| PORTRAIT; PRESIDENT OF ALSAT TV MR. VEBI VELIJA |
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| Sunday, 17 May 2009 | |
 President of Alsat TV Vebi Velija, after finishing his studies for economy, for 38 years to come became engaged with business. His investments expanded to Croatia, Macedonia, Albania, Austria and further. Since the beginning of 90’s he built a number of enterprises in Albania and in parallel with business he contributed to the artistic and cultural life of the country through the Velija Foundation. During the last years he founded the first Albanian satellite TV, Alsat. During these years Velija was part of many regional and international economic and political forums.The three most senior leaders of Albania sent condolence messages over the passing away of Alsat TV President Vebi Velija. “With pain and sorrow I learnt that your dear Vebi Velija passed away,” President Bamir Topi says in his message to the family. “The grave illness took away early the father of three sons who with his energies for years contributed in business, media and in promoting our national values,” President Topi states in his message. PM Sali Berisha emphasizes that the passing away of Velija is a great loss not only for the family but for the whole media and business community as well. “The passing away of your dear father and husband, the gifted manager and owner of Alsat TV, my friend Vebi Velija is a great loss for you, for the Albanian media and business world and for his friends in Albania, Macedonia, Kosova and in the world,” Berisha states. President of Parliament Jozefina Topalli also expressed her condolences to Velija’s family and to Alsat TV personnel. Topalli describes President of Alsat TV as a great Albanian who put his media to the service of national interests and to the information of the Albanian public, in Albania and elsewhere in the world. Leader of Socialist Party Edi Rama, in his message of condolence expressed his sorrow for the loss of a noble friend and passionate entrepreneur of Albania. Leader of Socialist Movement for Integration Ilir Meta also sent a message of condolence. “I have always praised Mr. Velija for his courage as one of the first investors in the troubled post-communist Albania and for his resolution not to abandon this country in its most difficult days. President of Kosova Fatmir Sejdiu, through a declaration praised the role of Mr. Velija, of his business and media in the independence of Kosovca. Ministers of Berisha’s government have also sent messages of condolence. Vice PM Genc Pollo, Minister of Economy Genc Ruli and Minister of Transport Sokol Olldashi conveyed their condolences. I am shocked and saddened by the news. I have had the occasion to know him and have the memory of a solid man with clear ideas for his homeland, of a man who besides ideas he passionately stood for has the capability to establish business and media institutions,” Pollo said. “It was a very sad news. I have known about his grave illness recently, yet I was shocked by his passing away. I have known Vebi since the beginning of 90’s. I have respected him as one the first to bring the concept of investor to Albania, as a courageous man in his enterprise as investor. He was a proud and a modest man,” Ruli’s message states. Lawmakers of Socialist Party Arben Malaj and Andis Harasani conveyed messages of condolence to the family of Mr. Vebi Velija. Expressing condolences to Velija family, the Union of Albanian Journalists highly praises Velija’s long contribution and investments in the Albanian media market, describing him as the first to pass the taboo of administrative limits in creating a national media market. Condolences came from the Albanian business world too. Former President of Trade Chamber Luan Bregasi said the loss of an entrepreneur as Mr. Velija was a sad day for the whole Albanian business. President of Albanian-British Trade Chamber Zenel Hoxha describes Velija as the most serious investor since the beginning of the market economy in Albania. Ex-President of Macedonia Branko Crvenkovski also expressed his regret to the passing away of President of Alsat TV Vebi Velija. In his telegram of condolence Crvenkovski says: “With regret I received the news of the death of your father and husband Vebi Velija. Let me share your pain and pay my respects to Mr. Velija.” Haracina commune and its governor Basri Bajrami conveyed their condolences for the passing away of Mr. Vebi Velija. New Democracy Party and its leader Imer Selmani sent a telegram of condolence: “With deep sorrow we received the news of the passing away of Mr. Vebi Velija, the man who gave his maximum contribution for the democratization of the society.” A message came from the Institute for Democracy and Development in Tetova. “The board of IDD feels deep regret for the passing away of Mr. Vebi Velija. The Albanian society in Macedonia, Albania and Kosova has lost a great person who promoted democratic values.” On behalf of the Macedonian government vice PM Abdylhaqim Ademi expressed condolence too. “The sad news concerned not me only but all those who wish for democratic developments in the country. Mr. Velija’s contribution the progress of free speech will remain inscribed in the register of Albanian leaders who paved the way to qualitative information in Albanian in the republic of Macedonia.” |
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