Embassy of Albania in Austria Marks Commemorative Plaque Unveiling for Lasgush Poradeci in Graz
Embassy of Albania in Austria supports plaque unveiling in Graz
March 30th, 2026
On 5 February 2026, a commemorative plaque bearing the name of Albania’s distinguished national poet, Lasgush Poradeci, was unveiled near the building in Graz where he lived from 1927 to 1934. The ceremony brought together senior city officials, cultural representatives, members of the Albanian diplomatic corps, and members of the Albanian community, marking an important moment of cultural remembrance and recognition. The event reflected the significance of preserving the literary legacy of one of the most prominent figures in Albanian literature in a city closely associated with his formative years.
Among those in attendance were the Mayor of Graz, Ms. Elke Kahr, the Minister of Culture for the Province of Styria, Ms. Claudia Unger, Ambassador Fate Velaj, a delegation from the Municipality of Pogradec led by Mayor Ilir Xhakolli, the Honorary Consul for Styria, Ms. Annemari Graf, researchers, compatriots, and citizens of Graz. The ceremony was opened by Mayor Elke Kahr, who delivered a commemorative address on the life and work of Lasgush Poradeci. In her remarks, she paid tribute to his literary achievements as a lyric poet and expressed pride that the city of Graz had contributed to the development of such a distinguished figure. She noted that Graz had offered him not only a place for study, but also an intellectual environment that had a visible influence on his literary work.
Ambassador Velaj expressed his gratitude to the Municipality of Graz and to Mayor Kahr for the excellent cooperation that made possible the installation of the commemorative plaque in honour of one of the most prominent figures of Albanian literature. He underlined that this initiative fulfilled a longstanding wish of the Albanian community in Austria and brought to completion efforts pursued over many years. He noted that, following a year marked by meetings, telephone calls, and official correspondence, the placement of the plaque had finally been realised, thereby rendering an important service to Albanian culture and its presence in Austria.
On behalf of the Municipality of Pogradec, Deputy Mayor Paskalino Ziko conveyed greetings and expressed appreciation to the Municipality of Graz and the Embassy for making possible the placement of the plaque in honour of Pogradec’s most distinguished son. Minister Claudia Unger highlighted the close cooperation between Albania and Graz, noting that the plaque should also stand as a gesture of recognition for the people from Albania who today live and work in Graz. Remarks were also delivered by Mr. Manfred Stranz, Director of the insurance company GRAWE, owner of the building that approved the installation of the plaque, and by Honorary Consul Annemari Graf.
The ceremony also featured readings of poetry from the work of Lasgush Poradeci in both Albanian and German, presented by Albanian artist Lori Lako and Austrian actress Barbara Rauchenberger, bringing a fitting cultural dimension to the commemorative occasion.
