Congratulatory message of the President of Republic, H. E. Ilir Meta to the President of Italy, H. E. Sergio Mattarella on his re-election

Honorable Mr. President, Your Excellency, Sergio Mattarella

Dear friend,

Your re-election as the President of Italy, gives me the distinguished pleasure that, on behalf of the Albanian people and of my own, to convey to You the most heartfelt and sincere wishes for the continuation of the successful fulfillment of Your mission as the head of the Italian Republic.

I am very confident that even during this mandate, the excellent, historical and multidimensional relations between Albania and Italy will grow and enrich even more, both bilaterally and multilaterally.

On behalf of the Albanian people, I would like to express my gratitude to the Italian people for the warm hospitality of the Arbëresh community in Italy, appreciating and respecting the national identity and the spiritual, linguistic and cultural tradition, and facilitating its natural integration into Italian society. The warm welcome at San Demetrio Corone and the joint visit to the College of Saint Adrian, in the framework of the commemoration of the 550th anniversary of Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeu, have remained in my memory, not only as evidence of the common sentiment of the centuries-old friendship between our two peoples, but also as an undeniable proof of Your appreciation for this special period of our common history.

At the same time, Mr. President, I take this opportunity to thank You and the Italian people and the central and local authorities of Your country for their valuable assistance to the Albanians who emigrated in Your country, for the hospitable spirit, thanks to which, a whole generation of Albanians of Italy represent with dignity today our nations, in all fields, not only in Italy, but all over the world.

I express the guarantee that our countries, as two NATO member countries, will continue the cooperation and contribution to regional security and beyond, especially within the UN, during the two-year mandate of Albania, as a non-permanent member of the Security Council.

I would like to express my gratitude for the unstinting and continuous support that You and Your country have given to Albania and all the countries of the Western Balkans, in the framework of the European Union integration process, and at the same time to express my conviction that Your re-election as President of Italy will further strengthen the Italian support throughout this important European and geostrategic process for the region and for Europe as a whole.

Reaffirming once again the feelings of deep friendship of the Albanian people, my sincere congratulations on Your re-election as President of the Italian Republic and the desire to meet soon,

Please accept, honorable friend, the expression of my highest consideration!