TIRANA, November 11 /ATA/ – Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja participated today in an expanded meeting of the National Youth Council.
Gonxhja noted that beyond the specific topics discussed, the meeting highlighted the level of education, critical thinking and sensitivity of a generation that seeks to be heard, to be included and to contribute to the country’s future.
“We discussed on recent developments, trust in institutions, employment, meritocracy within the public administration, the ‘Speak with the Prime Minister’ platform, and support for startups and youth-led initiatives. There was no shortage of tough questions, criticisms, skepticism and diverse perspectives, as well as a request for more comprehensive information regarding institutional policies and programs,” he said.
Gonxhja stated that, “Dialogue is not valuable only when we are in agreement.”
“When we listen humbly to our critics and respond with honest, reasoned care, dialogue gains its real weight. Young people are not our opponents; they are our reflection. They are part of the same Albania we all hope to build. We need bridges, not walls—between generations, people and institutions, and the public and power,” said Gonxhja.
Gonxhja emphasized that, “Politics and institutions must increasingly cultivate the invaluable language of mutual understanding and compromise—the humility to acknowledge that not every answer is sufficient, and the maturity to reflect upon the concerns, expectations and sensibilities of every community, especially the younger generation.”
According to Gonxhja, “Listening does not mean abandoning one’s own convictions, just as expressing disagreement does not make one an adversary.”
“Mutual respect is the very bridge that allows us to move forward, even when we do not share the same views. The future is not built by deepening the distances between us, but by overcoming them—through more listening, less prejudice, greater reflection, and the firm belief that, despite our differences, what unites us is far greater than what divides us,” concluded Gonxhja. /e.i/a.f/r.e/p.s./
