Prime Minister Edi Rama spoke out following the incident at the “Vila 31 x Art Explora” artistic residence in Tirana, where international artists were targeted in an attack involving improvised explosive devices.

During a visit to the premises of the former dictator’s residence, the Prime Minister met with the executive director of the Art Explora Foundation’s residency program, Bisej Kapo, who had been at the residence together with the artists at the time of the attack by protesters.

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Prime Minister Edi Rama: I am here with the executive director of the Art Explora Foundation’s residency program. It is one of the most prestigious foundations globally for artist-in-residence programs.

For some time now, what was once the dictator’s residence has been transformed into a residence for artists who come here to Tirana from all over the world, a destination that adds value and makes Tirana and Albania appreciated in this respect as well. I came to meet the artists and to express to them my deepest regret, to apologise for what happened last night when they found themselves under an attack with improvised bombs which, God forbid, could have led to tragedy here. They are traumatised and not in a condition to speak publicly.

I fully understand them. What happened is a great shame, a serious damage, an open wound to the face of the new Albania, which this residence represents and these talented young men and women embody, coming here from all four corners of the world.

I have no words to describe what a disgrace this is. But I want to tell all those who still sympathise with and support last night’s barbarians, or more precisely their instigators, because even those who throw such improvised bombs are completely manipulated, that from this, everyone loses. All those who want to work, who want tourists, who want to develop their small economy through their small businesses, or who want to raise their children here in peace, lose out on this. An open Albania cannot be closed, and these outbursts only drive the water to the mill of the past and have nothing to do with the future.

Bisej is here and was naturally part of what happened, as she was present last night. But being a strong Albanian woman, it is somewhat easier for her to overcome this situation.

 Bisej Kapo: Yesterday, we were calmly at the residence during a public program. About 100 people had visited the villa during the day. In the evening, we suddenly heard the explosions. We were upstairs, precisely on that balcony, which everyone saw, the one that appeared to catch fire. The artists immediately moved into the corridor, which is the most protected area, took the fire extinguishers and tried to prevent anything from happening, because the villa itself is entirely made of wood. The office is entirely wooden, and the whole situation could have escalated in a fraction of a second.

For me, the fact that they did not know it was an arts residence is no excuse at all. In fact, it is shameful to use ignorance as an element to justify such an act.

Prime Minister Edi Rama: It is not ignorance. It is madness, malice, blindness, a mix of things and above all, hatred. An unparalleled disgrace that stains Albania and stains all of us, even though those who carried it out are the very worst of Albania and, fortunately, only a few people.