The leader of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, held an electoral meeting with Albanians living and working in Greece today in Athens.
At the beginning of his speech, Berisha praised, saying that he "bows down with great respect" to the Greeks who - as he said - opened their hearts with great generosity to hundreds of thousands of Albanian immigrants.
Present in the hall in Athens are hundreds of Berisha's supporters, as well as representatives of the Greek minority such as Fredi Beleri and Vangjel Dule.
Berisha also said that Albanians have given Greece great names like singer Milena Mërkuri and actress Irene Papas, an Arvanite who Greeks do not recognize as such.
Excerpt from Berisha's speech:
I bow with the greatest respect to the Greeks, because Athens has shown the greatest heart, the greatest generosity towards the Albanians. Boundless gratitude for this brotherly welcome. Today it is the capital with the most Albanians. Today I learned that Albanians have 360 thousand apartments here. You were welcomed by the citizens of this country with an instant speed. You became a very important factor. And the rivers of sweat that you shed received the highest appreciation in all areas of this country, in tourism, in construction, in justice. Today each of you has honorable personalities who honor Greece in all competitions, with whom Albania is proud.
History is repeating itself, we are in the hall that bears the name of a famous Greek-Albanian, Melina Mërkuri. Other Melinas, other Irena Papas will emerge from you, of whom Greece is proud, Albania is proud.