Rector of ''Hëna e Plotë'' (Bedër) University, Dr. Ferdinand Gjana, after welcoming the participants in the panel focused on the importance of exchanging of values between cultures, emphasizing that the purpose of organizing this event is an attempt to provide a contribution in this direction.
For her part, the French Ambassador in Tirana, Mrs.Christine Moro expressed satisfaction with the organization of this event and noted the embassy's desire to cooperate with the university in organizing similar activities. She made a historical description of relations between Albania and France , focusing on the great role that French Lyceum of Korca had. Meanwhile, underlining the fact that cultural exchanges between the two countries, though they have a long history, in the recent years have intensified citing famous names of literature and art, who represent the Albanian culture in France, as Ismail Kadare, Fatos Kongoli, Inva Mula etc.
While the Minister of Culture, Mrs.Mirela Kumbaro , after congratulating the organizers for the panel, said that education and culture were really two important bridges of communication between the two countries. "In 2016 we have 100 anniversary of the French presence in Albania. I fully agree with the panel topic and consider it very important that in addition to public institutions, also private universities give an importance to French culture and relations between the two countries. This is a very important indicator and for this I thank the French Embassy and Bedër University for organizing this panel " - said the minister Kumbaro.
Later on, Mrs. Mimoza Hafizi, deputy Socialist Party and also chairwoman of the group of friendship between Albania and France in the Parliament, gave her speech too. Ms. Hafiz spoke about the establishment of friendship group in Parliament and the graduated Albanian students in France, considering this as a good opportunity to get to know French culture. Other panelists, as Prof.Dr. Petrit Malaj, Prof.Dr.Shezai Rokaj, Prof.Dr.Mr.Mark Marku, Aleksander Cipa, shared their views about the topic also giving concrete proposals in strengthening the relations between Albania and France.
Exhibition
At the end of the discussion, panelists and numerous guests who were present, took part in the opening part of the photographic exhibition: " Albanian realities through AFP objective'' work done by photojournalist Genti Shkullaku. The exhibition contained 30 photographies from the Albanian reality in the recent 3-4 years.