The President of the Republic, Ilir Meta paid an official visit of several days in the municipalities inhabited by the Arbëresh in Calabria. 

President Meta's first stop was in Civita, where he was warmly welcomed by dozens of citizens of this Arbëresh settlement, by Mayor Alessandro Toci, as well as the highest local authorities. 

During his greeting, in the warm meeting held in the premises of the Municipality of Civita, President Meta noted that as many concrete initiatives should be taken for the protection of the Arbëresh minority, adding Albanian contribution to the registration of the Arbëresh heritage, 'Moti i Madh' at UNESCO, and setting up an Institute of Albanian Culture in Rome. 

"In the wonderful Arbëresh town of Civita, I was warmly welcomed today by the Mayor, Alessandro Toci, the highest local and regional authorities, as well as dozens of citizens. 

I expressed my deepest gratitude for the valuable contribution of the Arbëresh for the preservation of the language, history, traditions, culture and heritage of the 'Moti i Madh' of Gjergj Kastriot Skënderbeu, who deserve to be part of UNESCO as soon as possible. 

I stressed the importance of signing as soon as possible a Joint Protocol between Albania and the Calabria Region, according to the existing one with the Region of Puglia, and the proposed one with the Region of Sicily, as an excellent opportunity to strengthen ties between us. At the core of the centuries-old friendship between Albania and Italy are the Arbëresh, whose rich heritage belongs not only to our peoples, but is also a precious value of European and world culture," Meta writes.