Albania: the country that still needs to be discovered

Over the past three thousand years, the territory of modern Albania has been part of Ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, Byzantium and the Ottoman Empire. This definitely has left an imprint on its culture and architecture. The towns and charming villages are full of amazing old castles, Roman ruins, mosques and Ottoman buildings.

Albania is home to almost 3 million people, most of whom are ethnic Albanians. More than half the population is Muslim and there are also a many Christians, both Orthodox and Catholics.

The state language of the country is Albanian. Nevertheless, Italian is widely spoken as well.

Here we introduce an interview with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Albania to the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Uzbekistan, Mr. Arben Gazioni, who told in more detail about this amazing country.

How would you characterize the current situation of RussianAlbanian relationship?

After the restoration of diplomatic relations in 1990, mainly in the 1990s and 2000s, there was an exchange of high level visits, as well as significant number of bilateral agreements between the countries, which constitute the legal basis for cooperation to this day.

I am convinced that, despite fundamental issues that may divide us, through joint efforts we are able to achieve a higher level of cooperation between Albania and the Russian Federation, based on respect for interests of mutual benefit. My conviction is based on positive experience of this cooperation in such spheres as education, science, culture and tourism.

Albania is a country of peaceful coexistence of the representatives of three denominations: Muslims, Catholics and Orthodox. Share with us the formula for harmony and rapprochement among Albanians?

You have raised an important and relevant topic: the peaceful coexistence of religious denominations. Unfortunately we live in the world where the teachings of various religions are frequently exploited for personal gains. These teachings have always called for peace, harmony and respect for the people around us.

As for little Albania: for centuries Muslims, Orthodox and Catholics have peacefully coexisted in our country. Despite the fact that we have three different faiths, the spirit of tolerance, harmony, mutual understanding and respect for each other was and is perceived as a value that we preserve and continue to develop. Undoubtedly, this is an unquestionable merit of the leaders of religious denominations of the country.

After all, it's not about some formula. Each country has its own specifics. For example, in the Russian Federation, in such a vast country with numerous peoples and religions, I also find mutual understanding and respect for the ethnic and religious affiliation of all peoples living in it. This, in my opinion, is the best investment and guarantee for peace and stability.

One of the main problems of 2020 that swept the entire planet is the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, more than 20 thousand cases of infection have been recorded in Albania. Is it difficult for you to fight the spread of the coronavirus, as well as to overcome its consequences?

Yes, indeed, the planet is facing an unprecedented challenge and every day the number of coronavirus cases breaks records all over the world. It is not for nothing that the COVID-19 pandemic is called the plague of the 21st century. Albania is no exception.

We can say that, in comparison with other countries, the first wave in spring passed more or less without big turmoil. However, today we are concerned with the recent increase in the incidence rate among the population

The government is taking all the necessary measures not only to strengthen the capacity of the healthcare system to overcome the problems that have arisen, but also to raise public awareness of the danger of the spread of coronavirus.

While studying your biography the majority may get the impression that you deliberately pursued your current profession. Is this true or maybe it happened naturally?

Oddly enough, my current profession of diplomat is largely associated with the Russian language. Until 1992 I was a young researcher at the Institute of Albanology in Tirana. By chance, I was invited by the Albanian Foreign Ministry of that time to enter the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Federation.

At the beginning of 1992 Albania received some scholarships from the Russian Federation to the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) and the Diplomatic Academy. Knowledge of the Russian language was an important criterion for admission to the Diplomatic Academy.

To tell the truth it was not an easy decision for me to leave a scientific institute after five years of work. In the end, the interest in diplomatic activity prevailed, as well as curiosity and a desire to get to know better the country whose language I had previously studied only from books and in the absolute absence of contacts with native speakers. Since then I have been continuously working in the diplomatic service of the Republic of Albania. This is, in brief, the story of my choice of a new profession as a diplomat.

In 1981, having entered the Faculty of History and Philology of the State University of Tirana, you chose the specialty “Russian language and literature”. What was the reason for this? Did you have Russian roots?

I have no Russian roots. Rather, it was due to my penchant for foreign languages and the abundance of books and magazines with illustrations in Russian that I had at home. My father, who was a famous writer for children in the 70s and 80s in Albania, read Russian. Perhaps, my attachment to the Russian language and Russian literature occurred thanks to him.

What does the ambassador do in his free time? Do you have any hobby?

Indeed, there is more and more free time during the coronavirus period, since all events involving the wide participation of representatives of the diplomatic corps (receptions, conferences, meetings) have been canceled since April even meetings within a narrow circle have been greatly reduced.

My favourite hobby is reading fiction or political and historical literature. I do not hide that Russian literature, especially classical, has always been one of my favorites. I enjoy reading my favourite writers Dostoevsky, Tolstoy and Turgenev, when I have free time.

I am also fond of art. I often visit exhibitions and performances of theatre , classical music and ballet. Indeed, in Moscow you will find many such places like nowhere else!

And finally, I try to correctly balance mental and physical activity. I really like to walk in the beautiful parks and always clean streets of Moscow. It gives me physical and aesthetic pleasure.

What are your wishes for the people of our countries?

Since we live in such a difficult time, first of all I would like to wish the residents of both countries health and that everyone has a job. I hope that everything will pass and life will return to normal soon. This, of course, requires all of us to strictly adhere to all the rules and measures established by the relevant authorities.

I wish our peoples happiness and prosperity.

SHAKHBAN SHAKHBANOV