The new premises of the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Albania in Naples

The new premises of the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Albania have been inaugurated in Naples, at Villa Doria d’Angri. It is headed by Giuseppe Lettieri, an entrepreneur and manager with experience in multinational companies. The Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, attended the inauguration ceremony. He was joined by the President of the Campania Regional Council, Roberto Fico; the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Edmondo Cirielli; the Mayor of Naples, Gaetano Manfredi; the Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to Italia, Anila Bitri Lani, and the former Under-Secretary of State, Gianni Letta.

“Today we are here to open not a consulate in the strict sense of the word, but a gateway between two societies that have historically been very close and are, on a human level, very similar,” said Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. ‘To celebrate this friendship – which is more than just a friendship – there could be no more fitting place than Naples: it is an incredible city where history is not confined to museums. Here, history lives on in the streets, in the neighbourhoods, in the people.’ “Today, the Balkans represent an important region for Europe where we can strengthen ties and create opportunities,” added the Mayor of Naples, Gaetano Manfredi. “ ‘Rama and I intend to establish a twinning arrangement with Durres and rekindle this strong relationship with the Balkans and Albania.’ “When you go to Albania, you feel at home,” continued the President of the Campania Region, Roberto Fico, “there is both a cultural and economic exchange; we must strive to bring that whole area ever closer to our shores.”

The opening of the new office marks the culmination of a diplomatic initiative aimed at providing a practical point of contact for the Albanian community living in Campania and for businesses keen to develop commercial synergies between the two sides of the Adriatic.

“The bond between the two countries is unique, not only because of their geographical proximity, but also because of an extraordinary cultural affinity: in Albania, almost everyone speaks our language and has a deep love for Italia,” said Honorary Consul Giuseppe Lettieri. “Our day-to-day commitment will be twofold: to ensure we are constantly available to listen to and support our community, and to facilitate economic exchange between the two countries, transforming a historic friendship into real opportunities for business development.”