[Prishtina-E] Happy Flag Day and God Bless the Albanian Nation!

[Valbona Sherifi]

The National Albanian American Council

wishes to all Albanians

Happy Flag Day 2003!

Gezuar Festen e Flamurit 2003!
 
Let us come together as a community and as a people during these trying
times and work selflessly for a better future for Albanians everywhere.

******


 


NAAC and the Albanian Struggle – A Year in Review

 
By Martin G. Vulaj*
 
91 years ago, Albanian patriots representing various political views,
religious faiths and Albanian geographic regions gathered in Vlora to
proclaim independence after five centuries under Ottoman yoke.  They
demanded the treatment of the Albanian lands as a single unit, official
recognition of Albanian nationhood, Albanian schools and officials,
military service in Albania except in times of war, tax revenues to be
used for local use only, and so on.  In declaring Albania sovereign, the
brave men of 1912 prevented the further partition of our nation and
brought the Albanian question to the forefront of the international
diplomatic arena as a formidable Balkans issue.  
Delayed by almost one decade, the recognition of their demands was only
partial as two-thirds of the Albanian territory was handed over to
Serbia, Greece, Macedonia and Montenegro while hundreds of thousands of
Albanian nationals became stateless.  Today, almost one century later,
the Albanian issue is making headlines again.  In this time of a new
Albanian renaissance, the National Albanian American Council (NAAC) is
proud to be with you at the forefront of our national struggle and to
help carry the shining red and black banner that our founding fathers
raised 91 years ago today.  Coming into formal existence on October 1,
1996, NAAC is an apolitical, nonprofit organization made up of concerned
individuals that have dedicated most of their lives to advocating for
the Albanians.  We promote peace and economic development in the Balkans
by fostering democratic policy, promoting respect for human rights, and
conducting educational and developmental programs.  Headquartered in
Washington, D.C. and with regional offices in New York, and Prishtina
and chapters in Boston, Detroit. NAAC provides critical analysis to
policymakers; sponsors public forums on Albanian issues; helps build
democratic institutions; and secures humanitarian aid.  
 
The Albanian-American Voice in Washington
 
Considered by many influential figures as the most respected voice of
the Albanian Diaspora, NAAC provides timely information and analysis of
Albanian issues to policy and opinion makers in Washington.  In addition
to issuing position papers and
<http://www.naac.org/press_releases.html> press releases on Balkan
issues, our members also provide expert testimonies at hearings before
the U.S. Congress.
Prompted by the unlawful detainment of KPC Commander Lt. Gen. Agim Ceku,
we recently urged the international community to take the necessary
measures to vacate all Milosevic-tainted warrants.  Prior to this, we
pointed out that the difficulties in starting technical talks with
Serbia illustrate certain prerequisites that must be in place for not
only the successful outcome of the dialogue, but also for the processes
that will determine Kosova's final status.  Albanians must be able to
negotiate from an equal bargaining position going forward; doing
otherwise would only thwart fundamental principles of democracy and
would ignore the will of the people of Kosova.  
When tensions increased in Macedonia last September, we urged that
country’s government to immediately cease its military operations.  Any
return to military conflict would threaten the future of the Ohrid
Agreement, which is seen by the Albanians as the last hope to a
democratic, peaceful and multi-ethnic Macedonia.  NAAC has also stood
strong against any malicious attempts to manipulate our proud culture,
history and heritage.  Responding to a series of New York Times articles
that cast doubt on Mother Teresa’s ethnic identity, we provided the
Times with facts that refuted its baseless claims.
In conjunction with the Center for Strategic and International Studies
(CSIS) and Albanica Institute for Albanian Studies last June we hosted
in Washington a conference titled “The Albanian Issue in Montenegro”.
Sponsored by “Malsia,” “Ded Gjo’ Luli,” “Kraja,” “Plave and Guci,” “Ana
e Malit” organizations as well as the Albanian-American community in
Michigan, this two-day event was a historic initiative which brought
together for the first time since the signing of the Memorandum of Gerca
in 1911 representatives of the entire Albanian Political spectrum in
Montenegro to clearly define the Albanian issue there.  Earlier this
year NAAC testified before the U.S. Congress at a Hearing of the House
International Relations Committee on the Future of Kosova, where we
asserted that the lack of final status has been a principle source of
instability, fostering fear and distrust on the part of Albanians and
false hope on the part of Serbs.  The hearing, initiated by the AACL,
was a shining example of how a coordinated Diaspora can better affect
U.S. policy toward our issues.
During a Balkans tour last February, additionally, we met in Montenegro
with then newly elected Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic to urge him to
deliver tangible results in empowering the indigenous Albanian
population.  Key issues addressed included decentralization, which would
include the creation of the Tuzi municipality and local fiscal authority
for Ulqin; education; healthcare; employment and economic incentives;
and integration in governmental and other public structures.  
 
