Politics · Italy · 38 mins ago
Mattarella welcomes Arbëreshë mayors with Albanian greeting
Sergio Mattarella welcomed Arbëreshë mayors at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, joking about his Albanian pronunciation as he greeted them.
Albanian President Bajram Begaj joined the meeting, along with the Eparch of Lungro.
The Arbëreshë are communities in Italy that preserve an old Albanian heritage.
Mattarella said the meeting was a chance to renew the historic bond between Italy and Albania and sent greetings to residents of Arbëreshë towns.
The gathering followed visits by Mattarella and Begaj to Piana degli Albanesi in October 2024, and an earlier visit to San Demetrio Corone eight years ago with Albania’s then-president Ilir Meta.
Mattarella said the two countries and their peoples belong to the same community.
President Sergio Mattarella welcomed mayors from Italian towns with Arbëreshë communities at the Quirinal Palace.
He greeted the delegation in Albanian and joked about his pronunciation.
Albanian President Bajram Begaj and the Eparch of Lungro were also present.
Mattarella said the meeting renewed the historic bond between Italy and Albania.
He described residents of Arbëreshë towns as guardians of an ancient history.
- Who
- Italian President Sergio Mattarella welcomed a delegation of mayors from towns with Arbëreshë communities. Albanian President Bajram Begaj and the Eparch of Lungro were also present.
- What
- Mattarella greeted the delegation in Albanian at a meeting.
- When
- November 9, 2026.
- Where
- The Quirinal Palace in Rome.
- Why
- Mattarella said the meeting renewed and demonstrated the historic bond of brotherhood between the two countries and peoples.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Mattarella visited San Demetrio Corone with then Albanian President Ilir Meta.
Mattarella and Begaj visited Piana degli Albanesi.
Mattarella met Arbëreshë mayors and Begaj at the Quirinal Palace.
- Italian president
- Sergio Mattarella
- Albanian president
- Bajram Begaj
- Meeting location
- Quirinal Palace
- Earlier visit
- Piana degli Albanesi, October 2024
- Other participant
- Eparch of Lungro
1 source
What people are saying
Welcome, then, falem, good morning, and excuse my pronunciation
to renew and testify to the ancient bond of vellamja, of brotherhood, that unites our countries and our peoples
guardians of an ancient history
Even today we can repeat that we truly feel members of the same community