Inauguration of the project “Gjirokastra 2009-2011 17th of April 2009, Gjirokastra, Albania

Today, Cultural Heritage without Borders has inaugurated the start of the
Project “Gjirokastra 2009-2011” together with its partners in the project:
- Gjirokastra Conservation and Development Organization
(GCDO)
- Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sport
- Institute of Monuments of Culture, Tirana
- Regional Directorate of National Monuments of Gjirokastra and
- Office of Administration and Coordination of City Museum of Gjirokastra

These are the short speeches of the partners in the project:

Lejla Hadzic, CHwB regional coordinator
“Gjirokastra was and is through a history a proud city, with a heritage of an extraordinary value, and with people who shared this sense of pride. This project is aimed not only towards restoration of stones, but also towards restoration of Gjirokastra's people sense of pride. The restoration that will step by step hopefully boost the economical development of Gjirokastra is one of the aims of this project”

Spartak Drasa, the director of Regional Directorate of National Culture of Gjirokastra
“We would like to thank to CHwB for the efforts in restoration of cultural heritage of Gjirokastra. Encouraged by the restoration of the Babameto 2nd category monument in the Bazaar of Gjirokastra, now the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sport will invest in restoration of the buildings around Babameto 2nd category building, where by doing that the whole street façade will be completely restored”

Sadi Petrela, the director of Gjirokastra Conservation and Development Organization, (GCDO)
“The road in front of us is long and we have a lot of work, but we are very happy for the achieved partnership, and this is the outmost important aim of this project, to work together and to create partnerships like this, with all Governmental and Non Governmental Institutions involved in Albania working towards the same aim”

Ols Lafe, the director of the Directorate of National Culture, within the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sport, Albania
“After a long delay we have finally concluded the cooperational agreement with 6 Organizations, and we are very happy with achieved partnership. On behalf of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sport, I wish you good and successful work”

After finalized speeches the banner promoting the partnership was unveiled in front of the present public, and this opportunity was also used to donate a humble gift to the office of Regional Directorate of National Culture of Gjirokastra.
The gift contained of laser level, laser measure and a tripod, tools we hope would help to the staff to meet the challenges of every day practical works in safeguarding of World Heritage of Gjirokastra. CHwB and Royal Academy of Fine Arts provided the donation.

After the ceremony, everyone was invited for a glass of wine in the nearby restaurant.