The National Historical Museum celebrated the 175th birth anniversary of Mehmet Pashe Deralla. Deralla was the First Minister of War and the founder of the first Albanian Army. Apropos the National Historical Museum, the Center for International Relations, the Balkan Studies in Tetovo and the Association of Albanian Diaspora for Macedonia organized an exhibition with photos and unpublished documents about Deralla’s life. This event enabled the promotion of a book, dedicated to this prominent personality.
The opening ceremony was welcomed by Dr. Dorian Koçi (Director of the National Historical Museum), Mr. Xhevat Prespa (Chairman of the Albanian Diaspora Association for Macedonia), Mr. Arsim Sinani, the curator of the exhibition.
Mr. Petro Koçi, (former Minister of Defense) one of the special guests, said that: “It is a great honor for me on behalf of the Ministry of Defense to join in this scientific conference devoted to Mehmet Pashe Deralla. His choice as the Minister of War (today the Ministry of Defense), was not a coincidence but a necessity. He was an indisputable personality in its own field. Deralla was one of the key protagonists of the Albanian League of Prizren. The Ministry of War, led by him, undertook a major historical burden, the mission of preserving the country’s independence and protecting the first Albanian government, without having any genuine military structure. Understandably, the Ministry of War at that time is far from what we have today, but in those conditions it was the best that could be done. I am proud to say today that the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces continue to convey the best values of our patriotic tradition of those values that enabled the establishment of the Albanian state.”
“The National Historical Museum, as the most important institution of national memory, is privileged to organize the promotion of the book “Mehmet Pasha Deralla on the 175th birth anniversary (1843-2018) “. This promotion takes place in the context of activities we have undertaken within the 550th anniversary of George Castriot Scanderbeg, the 140th anniversary of the Albanian League of Prizren and the 110th anniversary of the Congress of Manastir, which are three of the most important events in the history of the Albanian people. Mehmet Pashe Deralla is always considered in historical memory as the tall general standing on the balcony next to Ismail Qemali on the first anniversary of Independence in 1913. Well known speakers and different scholars such as: Arsim Sinani, Afrim Krasniqi, Bujar Dugolli, Darling Ismail Vlora, Ruki Kondaj, Ibrahim Gashi, Romeo Gurakuqi, Zaho Golemi, Ermir Nika, Qerim Lita, Proletar Hasani, Bernard Zotaj, Asllan Zemani, Ilir Zylfiu, Haxhi Ademi, Ndriçim Mehmeti, Skënder Lutfiu, Berat Murina, Man Poga, Kastriot Veselaj, Izet Abdyli, have highly contributed to the enlightenment of this outstanding figure.”- concluded Mr. Koçi
Mr. Arsim Sinani, expressed his deep appreciation to the National Historical Museum for organizing this activity. He also made a prologue for this remarkable family.
In the end, the flag of Mehmet Pashe Deralla’s family was bestowed to the National Historical Museum, along with some archive resources for this family.
