Dielli | The Sun

Albanian American Newspaper Devoted to the Intellectual and Cultural Advancement of the Albanians in America | Since 1909

NAT0 deploys 700 additional troops in Kosovo after clashes in Serb-majority North

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Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters in Oslo that the decision had been made to send 700 more troops to Kosova and to place an additional battalion on high alert in case it needs to be deployed. NATO has some 4,000 troops currently in Kosova.

The NATO-led peacekeeping force said on Monday that 25 of its troops were injured in clashes with ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo as they tried to block the newly elected Albanian mayors from accessing the municipal offices. “Several soldiers of the Italian and Hungarian KFOR contingent were the subject of unprovoked attacks and sustained trauma wounds with fractures and burns due to the explosion of incendiary devices,” the NATO peacekeepers statement said.

The ethnic Serbs clashed with NATO troops and Kosovo police in the municipality of Zvecan, 45 kilometers (28 miles) north of the capital. The soldiers fired tear gas and stun grenades to protect the Kosovar officers and disperse protesters, according to witnesses. The Serb protestors responded by throwing rocks and other hard objects at them, AP news reported.

The United States and the European Union have stepped up efforts to mediate the Kosovo-Serbia dispute, fearing further instability in Europe as Russia’s war rages in Ukraine. Serbia has put its military on high alert. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov wasted no time in laying blame on the US and NATO. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell urged the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia to immediately de-escalate tensions, saying the clashes were “absolutely unacceptable”. US Ambassador Jeff Hovenier met with Kosova President Vjosa Osmani. Together they held meetings with the ambassadors of the U.S., France, Italy, Germany and the UK.

On Monday, Kosovar police and the NATO-led Kosovo Force, (KFOR) were seen protecting the municipal buildings in Zvecan, Leposavic, Zubin Potok and Mitrovica, four municipalities in the north that held early elections last month, AP news reports. The votes were largely boycotted by ethnic Serbs, who form the majority in those areas. Only ethnic Albanian or other smaller minority representatives were elected to the mayoral posts and assemblies. The protests started on Friday, which was the first day of work for the newly elected mayors, when dozens of citizens and policemen were injured. Kosovo police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd and let the new officials into the offices, before the NATO-led peacekeepers intervened.

In the capital, Pristina, the new mayors of Zvecan, Ilir Peci, and of Zubin Potok, Izmir Zeqiri, met the EU Ambassador in Kosovo, Tomas Szunyog, and US Ambassador, Jeffrey Hovenier.

Reports say that journalists were targeted by Serbs in Northern Kosova and their vehicles were damaged and sprayed with Serb nationalist symbols. The Association of Journalists of Kosovo registered around 18 attacks on media crews on Friday, Monday and Tuesday.

Source: AP News, Reuters Reporting

Through individual reflection and visitations, Albanian Americans mark Memorial Day

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Rafaela Prifti/

From little towns to big cities all across the nation, today was marked by sombrance and appreciation for the fallen service members. At the Boston Common, national park and landmark, members of the Albanian community observed the day by visiting the Soldiers and Sailors Monument (1877). The Civil War memorial that portrays many Bostonians prominent in the period serves as a link with the origin of Memorial Day, which began as Decoration Day for the fallen of the era. A touching display of over 37,000 flags was planted in memory of every fallen Massachusetts service member. Families with children, elderly and members in uniform stopped to take photos at different spots of the Flag Garden. The display encouraged visitors to create their own flag garden at home and post a photo of it on social media with the tag # HeroesFlagGarden so families of the fallen can see a personalized tribute.

Father Andrea Rubis of the Orthodox Albanian Diocese of America says that while taking citizenship in the United States, Albanian-Americans have been respectful of the laws and willing to serve in the defence of this republic. “In the Albanian Orthodox community where I was raised, the names of five young men who did not return home were placed on the wall of the entryway. One of them was even the only son of the priest and his wife.”

Over the years the holiday has extended to honor all who have answered the call of duty and served their country. Father Andrea served as a US Naval Cryptologic Officer from 1987-1990 on active duty and from 1990-1998 in the reserves. His father, John Rubis, is a veteran of the Korean War.

