[ALBSA-Info] Remains of Slain Bytyqi Brothers Return to the US; Albanian-American Community Says Farewell

[National Albanian American Council - NAAC]

National Albanian American Council
1700 K Street, N.W., Suite 1201, Washington, DC  20006
481 8th Avenue, Suite 922, New York, NY 10001
Brigada e Krajishtes, No. 8, 38000 Prishtina, Kosova
Telephone: (202) 466-6900   Fax: (202) 466-5593
Web: www.naac.org   Email: naac at naac.org
_________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release: February 28, 2002      Contact: Sokol Shtylla (202) 466-6900
 
PRESS RELEASE
 
Remains of Slain Bytyqi Brothers Return to the US;
Albanian-American Community Says Farewell   
 
Washington, DC, February 28, 2002: The National Albanian American Council (NAAC) issued the following announcement regarding the return to the US of the remains of the three Bytyqi brothers killed in Serbia.
 
The remains of the three Bytyqi Brothers, Ylli, Agron, and Mehmet, who were killed in Serbia in 1999, after the war in Kosova had ended, are being brought back to the United States to be laid to rest.  They will arrive in New York on Friday, March 1, 2002, where the Albanian-American community will honor the heroic brothers who gave their young lives while helping others in need. 
 
The people of Kosova paid their last respects for the three brothers on Wednesday, when the caskets carrying their bodies were marched across downtown Prishtina and laid in the largest sports hall for a public memorial service.  Accompanying the bodies back to the United States are members of the Bytyqi family, as well as Ambassador William Walker, former head of the international Kosovo Verifying Mission, who denounced the killing of Albanians in Kosova by the Serb military and police as crimes against humanity.
 
Upon arrival at the JFK International Airport, members of the Bytyqi family, Ambassador William Walker, Richard Lukaj, Chairman of NAAC, and Arber Muriqi, President of the Atlantic Association, will hold a press conference.  A memorial service will take place in Yonkers, NY on Monday, March 4, where members of the Albanian-American community will have an opportunity to pay their respects to the Bytyqi Brothers and family.  In November, NAAC and the Atlantic Association created a special fund to help the Bytyqi family with the expenses related to the transportation of the bodies back to the US and their burial.  Many community members and supporters contributed to the fund.
 
The following is a schedule of activities that will take place to remember and honor the Bytyqi Brothers:
 
Friday, March 1, 2002:
 
7:00 p.m. - Arrival of the remains of the Bytyci brothers
John F. Kennedy Airport, New York
Lufthansa Airlines, Flight 404
 
7:30 p.m.- Press Conference
With representatives of the Bytyqi Family, Ambassador William Walker, Richard Lukaj, NAAC Chairman, Arber Muriqi, Atlantic Association President.
John F. Kennedy Airport
 
Sunday, March 3, 2002:
 
2:00-9:00 p.m.- Funeral Services
Farenga Bros Funeral Home
620 Allerton Avenue, Bronx, New York
 
Monday, March 4, 2002:
 
11:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. Memorial Service
Royal Regency Hotel
165 Tuckahoe Road
Yonkers, New York
 
1:00 p.m. Burial
St. Mary Cemetery (located behind The Royal Regency Hotel)
 
For more information, please contact the Atlantic Association at (718) 563-7080.
 
The National Albanian American Council ("NAAC") is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advocating for Albanians and promoting peace and economic development in the Balkans by fostering democratic policy, promoting respect for human rights, and conducting educational and developmental programs.  For more information on the National Albanian American Council please visit us on the web at www.naac.org
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