President of the Republic, Ilir Meta honored on Thursday with the title "For Special Civil Merits" the Association "Friends of Albania in Finland", as well as its sister Association "Friends of Finland in Albania", in the framework of the 65th anniversary of establishment of Albania's diplomatic relations with Finland. 

With the motivation: “In appreciation of the valuable contribution to the promotion of Albania and the culture and traditions of the Albanian people, as well as for the deepening and strengthening of friendly relations between Finland and Albania and between the Finnish and Albanian people, in the framework of the 65th anniversary establishing Albania's diplomatic relations with Finland. With gratitude for the support for the introduction and activation of Albania in international organizations and bodies, the organization of numerous scientific and cultural activities, as a continuous assistance to the Albanian Diaspora given over almost three decades, since its establishment in Helsinki in 1995". 

Meanwhile, the counterpart association in Albania, was praised: "In the context of the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Albania and Finland and with gratitude for the valuable contribution to the promotion of Finland and the culture and traditions of the Finnish people, for deepening friendly relations between the Albanian and Finnish people, through the organization of Albanian-Finnish Afternoons, in honor of the days marked in the history of Finland, as well as the willingness and commitment to help Finnish visitors to Albania, since its establishment in Tirana in 2004”. 

Addressing the Finnish friends, the honorary consuls, the members of the two respective associations as well as the honored attendees at the decoration ceremony, President Meta said: 

"I am happy to be together, to appreciate 2 associations that have made a great contribution to strengthening relations between Albania and Finland, the association 'Friends of Albania in Finland' and the association 'Friends of Finland in Albania'. 

I thank the Honorary Consul General of Albania in Finland, Mrs. Liliana Verdha, who proposed to me the honoring of two associations, in the framework of the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries! 

Both of these associations have made and continue to make efforts to keep alive and to develop and strengthen the friendly relations between our two countries and peoples. 

Association of Friends of Albania in Finland (AFAF). Since its establishment in Helsinki in 1995, by a group of friends of our country and for three decades, it has actively contributed to the promotion of Albania inside and outside Finland. 

Its founding members and many others, who later joined, mainly Finnish personalities of politics, economy, culture and sports, as well as members of the Parliament of Finland, have positively influenced the introduction and activation of Albania in European and international organizations, as well as in establishing official relations between the sports organizations of our two countries. 

The ‘Friends of Albania in Finland’ Association has worked closely with the Finnish Parliamentary Friendship Group with Albania and the Honorary Consulate of Albania in Finland, following the opening of the latter in 2003. 

The activities of the Association ‘Friends of Albania in Finland’ are numerous, in almost three decades of its activity and there would be no time to mention them. 

Photographic exhibitions with paintings by Albanian artists; Concerts with well-known Albanian artists, conducted by Zhani Ciko, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Albania's Independence; Organizing radio interviews to promote cultural and sports tourism in Albania; Assistance in solving the various problems of Albanians in Finland. 

These are just some of the activities of the members of this Association, who with its work tries to keep alive and strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries and our two peoples, as well as to promote Albania and the culture and traditions of our people in Finland. 

Association of Friends of Finland in Albania (AFFA). The Association ‘Friends of Finland in Albania’ was founded in 2004, with Albanians who have been to Finland as students, specialists or visitors, as well as with relatives of Albanians living in Finland. 

This Association in its activity has had and has in focus the strengthening of friendly relations between Finns and Albanians, through numerous informative and cultural activities, such as: Annual Albanian-Finnish Afternoon, in honor of the National Holiday of Finland; Meetings and conversations with personalities, in order to promote Finland and the culture of the Finnish people; Cultural activities aimed at getting to know Finnish traditions, etc.

Also, since its establishment, the Association has always been ready to help and support Finnish visitors to Albania, thus contributing to the further strengthening of relations between our two countries. 

On this occasion, thanking everyone, let us wish the best for the next 100 years of Albanian-Finnish relations".