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| Inside the Museum of Medieval art of Korça |
To mark the commemoration of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, a museum located in southeastern Albania has chosen a distinctive approach to showcase the Albanian people's solidarity with Ukraine—by providing guided tours in the Ukrainian language.
The National Museum of Medieval Art in Korça, taking the lead in Albania, now offers tours in Ukrainian due to an initiative undertaken by Ukraine's first lady, Olena Zelenska, with support from Albania's first lady, Armanda Begaj, and local establishments in Korça.
In a recent video message during the unveiling of this initiative, Olena Zelenska, the spouse of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, expressed her intention to reinforce the ties between Albania and Ukraine. She highlighted, "This signifies that Ukrainians will have the opportunity to learn about your nation's culture and heritage in their native tongue. This approach deepens their understanding of Albania. While Russia communicates through aggression, we convey our message through the language of art, history, memory, and culture. May the voice of humanity resonate with strength."
Ukraine has faced an onslaught by the Russian military for a year, resulting in the loss of thousands of civilians' lives and the displacement of millions from their homes. Following the commencement of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, over 3,000 Ukrainian citizens sought refuge in Albania. Up until then, Albania had been a popular destination for thousands of Ukrainian tourists annually.
As a NATO member and a member of the UN Security Council, Albania has unequivocally condemned Russia's aggression and aligned itself with Western sanctions against Russia.
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| At the entrance of the Museum of Medieval Art in Korça |
Initiatives to Foster Albanian-Ukrainian Bonds
The director of the Museum of Medieval Art in Korça, Fjoralba Prifti, communicated to the Albanian-language division of Radio Free Europe that the Ukrainian audio guide initiative would forge a strong connection between the two nations.
"This initial symbolic step serves to establish a lasting bond between the museum, our city, and Ukrainian citizens, who share common beliefs, rituals, and traditions. Our audio guide, now accessible in Ukrainian, creates an avenue to showcase our museum's collection, potentially increasing the visitor count," stated Ms. Prifti.
The museum's audio guide was previously available in Albanian, English, and French.
In 2022, approximately 27,000 visitors explored the museum's rare collection, with half of them—around 14,000—being foreigners, including a small number of Ukrainians.
According to Yunna Gayduchyk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Embassy in Albania, Ukrainian-language audio guides exist in renowned museums across 33 countries worldwide.
Korça: A 'Preferred City'
Conveying Ambassador Volodymyr Shukrov's sentiments, Gayduchyk underscores that Korça is a "preferred city" for Ukrainians residing in Albania.
"Tourists will undoubtedly be drawn to exploring the museum's remarkable exhibits and having the chance to listen in their native Ukrainian language. I'm confident that visits to the museum will become more frequent," Ambassador Shukrov stated.
The initiative is anticipated to extend to other museums throughout Albania. In Korça, it's not only the National Museum of Medieval Art that communicates in Ukrainian—the Thimi Mitko public library inaugurated a Ukrainian Book Corner. This corner, furnished with publications on Ukrainian history, identity, and culture in both Ukrainian and English, was donated by the Ukrainian Embassy in Albania.