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Albania opens huge communist nuclear bunker to the public

Albania will celebrate World War Two liberation day on November 29.

By Thor Benson
Guests in the assembly hall. (bunkart.al)
1 of 5 | Guests in the assembly hall. (bunkart.al)

TIRANA, Albania, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- A nuclear bunker near Tirana, Albania that has been closed to the public since its creation in 1978 was opened to the public for the first time on Saturday.

The bunker was created by former dictator Enver Hoxha in case of a nuclear attack from the USSR or the United States. Prime Minister Edi Rama showed guests around the 106 rooms and assembly hall of the five-story complex on the opening night, accompanied by US Ambassador Alexander Arvizu and Italian Ambassador Massimo Gaiani. Each room contains historical equipment from the era.

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"We have opened today a thesaurus of the collective memory that presents thousands of pieces of the sad events and life under communism," Mr Rama said in a speech in the bunker's hall.

From Saturday to the end of the year, visitors will be able to visit the bunker that has been turned into a temporary museum and exhibition space called BUNK'ART. The show commemorates the coming Albanian World War Two liberation day on November 29.

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