The French Embassy, Shkodra University “Luigj Gurakuqi” and the French Alliance in Shkodra organised a promotional meeting for two historical books.

On 18.11.2014 there was organized a promotional activity for two historical books “Greetings from Albania “ written by Mr. Luan Rama and “A French officer in the Balkans”, written by Mr. Domenique Danguy des Déserts. This activity took place in the conference room of Shkodra University. The event was opened by Mr. Besim Petrela, the cultural representative of the French Embassy in Albania who made a presentation of the activity. The deputy of Shkodra district, Prof.as.dr. Mimoza Hafizi, spoke on behalf of the parliamentary group of the Friendship France – Albania. Among other things she said: “These books talk about issues related to First World War. As a friendship group we are engaged in this promotion and in a series of other activities, therefore I wanted to be present to this event at Shkodra University. The first book promoted was “Greetings from Albania” by Luan Rama. The author of the book said: “I was inspired in writing this book by the letter of a French soldier who sent to his family from Albania during the First World War”. The speaker presented his book as a tribute to French soldiers killed in Albania. Through war diaries and letters written by the soldiers in the Albanian front (as well as war correspondents items in Albania), the reader discovers what has happened in front of the Eastern Army, the battles of the French helped by the Albanian gendarmerie and the solidarity of the soldiers with the populations.
The author of the book titled: “A French officer in the Balkans”, Domenique Danguy des Déserts taking the word in this promotion explained to the participants that in that book there were memories of his grandfather, Colonel André Ordion who arrived in the Balkans in November 1917 and stayed until October 1925. He was a commander of the Albanian and French troops in south of Ohrid Lake and in September 1918 he became the captain of the Monastery. Starting from April 1923 he represented France in the Commission which set the borders of Albania. Colonel Ordioni left his story missions with observations on nature, life, history of Albania and Macedonia. The main character of the book was attentive to the fate of Macedonians and his constant preoccupation was to help those he called "My Albanian friends". Later there was presented a historical documentary about the First World War .