Harry Bajraktari/
I nderuar Ekrem Bardha, të nderuar klerikë, të nderuar bashkatdhetarë,
Ekrem Bardha has been a leader of the Albanian-American community in the United States for more than 60 years. He came to this country with nothing – after escaping communism in Albania. He worked hard and became a successful businessman in America. Ekrem never forgot where he came from and used his success to champion the Albanian cause here in America and throughout the world. He helped Albanian democracy. He contributed to the freedom and independence of Kosova. And he worked very hard to support the human rights and political rights for Albanians in Macedonia, Montenegro, Presheva Valley and Chameria.
Ekrem is a true Albanian patriot. I had the pleasure of working together with him to help the Albanian nation for over 40 years. We worked very closely with the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Senate, the State Department, and the White House in Washington for the Albanian cause. In 1991, I founded Illyria newspaper, which became an important voice for us, the Albanian-American community here in the United States – for the Albanian cause. In 1998, Ekrem took over Illyria and continued our work through the war in Kosova in 1998-1999 and beyond. Our work paid off.
Today Kosova is free and independent. Albania, Montenegro, and Macedonia are members of NATO.
Life is better for the Albanians in the Balkans today because of of the work and the efforts of the Albanian-American community in the United States.
I commend him for writing this book so that future generations will know what our community has done in those important years for the Albanian nation.
My dear friend, congratulations on your wonderful life journey – a great example of the American Dream!
God bless you and your family! God bless America and God bless the Albanian nation!