Vienna, Austria—The Albanians' Peace Council in Austria was inaugurated in a ceremony attended by more than 70 people.
Prominent and well-established Albanians from all over Austria, local Ambassadors for Peace, and interested youth filled the conference room in the Vienna Peace Embassy.
The event on July 7, 2022, was moderated by Marinela Stefanc, the secretary general of UPF-Austria, who is of Albanian origin.
Peter Haider, the national leader of UPF-Austria, gave the welcoming remarks.
In his keynote speech H.E. Roland Bimo, the ambassador of Albania to Austria, emphasized that peace cannot be taken for granted—which has become evident during the last few months in Europe. Peace has to be cultivated, he said, and there is plenty of work for Ambassadors for Peace.
Bahri Troja—a leader of Albanians residing in Austria and the key person who invited Albanian diaspora representatives to the event—also offered comments.
H.E. Eglantina Gjermeni, the ambassador of Albania to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), who is herself an Ambassador for Peace, greeted the participants.
After a beautiful performance by Anela Cindrak, an accordionist from Montenegro with an Albanian mother, Gaqo Apostoli, the coordinator of the Albanians' Peace Council in Diaspora, gave an encouraging message followed by a couple of songs.
Then Gani Rroshi, the national leader of UPF-Albania, gave a presentation of the vision underlying UPF and reported about UPF initiatives and activities both on the international level and in Albania.
Finally, 15 Albanian VIPs living in Austria were appointed as Ambassadors for Peace, constituting in this way the Albanians' Peace Council in Austria. Bahri Troja was elected as the council’s first chairperson and coordinator.