The Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Greece, in cooperation with the Authority for Information on the Files of the Former State Security (AIDSSH), organized an event dedicated to the life and work of writer, poet, former diplomat, and former political prisoner under the communist regime Mr. Daut Gumeni. The event, entitled “A Dialogue with Daut Gumeni: Freedom, Resistance, Literature and Diplomacy”, was held at the “Antonis Tritsis” Amphitheatre of the Athens Municipality Cultural Center. The event was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, Greek personalities from the fields of academia and journalism, Albanian artists, and admirers of literature and of the multifaceted figure of Mr. Gumeni.

The evening was opened by the Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to Greece, H.E. Mrs. Luela Hajdaraga, who emphasized that “Daut Gumeni is not merely a writer who recounts the story of life. He is an ambassador of memory, a witness to truth, an intellectual who transformed pain into narrative, silence into words, and words into an act of healing.” Recalling that memory is not a luxury but a responsibility, Ambassador Hajdaraga underlined that “freedom survives in those who do not surrender, and literature becomes testimony to human dignity. The effort to present his work to the Greek public and the Diplomatic Corps is a testament to the power of cultural dialogue and the closeness between our societies.”

Following the welcoming remarks, AIDSSH Board Member Mr. Altin Hoxha presented excerpts from Daut Gumeni’s personal file, shedding light on his persecution and resilience. Ms. Brikena Qama, Chairwoman of the Association of Writers and Artists in Greece “LiterArt,” highlighted the author’s contribution to Albanian literature, while translator Mr. Kosta Jani presented Gumeni’s work in the Greek language.

In the second part of the evening, a fragment from the documentary “A Man on a Journey”, directed by Distinguished Artist Mr. Ylli Pepo, was screened. Mr. Pepo also addressed the audience. Dr. Stavri Dajo offered an academic perspective on the author’s work and figure, while journalist, poet, and writer Mr. Panajot Boli shared reflections on Gumeni’s poetry. The discussion was further enriched by a diplomatic analysis from Dr. Dimitris Moschopoulos, former Ambassador and Head of the Greek Liaison Office in Kosovo, as well as a video message from SKAI TV journalist Mr. Christos Nikolaidis. Mr. Skënder Vrioni, member of AIDSSH, spoke about the author’s figure and his contribution to the institution.

Deeply emotional moments were experienced by the audience through interpretations of selected works by Daut Gumeni. Actress Ms. Algiona Aga performed the poem “A Mother’s Prayer”, also sharing personal reflections from that dark era in honor of her grandfather, Sazan Hadëri, who was executed. Poet Mr. Agim Basha delivered a moving interpretation of “Self-Portrait”, enriched by the nuances of the Lab dialect, while actress Ms. Marsela Lena profoundly stirred the audience with an excerpt from the monodrama “The Noble Madman.”

The evening culminated in an open dialogue between Daut Gumeni and the audience, moderated by journalist Mr. Pano Boli. The event concluded with a special surprise by the Lab polyphonic group “Lot Kurbeti”, who performed a beautiful polyphonic song, revealing another artistic dimension of Mr. Gumeni—that of iso-polyphony. At the end of the event, attendees had the opportunity to explore the author’s books, take photographs, and enjoy a reception in a warm and friendly atmosphere of conversation.

The event was moderated by representatives of the two institutions: Ms. Joana Zhonga on behalf of the Embassy of the Republic of Albania and Ms. Elona Baci on behalf of AIDSSH.

The Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Greece expresses its deepest gratitude to the Municipality of Athens for generously providing the premises of the Cultural Center and for supporting the organization of this event.

Special thanks go to all speakers and to the Albanian and Greek personalities who traveled from various regions of Albania and Greece to give voice to the memory and work of Daut Gumeni, embodying our shared values of freedom, democracy, and fraternity.

The Embassy sincerely thanks everyone for their presence, for honoring the past, and for believing in the power of the free word.