Vlora in the course of time, Dr. Fatos Arapi as her oracle

In 2001, the "VLORA IN THE FLOWS OF TIME scientific conference" was held at the initiative of the Technological University "Ismail Qemal Vlora" and the Cultural Association "Ismail Qemal Vlora" and the Municipality of Vlora. All this activity was described by the publication of a book by Professor. Nor. Badhosh Gaçe. Among the many speeches that were held by personalities from various scientific fields, I single out that of Dr. Fatos Arapi with the theme "There are some Vlora". This statement is a prophecy of a wise mind of a son of Vlora, who has chosen to speak to her as a first class economist. Fatos Arapi had finished his higher studies in Sofia, Bulgaria for economics. He worked as a journalist and as an economics lecturer. As a writer and poet, he has won several national and international awards. There are several Vloras and Albanians should know them. In a broad framework, where Albania is historically located, the property there is also Vlora. Milan Shuflaj says that: "Historically, the Adriatic is a miniature, or at least a center of Mediterranean culture, because it is located between the old worlds: East and West". Even Baldaci asserts that "the main misfortune (of the Albanian people) was that it was found as if on a bridge between the Black Sea, the Archipelago and the Adriatic, sometimes amidst the shocks of invasions and displacement of peoples and interests..." Eqerem Çabej, also, he tells us: "Albania has been more oriented towards the west than its neighbors". There is another Vlora, Vlora, a strategic point of economic development and a strategic political-military point. In 1915, in his book "The Adriatic Question" Charles Vellay wrote: "Located midway between Trieste and the coast of Africa, also in the middle of the road between Gibraltar and Port-Said, that Vlora, can simultaneously possess the roads of the East and the West, the North and the South, it can allow or hinder, according to its desire, the communication of Central Europe with Africa Northern and Eastern with the Occident. Vlora is one of the safest and largest harbors of the Mediterranean, and can give to the power (of the State) which possesses it, incalculable benefits. There is also a Vlora, closer and more tangible in regional and Balkan politics. Vlora that we experience every day, but unfortunately we are not always aware of it. Fatos Arapi continues:- In 1920, the Italian Foreign Minister K. Sforca declared: "The cornerstone of our policy, now, must be the possession of Vlora... We will never make an efficient Albanian and Balkan policy, if we are not going to settle on the other coast... This naval base constitutes our main interest in the Adriatic". Even the prime minister at that time, Xh. Xholiti, asserted: "Vlora is a strategic point that, if occupied by a power not friendly to Italy, could become a great danger for our country." For over 2000 years, therefore, the geostrategy of this Mediterranean coast strongly influences the events (not only political) of the entire region. Neither the conflict in Croatia, nor the one in Bosnia, pushed the events to the brink of a pan-Balkan or pan-European war, like the Kosovo War or the current events in Macedonia. The closer the fire of war approaches the shores of the Mediterranean, the more uncontrollable it becomes. There is no Albanian problem in the Balkans, there is no problem of Greater Albania or Small Albania, European politics knows very well that today the real European integrations, the real stability pact, are hindered precisely by the old mindsets and concepts with which the offices of some countries around us work. The enemy of peace here is the formation and anti-Occidental education of these politicians, who, beyond the pseudo-contemporary rhetoric, remain unchanged products of their oriental determination, especially pro-Russian. Among other things, Fatos Arapi emphasizes: There is another Vlora. On May 6, 1920, the "Drita" newspaper of Gjirokastra wrote: "Vlora is ours and it should be. Maybe she made Albania, maybe she can break it.... The danger comes from Vlora and the life of Albania depends on it. There are no cases of Tuscany, Gjirokastra and Shkodra. The fate of these years is connected to Vlora. As well, the authoritative magazine "Hylli i Drita", in 1943, foretold the prophetic thought: "From Vlone I walked yesterday to Shkodra, from Vlone Mitrovica also saved me". Albanian politics cannot be allowed to remain silent and dilute the Mediterranean character of our country. To conceive of Albania only as a Balkan country, i.e. like Macedonia, Bulgaria, or Serbia, means that, consciously or not, violently reverse the developments within the division: "Balkans for the Balkans" that proved fatal for the fate of our people throughout the 20th century. Albania is a country that is both Balkan and Mediterranean, like Greece and Turkey. We are located on two main Mediterranean seas: Ionian and Adriatic. And luckily for us, we have their key, Vlora, in hand. Vlora can neither become Greek, nor Italian, nor Serbian. If it could be done, it would have been done in thousands of years. Without a developed Vlora, Albania will never be calm and stable, and without a stable Albania there is no calm Balkans either. I would like to put before your eyes this shocking fact: Albania officially has 470 km of coastline today. But show a genuine modern fishing village. Only one...There is none. But what tourism is talked about, without the coast developed in the economy of its many branches? On the contrary, Ioannina and the entire south of the Balkans, Lecce and the entire Italian "Boot", will benefit greatly when Vlora finally develops normally. From its very geostrategic position, Vlora is determined to develop as a large Mediterranean port, an important economic and cultural center, where south and north, west and east meet. As soon as this necessary construction of our Southern capital begins,