IDMC Celebrates the Memory Days' 10th Anniversary
On February 19, 2025, the Institute for Democracy, Media & Culture (IDMC), in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Albania (KAS), marked a historic milestone by celebrating the 10th anniversary of MEMORY DAYS at the symbolic venue of the Pyramid of Tirana. This anniversary highlights a decade of commitment to facing the past and preserving historical memory in Albania.
The ceremony opened with welcome addresses by Jonila Godole, Director of the Institute for Democracy, Media, and Culture, Klaudia Zerva, Programme Coordinator at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Albania, Lira Pipa, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Economy, Culture, and Innovation, and Karl Bergner, Ambassador of Germany, as long-standing partners of IDMC. The speakers emphasized the importance of collective memory and the impact of IDMC’s work in promoting democratic values.
“We thought that in 2-3 years, we would put enough pressure to have a Memory Day for the victims and resistance against the regime and a Memorial in the center of Tirana. Unfortunately, even after 10 years, we still do not have a Memorial Day and no Memorial. As long as we do not have museums in places of suffering, as long as the camps of Spaç, Tepelena, etc., are in the deteriorated state they are today, we still have a long way to go. This is not a finish line, but the beginning of a new chapter.”
“The Konrad Adenauer Foundation prioritized dealing with the past 15 years ago. At that time, facing the past was lacking, society, media, and elites were apathetic about decommunization and stripped of the truth. Of course, we could not undo what had been done, nor the lives lost, but we could engage in returning to the past, exhuming it, analyzing it, and providing expertise – a minimal but necessary initiative to reflect on the past.”
“A testimony that we must continue this work and do much more, along with the state and ministries, institutions that are doing very good work, such as the Tepelena and Spaç camps, for which we have approved the management plan and held several hearings.”
“Facing the past is something that happens in civilized nations. I believe this memory needs spaces and locations where people can go, such as in Spaç. This is important not only for those who were victims of communism but also for society, spaces where young people can learn about the past.”
"Four members of our family were under surveillance by the State Security. They called us objects, and objects are soulless things – that’s what we were for the regime."
A special moment of the evening was the presentation of a summary video showcasing IDMC’s key activities and achievements over the years. It featured heartfelt messages from national and international collaborators, acknowledging IDMC’s dedication to working with youth, teachers, former politically persecuted individuals, and civil society.
IDMC extends its gratitude to all partners, collaborators, and supporters who have been part of this journey over the past decade and remains committed to continuing efforts to preserve memory and promote human rights.