Dielli | The Sun

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

Frank Zdruli “Doesn’t Run Anything” But Has A Lot To Say

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Find Out Why We Should Listen

Interviewed by Rafaela Prifti/

1- “I don’t run anything” was your opening statement at a network meeting, of all places, that was hosted at the Saint George Cathedral in South Boston the first Saturday in November. It is counter-intuitive given the premise of networking and its purpose. But that was only the beginning, right?

I started with that line to get their attention and to remind everyone of the struggles each and every Albanian including the ones present at the meeting  faced in the beginning as newly arrived immigrants. Years and Decades later every single Albanian is able to dedicate their own success to their hard work , Faith and persistence in trying.  I particularly wanted to focus on the successful story of having and being part of a purposeful Albanian community. I think that these kind of networking meetings are a must for strengthening the ties between the many Albanian communities in America. Three decades after the fall of communism in Albania, the only first generation of Americans from Albania you could refer to today are the ones who came here after the nineties. The majority of guests at the networking event were specifically first generation Americans from Albania including myself.

2-Your given name is a conversation starter, right? It is also a connection to your family and ethnicity.

I was born in Korce, Albania and emigrated in US at the age of 18. My wife Ina, also from Korca, and I met in Boston over 15 years ago. We are blessed to have two boys. The Zdruli’s are from the very first families that settled as early as 18th century in the rugged but beautiful Dardha on the highlands of the city Korca. Many Albanian Christians found refuge in Dardha to live their lives free from the oppression and destruction of the Ottomans. My grandfather emigrated from Dardha to US in the first quarter of the 19th century where he lived the majority of his life, unfortunately away from his family because of many factors involved during that time-frame. My parents gave me an American name in his memory and to honor his sacrifices as a US citizen. Finally, because of my grandfather’s sacrifices, today my kids are the first generation of Albanian Americans who are born on US soil, Worcester. Ma, amongst four generations of Americans in the span of 100 years.

3- You have a very active role and involvement with the community. Can you talk briefly about it?

My involvement with the Albanian community in US started in Boston although now continues in Worcester. During the time I lived in Boston I have also served in leadership positions of many community based initiatives mostly from the efforts of the AANO Boston Chapter. I recall the past Flag Day celebrations and numerous fundraising events to benefit the student scholarship fund and Boston AANO basketball team. Most recently, I serve as the President of Sons of St. Mary’s and Co chair of the Albanian Festival of St. Mary’s Albanian Orthodox Church in Worcester Ma.

4- You see your own mission in the context of your involvement with the Church and through it to others. Can you talk about that purpose you feel?

I am glad you’re asking me this question. I will give you my perspective as a Christian believer. 

I briefly spoke about the need to strengthen our Albanian community in US. This task can not be successfully achieved without having a vision for the future. This vision consist of fulfilling our duty as parents in growing the next generation of Albanian Americans with the same freedom and values this blessed nation  was build and prospered to be the beacon of freedom for all the people around the world. With other words, focusing to build a strong family, will serve as the basis towards a successful future for our children. Every parent and grandparent, despite their differences in views can agree that prosperity in the long run doesn’t just come from wealth but also depends on the right knowledge and wisdom. For us Christians, this can be achieved through living a faithful life in prayer and obedience to God almighty by practicing the teachings of our faith in church and in our daily lives. In the world at large today, this way of acting is becoming extinct from priority and I believe that’s a very dangerous path to follow. I believe that we can’t control our children’s decisions when they become adults but it is our duty to guide them and become their primary teachers and counselors throughout their life, no matter their age. I also have observed that if we would like our children to retain the same family values, Albanian traditions and culture as we did, then we should try harder in preserving our Albanian friendships by making sure our children will be able to attend after school programs and activities together. If we believe and want to be part of an Albanian community that should have longevity, then we also should be able to open and run these programs successfully no matter the cost. We really need to analyze what means to be part of a community. Just because someone comes from Albania does not necessarily means that they’re part of a community. Many individuals and families that come from Albania don’t retain the ethnic and social interaction within their ethnic group for various reasons. It’s much easier for them to loose the Albanian culture, language and traditions in just one generation.

5- You say your two boys ask you at various events: Why are we always with Albanians? What do you say to them? What does it mean to be an American now that as you put it “We are the Americans!”?

Before leaving Albania under the old system, we prayed the Americans would bring hope and solutions for us in Albania. Still today majority of the Albanians believe and wait patiently for remarks or comments by the American officials on many matters, especially those in the political and leadership spectrum. The one thing that everyone should understand and value more, is that today those Americans and that voice should be coming from us who are the new generation of Albanian-Americans. There are no better Americans who know and care more for the Albanian cause than us, but we should encourage everyone here in US to do their part in bringing new hope and solutions by getting our voices together strengthening and supporting our communities we serve here first.

* Read the entire interview and Frank Zdruli’s message for Independence Day in the November issue.

Nje Akt Formal Dhe Domethenia e Tij Ligjore

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Rafaela Prifti/

“Degët e Vatrës janë bashkim vullnetar i bazuar në interesimin e të gjithë anëtarëve si të atyre të ardhur me kohë edhe të të rinjve,” thotë anëtari i Këshillit të Vatrës dhe kryetari i Degës së Rigdewood, Bashkim Musabelliu. Nismëtarja Monda Hamitaj, anëtarët dhe kryesia e kësaj dege, e cila u formua në korrik, ishin në selinë e Vatrës të dielën për të nënshkruar marrëveshjen e pranimit me qendrën, sic përcaktohet në aktet nënkanunore të organizatës. Në një vështrim të shpejtë, aty kishte anëtarë dhe titullarë nga dega e Manhattan-it dhe Queens-it. Të ardhur nga qytete të Shqipërisë si Pogradeci, Korca, Shkodra, përpara shumë kohe ose pak viteve, ata gjeografikisht jetojnë në lagjet e një qyteti apo edhe në shtetet pranë Nju Jorkut, por në Vatër vijnë dhe mblidhen për të gjetur dicka tjetër, sepse këtu ata janë të gjithë Vatran.

