By Qirjako Kureta, the former charge d’affaires a.i. of Albania in Israel

During a period of over 30 years of my diplomatic career, I had the honor to serve for four and a half years at the Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Tel Aviv. During these years I have performed the function of charge a.i. in the periods October 2006 – September 2007 and November 2009 – March 2011.

It has been a favorable situation in the development of bilateral relations. That attempt to close the embassy in Tel Aviv, in the context of saving financial expenses, had already been overcome, according to an order of 2003, but which was not implemented even at the insistence of the late ambassador Bashkim Dino, who through a letter to the center, clearly analyzed and argued the need to keep open and increase the activity of the embassy in Tel Aviv, given the historical ties and political and economic interests of the country.

Meanwhile, the new ambassador, Mr. Tonin Gjuraj, who would present his credentials on September 17, 2007.

I arrived in Tel Aviv in the early hours of the morning of October 6, 2006. It was my first visit to Israel. I had a hard time at first, as there was no other diplomat in the Representation except me.

With the help and contribution of the Honorary Consul, Mr. Rafael Faust and the President of the Israel-Albania Friendship Association, Mrs. Felicita Jakoel, we started the preparations for the celebration of the National Holiday. At the reception given on this occasion were invited compatriots living in Israel, who had received Israeli citizenship after the establishment of diplomatic relations, survivors of the Holocaust, as well as personalities of the Israeli MFA as well as benevolent friends of our country.

I want to emphasize that from the MFA of Israel as well as other institutions, I have always found support and a spirit of cooperation. Throughout my visits and meetings, I have expressed my gratitude and admiration for the contribution of Albanians to the salvation of Jews before and during World War II.

My first visit was to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem.

I would like to mention here that about a year later the exhibition of the American photographer Norman Gershman was opened in Yad Vashem: “Besa – Code of Honor”, in honor of the Albanian families who sheltered and saved the Jews during the Second World War. In the ceremony organized on this occasion, in the absence of Ambassador Gjuraj, I delivered a greeting speech, where I emphasized, among other things, that Jews in Albania are seen as human beings in need of shelter and protection. Despite being occupied by the German Nazis, risking their lives and families, Albanian families sheltered and protected the Jews, without seeking even the slightest compensation for their rescue. Albania and Israel, I emphasized, are two small countries, but they have more history than geography. Sounds quite meaningful, the words of Nobel Prize winner Shimon Perez that being a small or large country is not measured by the size of the territory nor by the number of population, but by the values ​​of the country and the education of the society.

My activity in the first months of work focused on advancing the issues addressed in the Memorandum of Understanding between the two MFAs, signed in Tirana in March 2006, such as promoting official visits, implementing bilateral agreements and projects, attracting business Israel to invest in Albania, intensifying work with the Albanian-Israeli community to preserve their ties, culture and role as a bridge between the two countries, etc.

In the first contacts in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, among other things, I argued and demanded the abolition of the visa system between the two countries, as a need to facilitate the movement of citizens of both countries, the development of economic and trade cooperation and mutual recognition of historical and cultural values. And, in the middle of 2007, the ambassador of Israel for our country (resident in Jerusalem), Mrs. Amira Arnon, called me enthusiastically and informed me that the Israeli Government had decided to abolish the visa system, for all types of passports for Albanian citizens (the agreement entered into force on July 27, 2008). This was a gesture that had to be highly valued, given the strict rules that apply for security reasons to enter Israel. The charter with the first 100 Albanian tourists who visited Israel soon arrived.

With the arrival of Ambassador Gjuraj, for about two years we worked together to intensify relations in all areas of mutual interest. Ambassador Gjuraj, who came from an academic environment, among other things stood out with articles and debates in the local press and university circles, both for recognizing the values ​​of our country and protecting the positive image of Albanians, but also in debates about Kosovo.

After the departure of Ambassador Gjuraj, in November 2009, I made efforts to overcome the imbalance in the exchange of high-level visits. Although the highest personalities of our country have visited Israel, for 17 years (since the visit of Mr. Shimon Peres in 1993), no high-ranking Israeli personality had come to Albania. With the interest of the Embassy and especially of the Honorary Consul, Mr. R. Faust, the visit of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Atomic Energy and Intelligence of Israel, Mr. Dan Meridor, in October 2010, who met with the highest personalities of our country. In these meetings, understanding was expressed for the issues discussed and the need and readiness to develop cooperation was emphasized, both in the economic-commercial aspect, as well as in tourism, education, culture, scientific cooperation, etc.

This visit was followed in early 2011 by the visit of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Edmond Haxhinasto in Israel, where he had fruitful talks with Israeli personalities. In the official talks with the Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman, the opening of the Israeli embassy in Tirana was discussed, which was concretized after Lieberman’s visit to Tirana.

My activity in the Representation of the Republic of Albania in Israel is one of the most interesting and impressive moments of my diplomatic career.

Retrieved from the online newspaper: Izraeli Sot