Appreciation ceremony in Korça for patriotic figures and monarchical heritage

2025-12-20 16:07:00, Qyteti im CNA

A special ceremony was held in the city of Korça, organized by the Royal Court and the Legality Party, where the focus was on the appreciation of patriotic and patriotic figures who have contributed to the history of the country. The activity aimed to honor 36 well-known figures from the Korça area, who have contributed to the Albanian monarchy, as well as families who were persecuted during the communist regime due to their support for King Ahmet Zogu.

Also present at the ceremony was Prince Leka Zogu II, who stressed the importance of gratitude to the families that have contributed to the construction of the first Albanian state. He praised the role of the city of Korça in preserving the historical heritage of the kingdom period and also focused on the challenges that Albania faces in the process of European integration, emphasizing that this is a long-term process that requires not only the fulfillment of the criteria, but also social and cultural emancipation.

"The purpose of the activity is to thank all those families who have contributed to the history of Albania, families that have been forgotten. These families have contributed and sacrificed to create the first Albanian state. I, as the heir and Prince of the Albanians, am obliged to be grateful to all the families who have provided support. Korça has known how to protect its heritage. It is one of the only cities in Albania that has known how to preserve what was created during the kingdom. Of course, Albania has challenges, but we must be prudent on the issue of EU integration. It is not simply to meet certain criteria, but we must have the proper emancipation to know how we will create the partnership between Albania and Europe. This process will be long, I do not believe that it will end in two years, but we must be a mirror of European culture", said Prince Leka Zogu II.

Among those honored was Hodo Kulla, a descendant of one of the supportive families of the Albanian Monarchy, who recalled the contribution made by generations of his family and the early connection with King Ahmet Zogu, as well as the sacrifices experienced over the years.

"My grandfather and brothers were with Ahmet Zog, with the king, when Leka was alive. My father was in America at the time and we, after these two generations, are with Prince Leka II. There were many people from my tribe who contributed and when we had the house in Zëmblak, there were my grandfather with his three brothers and there could have been about 40 people living in that house," said Kulla.

Meanwhile, the families of the honored figures expressed their gratitude for this recognition, emphasizing that although belated, it represents a moral appreciation for their contribution and sacrifices. For Natasha Haxhillari, this activity serves as a return of attention to history and figures that remained forgotten for many years.

"I feel very happy for this appreciation given to my father. During the years of democracy, he has been one of the main leaders of the Legality Party. We have been waiting for the appreciation for many years, it is very late, but anyway, as a family, we thank the organizers," said Haxhillari.

The ceremony was considered a step towards preserving historical memory and honoring the contributions made to the Albanian state, especially from areas with patriotic tradition like Korça. /CNA