ITALY — Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Albania inaugurated in Naples

Today, at Villa Doria d’Angri in Naples, the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Albania was inaugurated, in the presence of Prime Minister Edi Rama, honorary consul Giuseppe Lettieri, Deputy Foreign Minister Edmondo Cirielli, Albanian Ambassador to Italy Anila Bitri, Campania Region President Roberto Fico, Naples Mayor Gaetano Manfredi and Naples Prefect Michele Di Bari, as well as many representatives of institutions, the academic, economic and civil society worlds, according to Italpress.

At the center of the ceremony was the relationship between Italy and Albania, as well as the historical and cultural bond between the two countries.

“Italy is not one of our main economic, political and European partners — Italy is our European alter ego,” Rama said, emphasizing the special relationship with Naples, which he described as “our mirror on this side of the sea.”

“We are the Neapolitans of the other shore. We are proud to be so and we do not want to become Milanese,” Prime Minister Rama added, referring to Naples’ genius and redemption.

Rama then emphasized Albania’s journey toward the European Union.

“If Naples survives the European Union, we will survive it too,” he joked.

Prime Minister Rama also thanked honorary consul Giuseppe Lettieri for his work over the years in strengthening relations between Albania and Italy, as well as for promoting relations between the businesses and institutions of the two countries.

During the ceremony, Gianni Letta, Italian journalist and former politician who served for many years as undersecretary of the Italian Council of Ministers, particularly during Silvio Berlusconi’s government, also gave a speech — emphasizing the importance of cultivating relations between Italy and Albania through diplomacy.

“Good relations between countries, just like between people, remain so only if they are cultivated. And diplomacy serves precisely this purpose,” he said.

According to Letta, the new consulate can contribute to cultivating this feeling and to strengthening relations through business, work, culture and testimonials.

“Diplomacy is the art of keeping international relations alive and active, ensuring that they are always ready to react,” he added.

For the Albanian Ambassador to Italy, Anila Bitri, today is “an important and meaningful day,” while the reopening of the consulate represents further testimony of the close, stable, structured and fraternal relationship between the two countries.

“Naples has represented for centuries an ancient bridge between Albania and Italy and is home to a considerable Albanian community,” she emphasized.

Deputy Foreign Minister Edmondo Cirielli highlighted Naples’ historic role as a Mediterranean and diplomatic crossroads, recalling the presence in the city of more than 80 consular representations.

Cirielli also reconfirmed Italy’s commitment to Albania’s European path, emphasizing the progress achieved by Tirana and the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries, after the 2025 Rome summit and the subsequent signing of the strategic cooperation agreement.

Naples Mayor Manfredi said he had had a private conversation with Edi Rama, during which the idea and opportunity for a twinning between Naples and Durrës was born.

Fico, President of the Campania Region, emphasized the need to strengthen the already strong bond with the Balkan Peninsula.

At the end of the event, on the villa’s terrace overlooking the Bay of Naples and Vesuvius, the traditional cake-cutting took place.