The Tirana symposium was not easy to organize, because there are more than 500 Ambassadors for Peace in Tirana and it was a challenge to choose which of them to invite. Those who have been most active as Ambassadors for Peace were selected as participants.

The Chairman of National Peace Council and former prefect of Shkodra, Mr. Ali Lacej, has made a tremendous contribution to the establishment of Peace Councils and organizing their activities. He gave the opening remarks, thanking everybody for being present and giving priority to the development of UPF and the Ambassadors for Peace initiative as the hope of the future. The main speaker in the first session, moderated by Tirana University Professor, Dr. Dalip Çota (a member of National Peace Council), was Rev. Chang Dok Bong, the regional director of UPF-Balkans. He talked about the UPF principles and the role of an Ambassador for Peace. His speech was well received by the audience. A member of the National Peace Council, Mr. Astrit Memia, gave introductory remarks.

In the second session, Mr. Lacej spoke about the goals and objectives of UPF and its achievements. Mrs. Lindita Nikolla, Mayor of Tirana 1 municipality and a member of National Peace Council, presented the names of new Ambassadors for Peace who would be appointed. She emphasized how much UPF principles helped her during the year and a half that she has been an Ambassador for Peace. Altogether, 55 new Ambassadors for Peace were appointed and joyfully joined the worldwide family of Ambassadors for Peace.

One special guest at the symposium was the Prince of Albania, Prince Leka II. At the beginning, he said that he would attend the event but not accept an appointment as an Ambassador for Peace. However, after listening to the vision, goals and achievements of UPF and knowing who the Ambassadors for Peace in Albania were, he asked to be appointed as an Ambassador for Peace and was elected to the National Peace Council. In addition, two Members of Parliament, an Orthodox priest and two generals were elected to the National Peace Council.

People feel great hope at the newly elected National Peace Council. The rector of Tirana University, who is a member of National Peace Council, said that “if we put in balance the Parliament members and the members of the National Peace Council, surely the Peace Council has more potential and a greater capacity” to promote peace.

The event concluded with diner and sharing together in round tables