Veliaj receives the well-known Ukrainian director, who will direct the “Marie Kraja” Festival, Solovianenko: We have found a real friend in Albania

This time, the director of the festival, which is attended by 16 young stars from 4 continents, will be the deputy director of the Kiev Opera, Anatoliy Solovianenko, who has left the war in Ukraine.

The Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, received today the jury of the Festival composed of directors of well-known European theaters, and presented the Clock Tower to the well-known Ukrainian director, Anatoliy Solovianenko.

“Tirana Clock is 0 kilometers for every corner of Albania. I know that Ukraine is going through difficult times, but time will pass, the country will be rebuilt and we will return to normalcy. We have an expression: Rebuild better, bigger and more beautiful – not just buildings, bridges, or any other destruction from war, but also the soul. I think that your work and mission, with this fantastic group of friends, will play a great role for the spiritual reconstruction of the people, “said Veliaj.

He said that he is pleased that today in Tirana we have friends from Ukraine. “Tomorrow we are expecting in Tirana a team of Ukrainian Olympic players, who will be trained here, so as not to lose their biorhythm, and to prepare for the Paris Olympic Games. We showed tremendous hospitality to refugees from Afghanistan, but also to Tirana’s initiative to contribute to what is called ‘1% solidarity’ – as if a large city welcomes the equivalent of 1% of its population, for women with children coming from Ukraine, then even the burden would be shared more easily. I am very happy that many colleagues have come to us from all over Europe, they are part of the jury and I very much hope that in Tirana you not only stay and have a good time, but also return to the ‘de facto’ ambassadors of what you saw “, said Veliaj.

The mayor added that the “Marie Kraja” Festival is part of the city’s fabric. “This year that Tirana is the European Capital of Youth, is a moment to raise talented boys and girls, not only from Albania, but from all over the world. I strongly believe that the tradition that started with “Marie Kraja”, proves an infinity of talents in a very small country. Maybe we will not be able to produce BMW and Mercedes, but at least in the field where we are talented, especially in art and culture, we can have a high creativity, but especially when our young people face their peers from every “it makes Tirana an epicenter of international developments,” he said.

The Deputy Director of the Kiev Opera, Anatoliy Solovianenko, expressed his gratitude that a small country like Albania has stood by, not only in words but also in deeds, Ukraine occupied by Russia.

“I know how Albanians and Tirana are supporting Ukraine. The big countries are talking about making some decisions to offer weapons, while Albania, instead of just words, is doing many, many things. I am very happy to be here and to have made new friends, but also that Ukraine has made real friends in Albania, with the Albanians, with the Albanian state. So, I want to thank you for this support and for this cooperation, because when everything is going well, you have a lot of friends, but when something goes wrong in your family, in your city, in your country, you can see who your true friend is and who is supporting you with real deeds, not just saying “We are with you”. “I thank the mayor once again, I thank Albania and all Albanians for what you are doing now for Ukraine,” said Solovianenko, among others.

The Director of Opera and Ballet, Zana Çela, gave some details from the festival. “This edition is organized at a very special moment and we want to give the message that we must be together in these moments and so it will happen during the nights of the festival. There are artists from all over the world who have been selected as competitors of the eighteenth edition. I wholeheartedly thank, on behalf of all the young artists, the Mayor for this great support. Without his support, this edition would not have been realized. “Tirana, as the European Capital of Youth, deserves the 18th edition of the Opera Festival” Marie Kraja “, because it is already known that in the century we live in, music festivals are the best promoters of the development of a country,” said Cela.

Veliaj closed his speech by emphasizing that the year when Tirana is the European Capital of Youth is a moment to elevate talented young people, not only from Albania, but from all over the world.

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