On November 28, 1443, George Kastrioti Skanderbeg raised the national flag in the castle of Kruja.

469 years later, on November 28, 1912, Ismail Qemali raised the flag in Vlora and proclaimed the Independence of Albania. This day marks our national independence.

On November 28, 1912 at 14:00 the Assembly of Vlora was opened with 37 delegates from all over Albania. Its president was elected Ismail Qemali, who declared that the only salvation of Albania is the declaration of independence, the creation of a government.

On November 28, 1793 in Shkodër, Lezha and their surroundings, the uprising against the Ottoman armies began. With great losses, the Ottoman Pasha was able to break the siege, but in Lezha he suffered new blows and losses, which forced him to retreat to Manastir/Bitola.

On November 28, 1882, Ali Asllani was born in Vlora. He was a poet, patriot and diplomat, Under Prefect of Delvina, member of the “Bashkimi” /The Union/ Club of Jnina/Ioannina and supporter of Ismail Qemali. After the Declaration of Independence, he was general secretary of the presidency of the Council of Ministers and the mayor of Vlora.

November 28, 1912 is the day of the establishment of the Post and Telegraph. On this day, the Government of Ismail Qemali notified all the prefectures by through the telegraph operators on the Act of Declaration of Independence of Albania.

On November 28, 1917, the Orphan Asylum was established with 100 orphans. Five years later, in 1922, the orphanage was taken over by the Albanian Red Cross.

On November 28, 1932, the Tomb of Ismail Qemali and the “Flamurtari” /The Flag Bearer/ monument were inaugurated in Vlora.

On November 28, 1932, the “National Warrior” monument, the work of the people’s sculptor Odhise Paskali, was inaugurated in Korça.

Agim Zajmi was born on November 28, 1936, painter and scenographer, “People’s Artist”, the most appreciated scenographer in the Albanian theater, professor at the Tirana Academy of Arts, winner of many national prizes in painting and scenography, “Merited Artist”, “People’s Painter”, President of the National Association of Visual Artists until he passed away on November 3, 2013.

/a.p./