“The two Albanian Orthodox communities in Philadelphia gather at the graves each Memorial Day to remember all of those who lived, served, fell asleep in the Lord – whether or not they served in the armed forces,” says Father Andrea.

He highlights the act of service itself as a selfless duty that is at the center of Church’s mission reminding us that “by serving a cause bigger than our own personal interests, we set aside our ego and have a chance to attain humility, as hard as that may be in this so very self-centered society. If we can attain even a bit of this self-emptying virtue, we imitate our Lord and Saviour and bring within reach all of the other virtues.”

I përjetshëm kujtimi i tyre! Memory Eternal!

Photo credit Valbona Lavdari, Flag Garden Memorial Day at Boston Common, Massachusetts

Photo credit Ardian Murraj Archive

Veterans Vasil Kamenica (William N. Jones) right and George Laska, at St. Mary’s Assumption, Albanian Orthodox Church, Worcester, Massachusetts

Albanian American Association Honor Roll of World War II on display at St. Mary’s Assumption, Albanian Orthodox Church, Worcester, Massachusetts

The White House issues a Prayer for Peace Proclamation on Memorial Day

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Rafaela Prifti/

The White House released a proclamation calling Americans to observe Memorial Day as a day of prayer for peace to jointly remember and reflect, a designation approved by Congress since May 1950. The day encapsulates both the pain and pride felt by so many. It honors “those who gave all to preserve and defend an idea unlike any other in human history, the United States of America,” says the message of the Proclamation. “We can never fully repay the debt we owe these fallen heroes. But today, we vow to rededicate ourselves to the work for which they gave their lives, and we recommit to supporting the families, caregivers, and survivors they left behind,” continues the Presidential Action.

President Biden proclaimed the Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace. Beginning at 11:00 a.m. of May 29 people may observe the day in prayer and reflection, while all Americans can honor the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day.

Originally it was known as Decoration Day. It originated in the years following the Civil War. Ending in the spring of 1865, the Civil War claimed more lives than any conflict in the US history. Following it, the national military cemeteries were established across the country. The day became an official federal holiday in 1971.

As per the White House Proclamation, the government officials of each state are directed to fly the flag at half-staff until noon on this Memorial Day on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States and in all areas under its jurisdiction and control as well as from people’s homes. The Presidential Action encourages the posting of tributes by families, friends, and neighbors to our fallen service members through the Veterans Legacy Memorial at vlm.cem.va.gov so that we may learn more about the lives and contributions of those buried in National, State, and Tribal veteran cemeteries, states the Proclamation.

While it is observed on the last Monday of May, it is a three day remembrance. One of the ways to showcase your remembrance is by sharing photos of how the Albanian American community has honored it in history or by posting how your family is observing Memorial Day today.

Misioni fisnik i AFC ndërthuret me simbolikën historike të New England Conservatory, Boston në 27 maj

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Rafaela Prifti/

Për ata që kanë dëgjuar mjekun t’ju thotë diagnozën “kancer” në çdo lloj forme të sëmundjes që prek mesatarisht 1 në 3 vetë, përballimi me një situatë të re apo edhe të rikthyer mund të jetë bërë pak më i lehtë sepse duke filluar prej vitit 2019 Albanians Fighting Cancer USA u krijua për të qenë një bashkudhëtare që të gjendet pranë në kohë të vështira. Edhe më shumë individë do përjetojnë të tillë situatë në vitin 2023 kur sipas statistikave do të ketë rreth 2 milionë njerëz të diagnostikuar me një formë të kancerit. “Sëmundja mund të jetë individuale për secilin, por në përballjen me të askush nuk duhet të ndihet i vetmuar,” thotë Roberta Panariti, nismëtare dhe drejtuese e shoqatës jofitimprurëse AFC me qendër në Boston. Të shtunën më 27 maj shoqata ka ftuar artistët shqiptarë Inva Mula dhe Genc Tukiçi për një mbrëmje me muzikë klasike duke ndërthurur misionin fisnik me simbolikën historike të New England Conservatory.

