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Ambassador Fate Velaj's autobiographical novel KREUZTANNE is promoted in Austria

2025-09-24 17:44:00, Kulturë CNA

Ambassador Fate Velaj's autobiographical novel KREUZTANNE is promoted in

Last night, on September 23, 2025, those present in Traiskirchen, including Vice-Chancellor and Minister of Culture Andreas Babler, many ambassadors and many lovers of literature, experienced something very special: the presentation of my autobiographical novel KREUZTANNE by Fate Velaj accompanied by the paintings and photographs taken by him.

It was a deeply human encounter – far from the repeated applause for Mozart and Beethoven.

The audience heard the touching story of a young boy from Vlora, from an Albania that was then isolated from the world. A young man who dreamed of living in a metropolis, but whose fate, after the fall of communism in 1991, led him to a small guesthouse in the Austrian mountains.

Ambassador Fate Velaj's autobiographical novel KREUZTANNE is promoted in

From there, a new life began: as a dishwasher, as a factory worker in three shifts – and after work, he would "dip his hands in paint", to one day become a famous artist.

A story of sweat and tears. Between life and death to come back to life, stronger than ever before.

Ambassador Fate Velaj's autobiographical novel KREUZTANNE is promoted in

Excerpt from the speech of Vice-Chancellor Andreas Babler: Traiskirchen, September 23, 2025

…this book is not only a literary work, but also a deeply personal and political story.

Fate Velaj's story is an Austrian story, an Albanian story – but above all a European story.

What is Europe if it is not a point of meeting and integration?

And what would Europe be without bridge builders like Fate Velaj?

Fate Velaj, in his creativity, unites art, culture and politics – and in doing so has contributed decisively to mutual understanding between Austria and Albania, between Southeast Europe and the European Union…

Dear Fate, your story shows: Europe does not grow only through treaties, but above all through people who build bridges. For this I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart./ CNA