Chairman of the Party of Freedom Ilir Meta commemorated today the Albanians’ massive exodus towards Italy 31 years ago.

Posting footage of the Vlora ship cruising across the Adriatic with thousands of Albanian citizens on board, Meta wrote that the massive exodus still remains a big wound to the country.

“31 years after these shocking and emotional images of August 8, 1991, when nearly 20,000 Albanians on board of the Vlora ship commenced their voyage towards freedom for a new life and a better future the Albanians’ exodus still continues painfully”, the former Albanian President wrote.

“Even today, 40% of the illegal emigrants that pass the English Channel risking their lives are Albanians. For the big drama of the depopulation to end and for the Albanians to anchor hope in their country it is necessary to punish the state’s capture, the corruptive and criminal model that leaves in poverty the majority of the citizens to enrich a minority.

Europe will be built in Albania when the sovereign will take its fate in its hand. A referendum will be the headline of the Party of Freedom’s major commitment”.