Për Robertën misioni është personal pasi vetë nisma mori shkas nga diagnostikimi me kancer i motrës së saj, Noela Kokomani. Ajo tashmë i ka mbaruar ciklet e terapisë dhe kryen kontrollet e rregullta sipas udhëzimeve të mjekut. Diagnostikimi me kancer është një moment që ndikon te personi por edhe tek familjarët dhe të afërmit. Roberta thotë se rrethi familjar përballet me sëmundjen në prizmin emocional, psikologjik dhe financiar. Prandaj për ta luftuar kancerin duhet një qasje e shumëfishtë. Për këtë struktura drejtuese ose Bordi i AFC-së me katër mjekë specialistë dhe internistë shumë në zë, në bashkëpunim me ekipe onkologjie sipas rasteve individuale, dy specialiste të sigurimeve shëndetësore, një terapist, një dizenjatore, e vlerësojnë thellë mbështetjen e donatorëve dhe kontributorëve të bashkësisë shqiptare. Nëse e ruajmë analogjinë e betejës, shprehur edhe në emrin e shoqatës Albanians Fighting Cancer, atëherë mund të themi se kur je në “mejdan” ka rëndësi parësore armatimi që ke, të tilla si terapitë e protokollet mjekësore krahazi me pjesën financiare që është sigurimi shëndetësor për procedura të caktuara së bashku me disponimin mendor e shpirtëror ku hyjnë grupet mbështetëse dhe këshilluese.

Sado e rëndë dhe e pranishme të jetë stigma dhe sado të vështira të jenë gjetjet e rrugëve dhe mundësive për individët që duan ndihmë në përballjen me kancerin, AFC-ja është e qartë në misionin e vet. Vetëdijësimi publik nuk arrihet lehtë kur ende shumë njerëz e kanë të vështirë ta thonë diagnozën dhe në vend të saj thonë “sëmundje e keqe”, pohon Roberta. Kryetarja e shoqatës tregon sesi pas diagnostikimit të motrës së saj, ajo u befasua nga krijimi i një lloj vakumi në marrëdhëniet shoqërore, diçka që veç të tjerave, thonë specialistët, ka efekt të fortë psikologjik tek individi.

Dy motrat janë pjesë e familjes Panariti, me origjinë nga Korça dhe emër të respektuar në Boston, që nga gjyshi Argjir dhe babai i tyre Gavril. Ato i kanë zgjeruar njohuritë mjekësore për sëmundjen e kancerit që nga koha e diagnostikimit të Noelës dhe në një moment në 2019 lindi nisma dhe u krijua shoqata jofitimprurëse Albanians Fighting Cancer. Roberta dhe Noela kanë karriera të suksesshme respektivisht në industrinë e shkencave kompjuterike dhe sigurimeve shëndetësore por në shoqatë janë vullnetare sikurse edhe të gjithë anëtarët e Bordit të AFC. Gjatë pesë viteve të veprimtarisë së shoqatës, mjekët dhe ekipi i specialistëve të saj në Shtetet e Bashkuara si edhe partnerët e tyre jashtë kanë ndihmuar individë shumica e të cilëve janë në Amerikë por edhe shumë raste në Shqipëri, përveçse kanë organizuar seanca terapie fizike, kanë dërguar ndihma për pagesa të qirasë, kanë çuar paketa humanitare spitaleve në Korçë dhe Prishtinë e shumë veprimtari të tjera. Në faqen e shoqatës janë të publikuara shifrat dhe kategoritë e ndara sipas shteteve, grupmoshave dhe ndihmave.

AFC është shoqatë jofitimprurëse e përkushtuar për të ndihmuar shqiptarët në bashkësinë shqiptare në Amerikë dhe jashtë. Në këtë kuptim AFC nuk ka kufi. Por në përballjen me sëmundjen e kancerit një nga pikat kritike është mbulimi shëndetësor për procedura shpesh shumë të kushtueshme. Orientimi në kohë për tek specialisti i duhur edhe për planin më të përshtatshëm të sigurimeve shëndetësore në rastet e kancerit ka rëndësi jetike. Prandaj ndihma e specialistëve të AFC për tua lehtësuar pacientëve këtë barrë të rëndë të sistemit shëndetësor është e pallogaritshme.

