The National Albanian American Council (NAAC) recognizes Mr. Azem Hajdari on September 12, 2013, the 15th anniversary of his passing, for his historic contributions to building strong democracies in both his native Albania and sister republic of Kosova. As a student in 1990 in Tirana, Albania, Mr. Hajdari emerged as a student leader and a champion for democratic reforms. He became one of the founders of the Democratic Party, the first non-Communist political party in Albania since World War II, and was elected its first Chairman. In 1991, Mr. Hajdari was elected to the first democratic Albanian parliament.
Today, Albania and Kosova are free and independent countries, building strong democracies, aspiring to join the European Union and both countries are some of the closest allies to the US. Albania is already a member of NATO, and its citizens can travel freely throughout Europe. The groundwork for these achievements in a large part was laid by Azem Hajdari.
Avni Mustafaj, NAAC’s Executive Director said, “Azem Hajdari was a dear friend, a true Albanian patriot, and all Albanians recognize him today for his historic contributions to igniting Albania’s democratic movement. May He Rest In Peace.”