President Begaj in Ulcinj: The Albanian Language Is Preserved When It Is Read, Written and Passed On to Children

President of the Republic Bajram Begaj attended the opening ceremony of the jubilee 25th edition of the Ulcinj Book Fair, one of the region’s most important cultural events, which brings together authors, publishers and artists from Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and other countries.

In his address, the head of state praised the organisers for turning the fair into an important cultural tradition and highlighted Ulcinj’s role as a city where, according to him, Albanian remains “the language of family, memory and creativity.”

Begaj spoke about the importance of books in shaping society, stressing that they do not merely provide information but also help develop critical thinking, dialogue and the ability to understand different perspectives.

The president also emphasised the role of books in preserving the Albanian language, tradition and national identity, underscoring that a language remains alive only when it is read, written and passed on to younger generations.

He called for books to be treated as a national priority, not only during promotional events, but also through investment in libraries, support for authors, publishers and translators, and efforts to bring reading closer to children.

During his visit to Ulcinj, President Begaj was also received by the Mayor of the Municipality, Genci Nimanbegu, with whom he discussed the municipality’s development projects and strengthening the representation of the Albanian community in Montenegro.

He later met with representatives of Albanian political parties in Ulcinj, where he expressed the Albanian state’s support for the rights of Albanians in Montenegro and praised cooperation between the municipalities of Ulcinj and Tuzi as a bridge connecting the two countries.