SENATOR BOB DOLE TELLS DIELLI HE HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN HIS HEART FOR THE PEOPLE OF KOSOVA–
By Rafaela Prifti/
Dielli was granted access to Senator Bob Dole. The topics of our communication covered the dedication ceremony in Prishtina, the impact of the first visit and his confidence in the future of Kosova. The Albanian community leaders have commended his decades-long commitment to Albanian people. With regards to Senator Bob Dole’s visit to Prishtina 30 years ago, many believe it paved the way towards the liberation of Kosova and eventually the creation of a new independent state in Southeast Europe.
When I asked him to share some memories from three decades ago, Senator Dole said:
“The people of Kosova have not had an easy road to independence, and their struggle was especially apparent when I visited Pristina 30 years ago. As our bus came into the city, I witnessed first-hand the plight of the Albanian people under a Milosevic regime.” Reaffirming that he is proud to support the people of Kosova, Senator Dole added: “In terms of impact, I’ll never forget that visit. I couldn’t ignore what was happening to the people of Pristina.”
I noted that he is admired by Americans and Albanians alike. And has received some of nations’ highest honors such as the Golden Medal of Freedom from Kosova’s President and in 2018 the Congressional Gold Medal for your service to the nation “as a soldier, a legislator and a statesman,” from the Trump administration. Then I asked about the statue ceremony in Prishtina and what it meant to him. “The dedication of a statue in my honor by the citizens of Pristina is obviously a tremendous and humbling event. But more than that, it’s a deeply personal symbol of a friendship and alliance we’ve maintained over many decades,” said Senator Bob Dole to Dielli.
I asked him “What would you like the Albanian people in Kosova, the Albanian community in the US and all over the world to know about you and your legacy?”
Senator Dole’s answer was: “I am proud of the ongoing determination and hope of the Albanian people of Kosova and the Albanian community around the world. While I may have made a small impact on the evolution of Kosova’s independence, ultimately the credit belongs to the people of Kosova and their perseverance in the face of extreme adversity. I will always hold a special place in my heart for the people of Kosova, and I have great confidence in their future as a free and democratic nation.”
Thank you for your enduring commitment to the Albanian people, Senator Dole!