Merrni pjesë në një ditë të paharrueshme plot muzikë dhe Paradën e Flamujve, ku kultura të ndryshme nga e gjithë bota do të përfaqësohen në një atmosferë festive në Kopshtet Kulturore të Cleveland-it.

Data: 24 Gusht 2025

Vendi: Cleveland Cultural Gardens

One World Day at the Cleveland Cultural Gardens – August 24, 2025

Be part of an unforgettable day filled with music and the Parade of Flags, where cultures from around the globe are represented in a festive atmosphere at the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.

Date: August 24, 2025

Location: Cleveland Cultural Gardens

The Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

August 7, 2025

Dear President Trump,

To the people of Kosovo and Albania, you are the peacemaker of the century. In this spirit, we write to you on behalf of Albanians for America (AFA) and the Albanian-American community organizations listed below to strongly encourage you to pursue the idea you championed during your first mandate: mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia.
We express our full support for the recent bipartisan calls for the immediate implementation of mutual recognition as the only solution for achieving lasting peace in this important part of Europe. This is a goal you have advocated multiple times, including through your recent efforts to halt Serbia’s ongoing hostilities and prevent a renewed war in the region. It is also a goal that directly aligns with U.S. strategic interests.

Mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia is not merely a diplomatic formality—it is the most effective and pragmatic path forward. Prolonging the current status quo is inherently destabilizing. Serbia’s continued refusal to align with America’s foreign policy and recognize Kosovo’s sovereignty has emboldened repeated escalations, most notably the acts of aggression by Serbia in 2023 and 2024, as well as the recent attempted escalations that you successfully prevented.

Kosovo’s independence is a clear American victory. The people of Kosovo endured decades of systemic repression, culminating in genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed by the Milosevic regime. The international community, led by the U.S., intervened to prevent the obliteration of an entire population. Kosovo’s statehood is the product of both historical legitimacy and humanitarian necessity.

Kosovo stands as the most pro-American nation in the world, as evidenced by it being the only European country to reach an agreement with the U.S. on third-country nationals and the first country globally to propose a zero tariff on U.S. goods—a decision that took effect last week. Its unwavering support for U.S. leadership, its values of freedom, and its global partnerships are unmatched. Kosovo hosts a vital U.S./NATO military presence and has consistently aligned itself with U.S. foreign policy objectives.
712 H St NE, Unit #747, Washington D.C., DC, United States, Washington, District of Columbia 972-200-2668
In contrast, Serbia continues to strengthen alliances with America’s adversaries, notably Russia, China, and Iran, thereby undermining efforts for cohesive regional cooperation and threatening U.S. interests.

President Trump, your leadership was pivotal in achieving the 2020 Washington Agreement. Unfortunately, Serbia has reneged on most of its critical components and failed to implement it. Today, you are uniquely positioned to ensure that the normalization process between Kosovo and Serbia reaches its rightful conclusion: mutual recognition within existing borders.

We respectfully urge you to:

1. Publicly reaffirm U.S. support for Kosovo–Serbia mutual recognition as the foundation for lasting peace.
2. Encourage both countries to finalize recognition and commit to cooperation based on the principle of normalization of relations between the two countries.
3. Support robust enforcement mechanisms to ensure full and timely implementation.

The Albanian American community, just as we have supported your return to the White House, stands ready to support any effort that brings this longstanding impasse to a final resolution.
Thank you for your continued commitment to peace through strength and for your leadership on this important issue.

Sincerely,

Vatra Pan-Albanian Federation of America
AFA Albanians For America
AARC Albanian American Relations Council
Jehona e Malesise
Shoqata Kosova Michigan
Shoqata Malesia e Madhe
Shoqata Dukagjini
Shoqata Kastrati

Join us in New York City for the 77th Annual Albanian American National Convention, where we’ll honor remarkable individuals whose service, leadership, and dedication continue to uplift and inspire.

