The second day of the Diaspora Summit kicked off today in Tirana. During the discussions, Albanians from the diaspora directed questions to the panelists.
One of them, a former miner from Bulqiza, addressed the head of the PS group, Taulant Balla, presenting a problem he has with a piece of land inherited from his grandfather.
He said that although he has written to the Municipality several times to resolve this concern, they have not responded.
Balla clarified the steps he should follow, while also telling him that if he hasn't received a response, then he will personally follow up on this concern.
"Since the mountain package has been approved, we face significant legal obstacles from Law 7501, because we were state workers, we were away from our homeland and didn't have the opportunity to process individual documents under this law—a criminal law, because even today our compatriots are being killed by that infamous law. Regarding this, I agree with the law, but they won't give me the property because it's in my grandfather's name, and my grandfather has passed away," said the former miner.
"The mountain package is to save you from this part of Law 7501," replied Balla.
"The municipality won't give it to me; I've made the request 10 years ago, I went to the notary…," he further responded to Balla.
"You have no business with the notary; go to the notary to get some money. Do you want an answer? This is not the time for thinking, it's time for answers. If you plan to do something with your grandfather's land… that land your grandfather left you, submit a request to the Municipal Council in Bulqiza, and the council will approve the land within 30 days. Don't go to the notary, go to the Municipal Council of Bulqiza," said the socialist.
"I've made the request ten times," replied the elderly man.
"You haven't made the request; bring it to me and I will follow up," responded Balla.
Meanwhile, in another panel held during the day, Eva Baçi, a lawyer who has lived in Bologna for 25 years, expressed that despite the desire of emigrants to return to their homeland, there is a lack of real opportunities for inclusion.
"The desire to return to Albania is very strong, which is why we participate in Summits because we expect an open window from the motherland, to return, to open the door for us. The scenario is written very beautifully, like a director who writes very well, we hear narratives, but the main actors—the Diaspora—are missing. This is the Diaspora Summit. I think that besides the opening where the word should be given to the minister, prime minister, and president, the main actors are us. I wanted to have a discussion and I wasn't given the right to speak. We need to end these beautiful films, where we only listen," she said.
"Open doors, because Albania does not lack brains. You have closed the doors to all the people who are prepared," she told the politicians on the panel.