The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEPJ) hosted the Third Arbëresh Studies Congress today. The Center for Arbëresh Studies and Publications (QSPA) organized the event.

This year’s theme is “Narratives of the Past and Present in the Diaspora–Homeland Dialectic: Arbëresh and Albania.” QSPA holds the congress every two years. This edition also celebrates the center’s fifth anniversary.

The “Arbëria-Frasnita” group from Frasnita, Calabria, performed several pieces in Arbëresh.

QSPA Director Professor Diana Kastrati opened the congress. She praised the center’s five years of work. She stressed the importance of objective research on Arbëresh culture. “We must move beyond folklore and occasional events,” she said.

Kastrati highlighted Professor Emil Lafe as a leading figure in Arbëresh studies. She said he guided generations of students and contributed significantly to QSPA publications.

Professor Lafe welcomed the organizers. He praised QSPA’s academic and publishing work. “The center raises awareness of Arbëresh language, culture, history, and literature among scholars and the public,” he said.

He added, “Arbëresh heritage is precious. It must grow and evolve, not remain a museum object. This is the goal of this congress.”

Damiano Guagliardi, President of the Federation of Arbëresh Associations in Italy, said the congress belongs to the whole Arbëresh community, not just individual scholars.

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