Celebration of International Women’s Day at the Ministry of Defence

: Published: Friday, 07 March 2014 16:10

Minister Kodheli:I wish health to you, to your families, to your beloved ones, to you children, who are probably the reason why we get up, dress and struggle every day, which is really the most extraordinary thing that can happen to a woman, having a family, having our genetic and spiritual heritage, in order to make Albanian society even more prosperous, strong and healthy.

This morning, in premises of the Ministry of Defence, it was held a festive ceremony on the occasion of March 8, the International Women’s Day.
In the crowded auditorium with girls and women who serve in uniform, but also with civil employees of the Armed Forces, a festive and quite impressive atmosphere was created. The event was made even more beautiful and festive by the presence of the Minister of Defence, Mrs. Mimi Kodheli, Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, Major General Jeronim Bazo, directors and other senior officers of the Ministry of Defence and General Staff, as well as of many former military women who have served for years in Armed Forces structures.

After the welcome speech delivered by Colonel Manushqe Shehu, Director of the CIMIC Directorate, the women present at the ceremony were addressed by Defence Minister Kodheli. The women were also greeted by the Chief of General Staff, Major General Girolamo Bazo.

At the conclusion of this event, Defence Minister Mrs. Mimi Kodheli bestowed flower bouquets to the longest-serving women, who have worked and continue working in the Ministry of Defence and General Staff.
As follows, Minister Kodheli’s address at the meeting with women on the occasion of March 8, the International Women’s Day:

Before beginning this greeting to you dear ladies, mothers, sisters, friends, colleagues, fellow travellers, I want to mention a tragic event with consequence, the death of two ladies. The event happened yesterday, when a bus with women, travelling to celebrate our festive days, had an accident. These things should not and cannot happen in our country, although its path toward progress is a long and difficult, that is not impossible. And the first reason, why to our country it is not impossible walking in the right and secure path for better future, is you and all the Albanian women everywhere they live. That is why I ask you to reflect on what I share with you amicably. Because we can, because, with all due respect to the rest of society, we are the more vital and confident about the future of our children. But to make this happen, we need to do a lot more than what we have done so far, we need to struggle, work and believe that the Albania of the next generation, is the Albania of the generation we will hand on to our children. It could be made possible and will be made possible by the Albanian mothers wherever they live.

Fortunately this year, March 8 is on the weekend and I hope this weekend will not be a weekend of work and ordinary intensity serving to our family, but the most joyful weekend close to the family or society, a celebration for all of us.

In my address, I would like to get away from the clichés of such occasions and share with you some very personal moments, probably this is the occasion, the moment or place for which we are gathered today. I had the fortunate to grow up in a completely emancipated family, where the women were entirely clear on the equality and role we had in family and society, which is in fact the role that a Albanian wife, mother, sister should have in all families. But in any moment, fortunately, I did not feel inferior when I joint the society, even when I met my life’s friend, even when I became mother, even when I began a career that is not necessarily the easiest career, not the most simple profession, the profession I have today. But when I had a look around, I felt discrimination towards Albanian women. Actually, we are a society talking about principles, values, we even speak on their behalf, but from speaking to making, there’s much more than what the popular proverb teaches us. Initially, when Prime Minister Rama proposed to me to become defence minister, one of the first things that came to my mind was certainly, beyond respect, the trust he had in me and gender equality. Since last September, while you since long ago, we work, in fact, in an environment, let us say, deeply masculine. Beyond the fact that this is a profession “invented by men” and where discrimination is palpable, it has never halted my enthusiasm believing in gender equality in Defence.

That is why, in particular, I congratulate you from the bottom of my heart, because I know that your career, your path, especially for the ladies who are in uniform, has not been and will not be easy. However, I congratulate you girls and women, more than 1,100, adhering to the Armed Forces structures and being today more than 10% of the Armed Forces. I would like a round of applause for the civil ladies, with due respect to the ladies in uniform. My compliments to you for everything you have reached in life. But today, I am here not only to make compliments, today I hope more and I will work hard, in my office as Minister of Defence of the Republic of Albania, to sign the first order of sending abroad a professional soldier in real combat operation, in a peacekeeping operation or not. I often say it jokingly, I share in a “provocation” form with the honourable generals, with the Chief of General Staff and all the leadership that, I will not leave without signing, or to better say, without proposing the promotion of a woman to the rank of General. Maybe, we are a bit away from this path, but I assure you that I will be here to make it easier to any of you, your journey towards the professional path, your training, your promotion, why not to put the stars of the General rank on your fragile but strong shoulders.

With the hope that my presence as part of NATO defence ministers has increased its women overall presence, because after my appointment, an honourable lady from Norway, then a lady from Germany and later an Italian lady, joined the club of female defence ministers. I believe the century we live will be the century of women.

I wish we could do what everyone knows, but does not say; what everyone feels, but does not show, it is the irreplaceable and inalienable role of women in society. Therefore, wishing heartily happy March 7-8, I wish health to you, to your families, to your beloved ones, to you children, who are probably the reason why we get up, dress and struggle every day, which is really the most extraordinary thing that can happen to a woman, having a family, having our genetic and spiritual heritage, in order to make Albanian society even more prosperous, strong and healthy. We all need that, because we all have a common denominator, take care of Albania and Albanians future, through the care we have for the generations to come.

Happy women’s day!