Sponsoring Public Forums
 
Dedicated to increasing the involvement of Albanians in the democratic
process, we routinely arrange meetings between community members and
their elected representatives here in the U.S. and back home in the
Balkans.  NAAC also hosts public briefings by senior governmental
officials and scholars of Balkan affairs at cities around the country.
On November 13, 2003, prominent members of our community participated in
a NAAC-led delegation that met with presidential candidate Wesley Clark
in Portsmouth, NH to voice their determination to keep the Albanian
issues as a priority for U.S. foreign policy.  At a meeting two weeks
ago with U.N. Special Representative of the Security Council Mr. Harri
Holkeri we emphasized that a peaceful transition that protects the basic
rights of self-determination for Kosova contributes to lasting stability
in the region. We also noted that a successful partnership between UNMIK
and the Kosova leadership requires that both parties truly act in
partnership, stressing the need for Kosova to be provided with the
necessary leverage to make decisions.  At a forum with president of
Albania Mr. Alfred Moisiu at the end of September, NAAC encouraged
Albania’s head of state to secure the independence of the judiciary
system from political influence and expedite the initiation of
comprehensive reforms in the legislation on property rights.  
Together with the “Dibra Motherland Association”, we hosted last June in
New York City a forum with Mr. Ali Ahmeti, Chairman of the Democratic
Union for Integration (DUI), and Mr. Agron Buxhaku, then Deputy Speaker
of the Parliament of Macedonia, where we reiterated that the Ohrid Peace
Accord is the best guarantee to lasting stability.  Last June over 800
people attended our Annual Awards Dinner on June 19, 2003 in New York
City where we honored President Bill Clinton for his leadership role in
ending ethnic cleansing in Kosova.  “The Future of Kosova”, a public
forum held last May in New York, enabled our community and officials
from the U.S. Department of State to exchange views on the perspectives
and U.S. foreign policy approaches on Kosova, whereas an event with
Deputy Prime Minister of Macedonia, Mr. Musa Xhaferi, enabled the public
to hear first hand about the status of the Albanians’ quest for greater
rights in Macedonia.
 
Building Democratic Institutions
 
Recognizing the valuable contribution of the civil society could make to
the strengthening of our institutions, last October we encouraged voters
in Albania to actively participate in local elections in order to
demonstrate political maturity and choose the representatives that seem
best capable to fulfill their wish for progress.  We also called on the
Albanian politicians to put the nation's overall good above personal
ambitions in these trying times.  NAAC has repeatedly urged Albania’s
leadership to intensify its efforts against corruption and organized
crime.  In a letter addressed to President Moisiu on April 29, 2003, we
noted that organized crime and corruption are damaging the everyday
livelihood of the Albanian state and its citizens while harming
Albania's image abroad.  A bi-partisan parliamentary commission on
corruption and organized crime should be formed with full investigative
powers in order to pursue vigorously its investigations wherever they
may lead.  
Last February, we brought together in Washington Albanian politicians
and renowned international scholars who explored the possibility of
joining forces to come up with a roadmap for Kosova's final status.  We
also hosted a reception at the U.S. Congress for American politicians
and dignitaries from Kosova and Albania – including Kosova President Dr.
Ibrahim Rugova, and Speaker of the Parliament of Albania Mr. Servet
Pellumbi – to encourage greater institutional cooperation.  With funding
from USAID, in 2001 we created the Hope Fellowship program to assist
emerging leaders in developing personal, participative, and activist
leadership skills.  To date, 51 women leaders from Kosova have
reinforced their leadership skills through a 10-week program in
Washington. 
            Providing Humanitarian Assistance
NAAC has undertaken several humanitarian initiatives in response to the
catastrophes that have plagued the Balkans.  Through our Hands of Hope
campaign we have worked closely with organizations like Doctors of the
World, the Albanian Children’s Fund and the Albanian Aid Society to
alleviate the suffering of our people.  Some of our projects include
sponsoring a much-needed Prenatal Diagnostic Center in Tirana, providing
computers and school supplies to children in Montenegro, shipping
nutrition packages and medical items to patients with special needs in
Kosova, etc.  This year’s Annual Golf Tournament, which provides most of
the funding for our humanitarian work, featured a number of renowned
personalities including former New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine,
trial lawyer Mickey Sherman and MTV moderator Eric Niese.  Shortly, we
will be providing funding to an organization that is fighting the
trafficking of Albanian children to Greece.
Looking Ahead
We have come a long away since November 28, 1912.  Our trials have been
great, but so have been our successes.  Hope guided us in bringing down
communism in Albania and in surviving Serbia’s bloodthirsty tyranny.  We
must always remember that we got here with the help of the U.S. and
other countries that took the unconventional path of standing up for a
small nation like ours.  
However, other challenges lie ahead as we continue to work for an
independent Kosova, an Albania integrated into NATO and Euro-Atlantic
structures, while striving for greater rights for the Albanians in
Macedonia, Montenegro and Presheva Valley and recognition for the plight
of the Chams.  
Instead of staving off foreign hordes like we have successfully done in
the past, this time history is calling on us to rally around our
institutions and strengthen them so they can serve us better.  At this
important juncture of our long, winding road we are being called to come
together and do our part in taking full ownership of the very ideals of
democracy: justice, individual sovereignty, freedom, and tolerance.  
More than a century ago, great poet Naim Frasheri captured the spirit of
the Albanian renaissance with the following words: “Ti Shqipëri më jep
nder, më jep emrin shqipëtar.”  Today, as we draw ever closer to a new
dawning for the Albanian nation, his words renew our optimism and hope
for a better tomorrow.   
Happy Flag Day, and God Bless the Albanian Nation!
 
*The author is Executive Director of NAAC
 
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