“Almost two hundred years ago, on a September 7th, we Brazilians won our freedom. Brazil then became independent,” has said the Ambassador of Brazil to Albania, Francisco Carvalho Chagas in a message on the occasion of the celebration of the National Day of Brazil. 

“At that moment a happy and welcoming nation came to be, rich in racial, ethnic, cultural and religious diversity. Brazil was born big and, through work and effort, claimed its place in the world,” said Ambassador Chagas in the message addressed to the Brazilian community in Tirana. On September 7th 1822, a declaration of independence from Portugal was made by Pedro di Alcântara, the 23-year-old son of the Portuguese King. Brazil had been a colony of Portugal since the 16th century. 

In 1807 France had invaded Portugal and the Portuguese royal family had escaped to Brazil. In 1815, Brazil was given equal kingdom status with Portugal. By 1820, the French had withdrawn from Portugal and the royal family Alcântara, better known as Dom Pedro I, became the first emperor of Brazil and ruled from 1823 until 1831. Brazil became a republic on November 15th 1889 but kept September 7th as its Independence Day. Independence Day has been a federal holiday in Brazil since 1949. Albania and Brazil established diplomatic ties in 1961, after which the Agreement of Commerce and Payments was signed. In 2013, Brazil opened its resident diplomatic mission in Tirana, while Albania had an embassy in Brasilia since 2009. 

“Although this year we are unable to be together in person, due to the exceptional circumstances that the coronavirus pandemic has imposed on the world, I am pleased to celebrate with all of you this very important milestone in our history,” said the Ambassador of Brazil to Albania, Francisco Carvalho Chagas in his message. “It has been 10 years since the opening of the Embassy of Brazil in Tirana! During this time, bilateral relations have deepened and today Brazil is one of the main exporters of animal protein to Albania.” Further on he expressed his gratitude for the affection with which Brazilians are welcomed in Albania. 

“I am also confident in the potential for strengthening the friendship between our two peoples and in the possibilities to expand and deepen our relations even further. We will continue to work together in this direction,” said Ambassador Chagas, who concluded the message addressed on behalf of the Brazilian government and the staff of the Brazilian Embassy in Albania with the wish for a happy National Day!