need, such as the Iranian opposition, the Afghans and Ukrainians . 

"I was born in the 80s in Albania when religion was forbidden. I am an example of an era that has passed. An era where the names of the Koran or the Bible were forbidden to be used. We have suffered a lot but now we are free. We are free to believe, to travel, to be European citizens. 

We were immigrants before, people with boats who wanted to go everywhere, while now we have sheltered the Iranian opposition for more than 10 years, the Afghans. 

A little while ago, even Ukraine. So, I believe that all cities can change. Albania is changing after a brutal system. Also, poor countries like Albania can help with dignity", stated Veliaj.