Procedurat dhe terapitë e kancerit që mund të përfshijnë operacione, kimioterapi dhe rrezatime janë shumë të kushtueshme. Përballimi i shpenzimeve shkakton shqetësime dhe ngarkesa mendore te individët që janë në gjendje të rëndë shëndetësore prandaj gjetja e burimeve financare për tua lehtësuar sadopak këtë barrë ka rëndësi të veçantë për shoqatën, thotë themeluesja dhe kryetarja Roberta Panariti.

AFC ka qenë aktive edhe gjatë periudhës së pandemisë globale të Covid-it 2020-2022. Këtë vit për të mbështetur misionin e tyre dhe për të ndihmuar më shumë individë, AFC ftoi artistët shqiptarë Inva Mula dhe Genc Tukiçi në Boston. Roberta, e cila ka kryer studime për kanto në Shqipëri u kujdes të rezervojë sallën e koncerteve në New England Conservartory. Për publikun dhe ekspertët e muzikës, Jordan Hall është i famshëm për akustikën e shkëlqyer në sajë të së cilës artistët këndojnë pa mikrofon në një sallë me njëmijë vende. Por Roberta vlerëson edhe simbolikën historike të këtij institucioni veçanërisht për shqiptarët e Bostonit qysh nga fillimi i shekullit XX. Zyrat e para të Federatës PanShqiptare të Amerikës Vatra kanë qenë vetëm pak metra larg Konservatorit në Huntington Avenue. Imzot Fan Noli u specializua në degën e muzikës bizantine dhe u diplomua këtu në 1938. Njohuritë e kësaj fushe i vlejtën Nolit i cili publikoi himnet e Kishës Ortodokse Shqiptare në të dyja gjuhët shqip dhe anglisht, ndërsa muzikanti dhe themeluesi i bandës Vatra (1917), Thomas Nassi (1892-1964), me origjinë nga Dardha e Korçës, kreu studimet për flautë dhe dirigjim në New England Conservatory of Music. Për të ndihmuar një mision fisnik, AFC sjell bashkësinë shqiptare të shtunën në një vend me simbolikë historike për një natë koncerti me muzikë klasike dhe përzgjedhje nga repertori i këngëve qytetare shqiptare https://afc.ticketspice.com/afc-gala

Të gjitha ndihmat e mbledhura nga koncerti janë të caktuara për personat e diagnostikuar dhe do t’i dhurohen rasteve si familja Delvina, Kasimati e shumë të tjera. Ata e vlerësojnë mbështetjen financiare dhe njëherit shprehin mirënjohje të thellë për atë që është e pamatshme, siç është “forca, dashuria dhe frymëzimi…për të luftuar kundër kancerit tashmë jo vetëm për vete, por dhe për të gjithë ju!” “Askush nuk është varfëruar ngaqë ka ndihmuar!” është thënia e Nënës Terezë ku gjen shprehje parimi themeltar i shoqatës AFC https://albaniansfightingcancer.org/.

Takeaways from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the Western Balkans

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Rafaela Prifti/

Bypartisan legislation to enhance United States Policy toward the Western Balkans was reintroduced in Congress on May 18th ahead of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing on the region. Here are a few takeaways from the day.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat of New Hampshire, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chair of the SFRC Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, and Senator Roger Wicker, Republican of Mississippi renewed their bipartisan legislation with original co-sponsorship from Democratic Senators Cardin, Van Hollen of Maryland and Durbin of Illinois. The bill titled the Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act aims to increase stability through economic development in the region by promoting initiatives on infrastructure, trade and anti-corruption, and by shoring up the commitment to the US partners in the region, legislators said.

