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The President of the Albanian Football Association, Armand Duka, and the UNHCR representative in Albania, Toshitsuki Kavauçi, have signed a memorandum on refugees.
AFF announcement:
The Football Federation and UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) signed today at the "House of Football" a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cooperation in promoting the inclusion of refugees, asylum seekers and stateless persons, as well as social cohesion and youth development through football.
This memorandum, signed by the President of the Albanian Football Association, Armand Duka, and the UNHCR representative in Albania, Toshitsuki Kawauchi, reflects the joint commitment to use the power of football in strengthening ties between refugees and host communities across our country.
The agreement builds on the long-standing global partnership between UNHCR and UEFA, recognising sport as a powerful tool for protection, inclusion and well-being.
Under this memorandum, UNHCR and the Albanian Football Association will work together to create more opportunities for children and young people from host and refugee communities to engage in football. The partnership will provide safe and inclusive spaces where they can develop their skills in an environment that promotes teamwork, resilience and solidarity.
After signing the memorandum, President Duka said that the signing of this memorandum is very important for the inclusion and support of all refugees living in Albania.
" This is not the beginning of our cooperation with UNHCR, for the inclusion of refugees, their integration and support. We also held a friendly match in May, on National Refugee Day. Through this agreement, we will continue to develop awareness-raising and inclusive activities for all refugees in our country."
Next month we will be part of the Unity Cup, organized by UEFA with a team of refugees from Albania. It is not easy, since the refugees who are in Albania are undocumented. But in cooperation with the Dutch Embassy, we have put everything on the right track to develop this activity.
This memorandum that we are signing today formalizes our cooperation, which we have had and to take it to an even higher level. It is one of our objectives to influence the lives of Albanian society and all those who live in our country through football. This agreement also serves this objective, to help the lives of refugees through football and to give this message through our beautiful game.
"I thank you once again for the trust you have in cooperating with us and for signing this agreement ," said President Duka in his speech.
The UNHCR representative in Albania, Toshitsuki Kawauchi, in his speech after the signing of the Memorandum, expressed his happiness and praised the AFF for the support and solidarity shown on the refugee issue.
"I am very happy that today we are formalizing this cooperation through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding."
For us, the UN Refugee Agency, the bottom line is undoubtedly how to offer refugees the opportunity to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity, wherever they are, including Albania.
Refugees who choose to live in Albania enjoy security and a good standard of living. But sport is something universal, that speaks to everyone. And I would particularly highlight football, a sport that is enjoyed by a very large part of the population in Albania and around the world.
So I want to sincerely thank you, President, and your staff for this cooperation. Because not only are you and your team showing solidarity for the refugee issue, but also in practice, some refugee children have already participated in the match.
They have stated that, and I quote, 'we don't speak the same language, but we understand each other when we play'.
This is the spirit of sport, the spirit of football.
"Thank you once again for your support and for the solidarity you are showing for the refugee cause. I am convinced that our cooperation will continue to strengthen even further ," said UNHCR Representative in Albania, Toshitsuki Kawauchi.
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