Honor of the Nation
Speech by President Berisha on the occasion of the decoration of E. Sabato, I. Kodra and I. Kadare
Honor of the Nation
Kadare, Sabato, Kodra
A nation is distinguished by the great people it honors
I am convinced today, Mr. Ambassador, esteemed Mr. Sabato, Mrs. Kodra, dear friends, that the great men, writer Ernesto Sabato, painter Ibrahim Kodra, painter and writer Ismail Kadare, whom we have the special honor of decorating today with the highest order of the Albanian state, “Honor of the Nation,” represent with dignity and great brilliance on a universal scale the Albanian nation. The order that is today bestowed upon Mr. Sabato, Mr. Kadare and Mrs. Kodra by the President of the Republic of Albania and the Albanians is in fact the highest decoration that the Albanian nation gives to distinguished people of world fame. For me it is a great honor, but also a special pleasure, to decorate these great men, the esteemed Mr. Sabato, the outstanding painter Ibrahim Kodra, the universal genius of Albanian letters and one of the most distinguished intellectuals in the world, Mr. Ismail Kadare.
Today we honor the famous writer Ernesto Sabato, friend of the Albanians, one of the greatest intellectuals of Latin America. In world culture, his name is undoubtedly among the distinguished names in the ranks of the great writers and thinkers of this century. His novels and essays, besides being works of extraordinary artistic power, are also a profound analysis of the modern world with its crises, anxieties and terrors. In them there has powerfully erupted the revolt of an honest and courageous man, the high civic conscience of the writer who looks with concern at the suffering of humanity and seeks to shed light on it. Mr. Sabato has won the respect and admiration of people not only as a distinguished writer, but also for his rare civic courage, as chairman of the special commission investigating the disappearance of thousands of political opponents of the military junta during the years of dictatorship in his country. Wherever he has been throughout his life, Mr. Sabato has stood by the weak and has defended the rights and freedom of people. The values and messages of his work will remain an important legacy in the spiritual enrichment of humanity.
We decorate the great painter Ibrahim Kodra, one of the best-known personalities of Albanian and European culture, who has a special place in modern painting. His life and creative work are evidence of the strong ties of the Albanian creative genius with our national tradition, with the spirit and emotion of a people with delicate feelings and rich imagination. In I. Kodra’s painting there is explosive force, rare fantasy, drama and joy, finesse and color. Through his work he has brought honor to Albania and the Albanian nation.
Today we honor Ismail Kadare, the great Albanian writer, a personality of our national and European culture, a powerful and respected voice of today’s world literature. Kadare’s work constitutes an entire artistic universe in which the drama, pain, dream, resistance, dignity and longing for freedom of the Albanian people are reflected. With a rich artistic language, with rare power of imagination and thought, he has made the Albanian language sound with dignity on the highest stages of world culture. Kadare is one of those writers who have given identity and prestige to their nation.
A nation is distinguished by the great people it honors and by the way it honors them. Albania, by honoring Ernesto Sabato, Ibrahim Kodra and Ismail Kadare today, honors itself, its culture, its European and humanist aspirations. These great people are our pride and the most beautiful proof that this nation knows how to produce values and appreciate them.
Sabato Kadare Kodra
I am very happy that democracy has been established in Albania, because before I had often endured difficulties in Albania, so I consider this an honor and a decoration, because I wanted to bring happiness to this people, - Sabato said
Europe - super Kodra