Federata Pan-Shqiptare e Amerikës “Vatra” dhe gazeta “Dielli” ngushëllojnë familjen nacionaliste Mernaçaj për ndarjen nga jeta të patriotit dhe veprimtarit të çështjes kombëtare Pjeter Nue Mernaçaj. Si pjesë e një plejade të artë nacionaliste dhe antikomuniste që veproi në New York, Pjeter Mernaçaj do të kujtohet gjithmonë me nderim e respekt për patriotizmën, mirësinë e tij, fisnikërinë, mençurinë dhe burrërinë. Pjetër Mernaçaj ishte një mbështetës i Vatrës, Diellit, Kishës Katolike dhe komunitetit shqiptar në mërgatën e New York-ut. Shembulli dhe trashëgimia e mirë familjare e atdhetare që la pas janë frymëzuese për gjeneratat e reja.

I përjetshëm nderimi dhe kujtimi për veprat e tij të mira.

Me nderim

Kryetari i Vatrës

Dr. Elmi Berisha

Nëse njihni studentë me origjinë shqiptare në DePaul ju lutem shperndani lajmërimin tonë për bursat e reja Hidai “Eddie” Bregu në Studimet Shqiptare dhe të Europës Juglindore.

The Hidai “Eddie” Bregu Scholarship

in Albanian and Southeastern European Studies

Three awards of $3000 each

o Open to DePaul Albanian heritage speaker students

o Application deadline: August 18, 2025

o Students may apply via Scholarship Connect: https://depaul.academicworks.com/opportunities/54995

The Department of Modern Languages & The Hidai “Eddie” Bregu Program in Albanian Studies invites applications for The Hidai “Eddie” Bregu Scholarship in Albanian and Southeastern European Studies. This scholarship is made available by the generosity of Hidai “Eddie” Bregu, donor, and namesake of the endowed Albanian Studies Program at DePaul University.

Applicants must be DePaul Albanian heritage speaker students at the College of LAS or Albanian heritage speaker students from other DePaul Schools and Colleges who have taken already Albanian Studies classes in the past or have declared the Albanian and Southeastern European Studies Undergraduate Certificate.

All applicants must fulfill at least one of the following criteria: 1) Enroll in an Albanian Studies course or have already taken a minimum of one Albanian Studies 4-credit or 2-credit hours course (FLAC:ALB395) 2) Have a demonstrated engagement in Albanian American Associations within and beyond DePaul University and/or The Southeastern European Student Associations at DePaul University 3) have volunteered or attended the public events organized by the Hidai “Eddie” Bregu Lectures in Albanian Studies at DePaul University 4) have conducted or plan conducting research or extracurricular projects related to Albanian (-American) and/or other Southeastern European cultures and topics in the Chicagoland area.

The scholarship is merit-based, but preference goes primarily to students who are enrolled or plan to enroll in FLAC in Albanian Studies (ALB395), and students who have already declared or plan to declare The Albanian and Southeastern European Studies Undergraduate Certificate. Scholarship recipients who have distinguished themselves by demonstrating academic achievement in Albanian Studies classes can be considered for future iterations of the scholarship.

For questions regarding the Scholarship and The Albanian and Southeastern European Studies Program, please contact Program Director Dr. Gazmend Kapllani: gkapllan@depaul.edu

What is FLAC?

FLAC (Foreign Language Across Curriculum) in Albanian Studies is a supplementary two-credit course that allows Albanian language heritage students who have taken in the past or are currently enrolled in an ALB English content course taught in English to practice the Albanian language in an academic setting and enrich their knowledge with a focus on Albanian language, history, and culture. FLAC courses are not as intensive as four-credit courses and will meet less frequently, in-person and/or online. There is flexibility to accommodate students’ schedules and needs. The discussion-based course has the structure of a Book Club, where readings may be in English, while content discussions will be mainly in Albanian.

Heritage speakers of Albanian who have declared the Undergraduate Certificate in Albanian and Southeastern European Studies can choose to complete two 2-credit FLAC courses in Albanian language instead of one of the required 4-credit hour electives in English.

Who is an Albanian heritage speaker?

When we refer to Albanian language heritage speakers, we typically mean a person who has learned Albanian informally, typically by being exposed to it at home, as opposed to having learned it formally in a school setting. Albanian may be their native tongue – the language they identify as their primary language – but more often than not, their Albanian heritage language becomes secondary to English, the language in which they receive their formal education and with which they interact the most in their daily life outside the home.

For more information and to apply for the scholarship follow the link: https://depaul.academicworks.com/opportunities/54995

For more information about DePaul Albanian and Southeastern European Studies visit: https://catalog.depaul.edu/…/albanian-and-southeastern…/