Hon. Mark Gjonaj /

NYS Assembly – Albany/

Dear Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj,/

The Albanians in the Republic of Montenegro continue to face persecution by the government authorities simply because they are Albanians. The political, social, and economic conditions are designed to make life difficult for the Albanians in Montenegro –with the continued intention to force Albanians to leave their homeland. The net result of this calculated plan is called slow ethnic cleansing; today there are more Albanians from Montenegro in Detroit than in Montenegro.

As you know, when Montenegro’s Prime Minister, Milo Gjukanoviq, visited Washington, the Pan-Albanian Federation of America-VATRA fully supported the protest that was held in Washington by the Albanian-American Organizations on April 8, 2014.

To take our joint effort a step further, The Pan-Albanian Federation of America-VATRA proposes that you lead an Albanian-American delegation to the U.S. Embassy in Podgorica to express our concerns about the plight of the Albanian people in Montenegro and recommend actionable steps to improve their fundamental rights.  VATRA will be happy to join the delegation.

For the Board of Directors,

Dr. Gjon Buçaj,

President

New York, April 11, 2014