The sponsors of the renewed legislation underlined the importance of the Balkan partnerships in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “This bill will move us in the right direction and hold accountable those who threaten peace in the still volatile region of the Western Balkans,” said Senator Cardin.

In his remarks, Senator Durbin invoked the high cost of the war that ravaged the Balkans in the late 90s where the US-led alliance stepped in firmly to restore peace and be a factor of stability to this day. “As Putin’s unprovoked war in Ukraine continues, we must not forget the hard-won peace in the Balkans, which suffered terrible violence after the breakup of Yugoslavia. The United States and our allies contributed greatly to ending that horrific conflict, and this legislation reaffirms our commitment to seeing a stable future for the region—one squarely rooted in the West.”

Following the introduction of the bill, the Senate hearing on Western Balkans included the testimonies of Senior adviser at the US State Department, Derek Chollet and Deputy Assistant Secretary Gabriel Escobar.

At the hearing, the chairman Senator Bob Menendez presented the current situation in the region and the sharp contrast between Kosova – a democratic country, and Serbia – an authoritarian state backed by organized crime. Despite Kosova’s reaffirmed orientation towards the EU and US, the pressure is mounting on its representatives to accept the Association as per agreements, while Serbia continues to violate the agreed terms of the same meetings, such as opposing Kosova’s membership in the Council of Europe and encouraging the boycott of municipal elections by the Serbian minority.

Deputy Assistant Secretary and envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar said that the major obstacle to enduring peace and prosperity in the Western Balkans is the fraught relationship between Kosovo and Serbia. In his testimony, Mr. Escobar briefly spoke of the February and March agreements focusing on two main sticking points, namely the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities and the Missing Persons.

“I see no guarantee that the Association of Serbian Municipalities will not become another Republika Srpska, which would make Kosova a dysfunctional state, like Bosnia. I asked the same question to Mr. Escobar a year ago and did not receive a satisfactory answer,” said Senator Menendez.

Mr. Escobar’s explanation that “the Association Agreement is an international obligation accepted by Kosova 10 years ago” fell flat and unconvincing given that Kosova’s Constitutional Court has declared it unconstitutional.

During the questioning Mr. Escobar was not responsive on how to square Serbia demands for the rights of its minority in Kosova in light of the heavy handed purging by Serbian authorities of ethnic Albanians in Presheva Valley.

Both officials emphasized the harmful Russian influence in Serbia and the importance of neutralizing it by bringing the country closer to the Euro-Atlantic community.

Mr. Escobar tried to make a point that the protracted and fruitless rounds of dialogue between Kosova and Serbia have played into Russia’s hand. “For far too long, failure to make progress has allowed Russia to play a spoiler role against Serbia’s strategic goal of European integration.”

Notably neither Mr. Escobar nor Counselor Derek Chollet mentioned the mutual recognition of Kosova and Serbia. Instead, in his testimony Mr. Chollet repeated some of the ‘commitments’ such as establishing the Association, protecting religious sites and the countries recognizing each other’s documents and national symbols.

Mr. Chollet and Mr. Escobar tried to “both-side” the blame for the lack of progress in the EU led talks. It was Senator Menendez who outlined the focus of the US policy on the issue. “Seeking a fair and lasting solution, not some temporary solution that favors one side. Our goal should be a final agreement based on mutual recognition, nothing else”, concluded Senator Menendez.

Both Mr. Escobar and Mr. Chollet spoke strongly in support of furthering the European integration of Albania and North Macedonia.

With regard to security and the dangers Albania saw in 2022 due to its collapse, Mr. Escobar said that the US is making a considerable investment towards protecting against cyber threats. “Iran’s devastating cyberattacks on Albania last year underscored that we must continue to assist allies and partners in the region to strengthen their security. The United States has committed approximately $50 million in cybersecurity assistance to Albania’s civilian and military sectors – one of our largest cyber support contributions to any individual country to date.”

It is worth-noting that the Albanian-American Civic League led by former Congressman Joe DioGuardi, Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi, Balkan expert and their supporters stay active in pressing the important issues that matter to Albanians.