Rafaela Prifti/
Vatra and community members came to listen to and shake hands with “a legend” – a respectable term for Ambassador William Walker which reflects a status he has earned, in the hearts and minds of Albanians, since the cold day of January 15, 1999 at a macabre site in the Kosova village of Reçak. They were overcome by the solemnity of the present history still being written. “Racak: Story of a War Crime” is the recently published autobiography by Ambassador Walker for whom “telling a story that is hardly unique of the Serbian war is important in today’s world.” No perpetrators of the 1999 massacre have been brought to justice to this day.
The title of the book memorializes the immediate association of two names Ambassador Walker and Reçak (Racak in English) in the literary sense. As President of Vatra and host of the event, Dr. Elmi Berisha put it “the significance of the ceremony surpassed a book promotion.” Echoing the point about efforts to deny war crimes that are present in our public discourse, he said “this book reinforces our collective memory, serves as an educational resource for younger generations and a shield against the manipulation of truth.”
Vatra’s promotion of Walkers autobiography was a one-and-a-half-hour event infused with personal accounts, raw emotions and remarkable insights into Kosovo’s war for liberation and independence. The remarks of Vatra President Dr. Elmi Berisha, the reflections of guest speakers such as the Atlantic Battalion Commander Gani Shehu, media personalities such as former VOA Director of European Davison Frank Shkreli, Agim Alicka, AACL Executive Director, former advocacy representatives NAAC Musa Daka, His Excellency Ambassador Blerim Reka of the Consulate General of Kosova in New York, Professor Elez Osmani, Vatra Queens Chairman Dr. Skender Myrtezani coalesced well to bring the full picture of the situation before the full scale escalation of the Kosova war and the organized campaign in the US.
Reçak represents a moment in Kosova liberation war that proved to be critical in the course of history and the personal life of Ambassador Walker. It was fraught with dramatic ordeals, behind the scenes conversations and consequences intersecting with one another. It all would seem to have destined Ambassador Walker for the role that he did have in the war preceding Kosova’s Independence. Back in 1999, the American career diplomat in his mid sixties was appointed Head of Kosova Verification Mission (KVM) while the Kosova Serbia war was escalating. An unlikely witness to “a war crime” by the Serbian forces, he inadvertently was elevated to “savior” status in stating to the media that “Recak was the site of a war crime.”
In 2001, while attending the second anniversary of the Recak massacre in Kosova, he made a promise in front of 15,000 people and survivors that one day he will write a book about that experience. More than two decades later, on the eve of Recak’s 26th anniversary commemoration, Ambassador Walker’s book was released in both English and Albanian languages. “No doubt,” he says, “it would have been a different book, had he written it in early 2000s.”
Lastly, the Vatra book presentation presented a chance for the career diplomat to be acquainted with the history of the oldest organization of Albanians today. The photos and mementos on the office walls illustrated the review that Vatra President Dr. Elmi Berisha presented to the distinguished first time visitor. Now near 90 years old, the diplomat paused to reflect upon a new encounter at “making history”. As Dr. Elmi Berisha presented VATRA’s highest honor – the Gold Medal of Freedom to Ambassador Walker, the solemn moment captured by quick snapping cameras. It could instantly go up on the wall to stand next to the pictures depicting Vatra’s events of major significance in the new century.
A detailed review: The Saturday book promo was scheduled to start at 11 am. The Ambassador and his spouse had arrived at Vatra’s headquarters before most of the guests had made it. Welcoming “the dear friend of the Albanian people”, Vatra President Dr. Elmi Berisha stepped in to give a review of Vatra’s history illustrated partly with visuals on the office walls. Ambassador Walker conveyed his astonishment at Vatra’s longevity and illustrious history. At a quarter past the hour, while people were still coming in, the event officially kicked off with Dr. Pashko Camaj welcoming to VATRA “a great friend of Albanian people,” his wife Nelly, his associates and the distinguished guests. President of Vatra Dr. Elmi Berisha praised the autobiography as “a powerful act of courage, which serves as a lesson to all humanity” that has particular significance at a time “when efforts to deny war crimes are present in public discourse.” He said that “this book crowns the deep spiritual connection between him and the people of Kosova.” Frank Shkreli, former VOA Director of European Division related an account of “the day that changed Ambassador’s life and also changed the course of history of a people and a country.”
