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| The map that shows the Free Ukraine Street in Tirana |
One of the streets in the block where the headquarters of the embassies in Tirana are located, near the embassies of Ukraine, the Russian and Serbian embassies, will be named "Free Ukraine" (in Albanian: Ukraina e Lirë) on Monday.
The news was given today by the mayor Erion Veliaj, who evaluated this gesture of Tirana as a clear message that we can not stand idly by after what is happening with Russia's attack on Ukraine.
Veliaj, who together with the Ambassador of Ukraine in Tirana, Volodymyr Shkurov, helped today to load the first truck with the aid collected by the citizens of Tirana for the citizens of Ukraine, said that he is proud of all this generosity and solidarity.
"We really can not carry weapons, but we can carry food and a message. And one of the messages we want to send, through the Municipal Council of Tirana on Monday, is the decision to name a segment in the block of embassy headquarters, located next to the Ukrainian embassy, called "Free Ukraine" Street. This is a message that is being given by many cities. It turns out that the Russian Embassy is also on that street - they, and everyone else there, will have to change their address on business cards to "Free Ukraine". It is a way to show that we can not stand idly by," said Veliaj.
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| Tirana citizens bringing aid packages to Ukraine Embassy |
He also reacted to the protest that took place yesterday in Belgrade. "What happened yesterday in Serbia is shameful. It is not at all dignified for a country in the Balkans to protest and support the Russian intervention in Ukraine. We are really offended by the fact that there are still countries today that have advanced more towards the EU than us and at a critical moment, where it must show European values, protest in solidarity with Russia, which is the oppressor, the occupier, the enemy, the opponent of freedom. Therefore, Tirana must make a contrast here as well," declared the mayor.
On the other hand, Veliaj and Ambassador Shkurov expressed their gratitude for the solidarity of citizens and businesses, which joined the call for assistance to those affected by the war in tents set up by the Municipality and the Embassy of Ukraine.
"I am very proud of the generosity we received from the citizens of Tirana - the generosity, which flooded all the tents opened by the Municipality of Tirana, as well as the embassy of Ukraine. It is an extremely difficult moment, but everyone has to do their own thing. We Albanians have gone through hardships from the war in Kosovo or the situation with the earthquake and we know what it means to be in need. We want to continue this action until March 14 and turn Summer Day into a day of solidarity," said Veliaj.
Ambassador Shkurov especially thanked the Mayor of Tirana, who made possible the multiplication of aid to his people.
"We had the Embassy of Ukraine as a collection point, but with the help of the Municipality of Tirana, we had more work. We were also provided with a warehouse. I have a very special thanks to the Veliaj, but also a personal message to many people who are present here, to the Albanian people, because without their presence, without their help, I would not have the opportunity to speak today, as I am speaking before you. I can say that it is a kind of twinning campaign between the Municipality of Kyiv and the Municipality of Tirana," he said.
Ambassador Shkurov also praised the traditional gesture of Albanian hospitality, which is already proving its values with war-torn Ukraine.