
Yesterday marked 100 years since the Albanian Republic was proclaimed on January 21, 1925. Which, although intermittently, with ups and downs, still continues.
In my opinion, Republic Day is as important if not more so than Independence Day. Independence Day is folklore, because even the tribes of Africa once managed to become independent.
Republic Day is something else, it's civilization, an aspiration for modern civilization. Maybe that's why we didn't remember it at all.
Independence is folklore, the Republic is statehood; and if you talk about a state, you make Albanians your enemy!
So, the 100th anniversary of Independence as folklore is - let's celebrate it as we deserve, let's jump into the Independence cake pan with gusto.
While we remembered the 100th anniversary of the Republic simply with forgetfulness, perhaps because we still have no connection with civilization, with what Naimi calls "the sun rises from the west."
Connection does not mean planes and steamships that go back and forth to Europe every day, but making the soul of Europe ours.
That, the spirit of Western Civilization, which is embodied in the Republics and Kingdoms of the Continent, because the Republic is not simply a form of state organization, but above all it is "RES PUBLICA", unlike ours, of each of us, which is "RES MEA".
There is an excellent pamphlet by Faik Bey of Konica, entitled “Monarchy or Republic” published in 1924, when there was a debate about this matter. Faik Bey says that he himself is for a Monarchy where Europe will appoint us a king; that if a Republic were to be established, and if you let the Albanians choose, they would elect Shahin Matraku as president! (ps. For those who don't know, Shahin Matraku was a mountaineer who didn't find out until he died whether he was a Kaçak or a Komi).
When the Albanians mature and become civilized, let's make it a republic, Faiku decides, giving in to the worry that had gripped him.
A hundred years have passed since the time of Faik Bey's concern, and perhaps the time has come to go and ask Konica Bey again, where his bones lie in the grave behind Kastrati's palaces, if the Albanians were brave enough to elect a President of the Republic. Come on, tell me what Faik Bey will say.
Until then, while awaiting Faik's trial, enjoy the 100th anniversary of the Republic of my letters!