Bruxelles,11. 07. 2005


Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
I regret that I cannot be with you today for the opening of Mr. Fate Velaj's exhibition “Vlora, mon amour”.
However, please allow me to send you a few thoughts.
 
Although I have not had a chance to see the paintings that are being exhibited today, I would like to praise Mr. Velaj, whose creative vision I have found captivating and highly inspiring in the past. His work not only represents the complexity and absurdity of our 21st century lives, but it also sends a message of UNITY. He integrates Albanian folk patterns and personal messages into works of art which speak to us all. His paintings use a universal language to capture our attention and create a momentary space of human empathy, connection and understanding.
 
Also, I have found it fascinating that Mr. Fate Velaj's paintings are as much about the reality as they are about the past. He has an incredible talent to translate into art the notion that the centuries do not follow each other in the Balkans, but instead they somehow co-exist. At the same time, I have always felt that his use of colours hides a true optimist on the inside -- his vision seems to grow out of a rare human energy which has the potential to carry on with life, and look toward the future.
 
I wish Mr Velaj a continuing successful career and most importantly I wish him the gift of permanent inspiration. And to all of those present today, I wish you patience, commitment and dedication to change the world around you -- because change will happen, but only if enough of us believe in it. Thank you for your attention, and wishing you all the best,


Erhard Busek
President of the Stability Pact