Democratic Party Chairman and former Prime Minister of Albania Sali Berisha honored his friend, the late Silvio Berlusconi, a prominent politician and former Italian Prime Minister who died today, with a minute of silence.

“The sun has set forever for Silvio Berlusconi”, said Berisha.

“Silvio Berlusconi, the great and immortal Italian, the founder and leader of Forza Italia, the prominent former Prime Minister of Italy, the statesman that heightened more than anyone else Italy’s role in the world, the symbol of success and free initiative, the great friend of the Albanian nation, shut his eyes forever.

Our friend Italian nation and Silvio Berlusconi’s friends in the whole world today are in mourning.

Silvio Berlusconi was a great and precious friend of Albania, Kosovo, Albanian Nation, of the Democratic Party, and mine personally. His departure is a big loss for the friendly Italian nation, for the center-right political forces in Europe and the world. It’s a big loss for Albania and Kosovo, which he supported in critical moments with huge determination.

I’d like to remind to Albanians that 24 years ago, when Kosovo was burning from the flames of the operation “Horseshoe”, the Lion of the Apennines was leading the Italian opposition. But that did not stop him from supporting the left Italian government in its decisions to authorize the use of NATO bases for the air campaign against Milosevic’s regime”.

“I will honor here with a minute of silence the immortal memory of our great friend Silvio Berlusconi”.