His Excellency Ambassador Blerim Reka of the Consulate General of Kosova in New York stated that by chosing to speak the truth, Ambassador Walker had awakened the “stifled Western diplomacy following the Dayton agreement”. He recalled meeting Ambassador Walker twenty six years ago, when the Kosova Verification Mission was formed in October 1998 following negotiations between then Serbia President Milosevic and the US Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke. He listed the chain of events that succeeded the statement made by Ambassador Walker at the Press Conference regarding the Recak massacre. He closed his remarks with “an eternal thank you to Ambassador Walker for “the last moral testament”.
In his address Agim Aliçka, Director of Albanian American Civic League, with a respectable legacy in the Albanian community, called Ambassador Walker “our strength and our legend.” The Commander of the Atlantic Battalion Gani Shehu expressed gratitude to Ambassador Walker and presented him with the medal at the end of the ceremony. Professor Elez Osmani gave a first hand personal account of covering the event with the media crew. As member of a delegation led by Congressman Engel to observe the Kosova Elections, Musa Daka had met Ambassador Walker in the late 90s. He became very emotional when he wished the US diplomat a long life knowing “that you are loved by millions.” Dr. Myrtezani, a physician and President of Vatra Queens, said that Ambassador Walker “forced them to see the truth.”
Takeaways from Ambassador Walker’s remarks: Sharing a story that is in the book, he described the “journey” of a Walker family heirloom designed by his uncle Bill. It is known as “the liberty rug” because it had 48 states that were in the union at the time. The rug had been donated to President Wilson. Ambassador Walker’s sister started to inquire about it with much persistence the rug was located ten years ago. It is displayed at President Wilson’s Library in Washington DC.
He then moved to talk about the promise at the funeral in Recak that he will write a book about it that in the end became his autobiography. Reminiscing about going to Kosova in the late 90s without much knowledge or expectations, neutrality was a standard guidance from the government. “It lasted one week,” he said. The OSCE mandate was to write a report that would then go to OSCE capitals. He appreciated the work of the KVM observers team.
Making a point about the relentless propaganda by the Serbian authorities to this day and President Vucic who was the Information Minister under Milosevic, Ambassador Walker said that they still come up with a new and improbable versions of what happened, “many stories, many lies.” Any equivalency between two sides in the war, the KLA and the Serbian forces is false and needs to be called out.
The book represents 25 years of labor, recognizes the work of NATO verifiers as then President of Serbia Milosevic continued to tell lies while “nobody wanted to go to war.”
While he takes no credit for himself, he acknowledges the power of journalism and media persistence. Looking back, he said that the elements coalesced at the right moment while Madelaine Albright was the US Secretary of State, the US President Bill Clinton was facing other problems, Tony Blair was Britain’s PM, Schroder was Germany’s Chancellor.
Talking about Kosova Independence in 2008, Walker admitted that the parliament signing of Kosova declaration was “emotional for him.” He took a moment to praise the progress that Kosovars, with no experience in state building or governance, have built over the years. All the freedoms are there which you don’t see in many places now. While “Retribution is the word of the day, minority rights are well protected in Kosova,” he said. Kosova went from a war country to a “jewel of democracy” created by Albanians. “The ingredients of democracy are present in Kosova to a degree that are not present in Switzerland nor the US,” considering the parallels with the war in Ukraine and international implications linked with it.
Ambassador credits Hasan Salihu, friend and book consultant, Sabi Gashi, a long time friend in Washington, and wife Nelly, for their role in the book and his life.
Racak: Story of a War Crime by Ambassador William Walker, an autobiography in Albanian and English distributed by the Dukagjini Publishing house in January 2025. The book tour continues in other US cities and towns.