Si avokat dhe si anëtar Këshilli për më shumë se një dekadë e gjysmë në Vatër, Musabelliu e sqaron dhe e vlerëson lidhjen e kontratës, ashtu sic është paraparë nga hartuesit e Kanunores për dy arsye. E para se shkeljet dhe anashkalimet statutore e dobësojnë subjekin dhe së dyti sepse vetë formalizimi është procedure që përforcon aktet nënkanunore. “Në baze të tyre, – thotë avokati Musabelliu, – “dega jonë është krijuar për llogati dhe në funksion të organizatës Vatra.”

Zyrtarimi i një dege është më shumë se një akt formal sepse konsolidon themelin ligjor të Federatës dhe nënkupton një pakt pranimi nga secili Vatran që anëtarësohet në të.

Hap pas hapi, ai e paraqet kodin procedurial të formimit të degës: “Kanunorja parashikon që komisioni nismëtar kur arrin në konkluzion se ka arritur numrin e nevojshëm dhe në përputhje me vullnetin e anëtarësisë vë në dijeni Kryetarin e Federatës dhe nëpërmjet tij gjithë kryesinë. Kur arrihet dakortësia caktohet data e formimit ku qendra dërgon përfaqësuesin e saj për të vëzhguar procesin e formimit. Kur mbledhja formuese del me sukses përfaqësuesi i qendrës raporton në qendër pra te kryetari i cili cakton datën e legalizimit të deges ku ftohen grupi nismëtar po të deshiroj dhe anëtarësia, të jenë të pranishëm në nënshkrimin e kontratës.”

Akti i nënshkrimit të pranimit në emër të Vatrës nga Kryetari Elmi Berisha shënoi njëherit edhe momentin e anëtaresimit në degën e Ridgewood të z. Bahri Borici, ish-bashkiaku i Shkodrës.

Ylli Dosku, Sekretar dhe koordinator i degës me qendrën dhe me gazetën Dielli si edhe anëtar i Këshillit të Vatrës, ndihet mirë midis atyre që ai i quan “miq vatranë”. Ai thotë se u ndje mirë të dielën për shkak të “atmosferës shumë vëllazërore” të pritjes “së degës sonë në Federatë.”

Sic parashikohet në Kanunore, dega do ketë zgjedhje cdo dy vjet dhe nuk do ketë kryetar të përhershëm. Meqë dega Ridgewood u formua në korrik por u formalizua në nëntor, Bashkimi tha se shtyrja u diktua nga rrethana jashtë kontrollit tonë; babai i tij ndërroi jetë atë muaj, në gusht shumica e anëtareve ishin me pushime, dhe kështu data e zyrtarizimit u caktua në 14 nentor,

Meqë Ridgewood është në Queens dhe ekziston dega Queens, atëhere, e pyeta se në cilën degë do duhej të drejtohej për shembull, një banor i zonës së Astoria-s. Musabelliu tha se cdo degë mbulon një territor të caktuar dhe se në fillimet e Vatrës degët emëroheshin me numra. “Dega duhet të plotësoj kriteret apo kushtet e parashtruara në Kanunore. Të tilla janë numri me 15 anëtarë dhe pranimi i programit të Vatrës,” sqaron ai. “Secili anëtar ka të drejtë të ketë dhe të shpreh lirisht mendimet e tij si dhe qëndrimin personal për cështje politike, këto janë personale. Por në fund, Dega i qëndron dhe është një me Qendrën, kur vjen fjala të mbrojtja e interesave kombëtare dhe platformën mbarëshqiptare.”

Për anëtarët e rinj por edhe ata ekzistues, kryetari i degës thotë se “emigrantët e ardhur këtu duan të shërbejnë dhe ndihen pjesë e komunitetit. Për më tepër, ata duan të kenë identitetin e tyre në diasporë. Ata bëhen pjesë e Vatrës sepse në platformën e saj gjejnë shprehjen e interesave mbarëkombëtare.”

Ridgewood është një lagje rezidenciale rreth pesë kilomentra katrore që shtrihet në territorin e Queens dhe Brooklyn, dy njësi administrative të qytetit Nju Jork, në verilindje të Amerikës.

Qyteti Italian Sfidon Kinen, Hap Ekspoziten e Artistit Disident

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Rafaela Prifti/

Lajmi i hapjes së ekspozitës së një artisti aktivist për të drejtat e njeriut është pasqyruar në faqet e shtypit dhe agjencive ndërkombëtare të lajmeve. Kjo paraqitje ka ngjallur reagime dhe protesta diplomatike që e kanë burimin në qëndrime të kundërta ndaj të drejtave njerëzore.

Ekspozita provokative e artistit disident kinez Badiucao hapi dyert të shtunën për vizitorët në qytetin e Italisë së Veriut, Brescia, (Bresha) duke mposhtur presionet e ambasadës së Kinës në Romë për ta anuluar. 

Në letrën e ambasadës përmenden kërcënime të kamufluara për ekonominë duke nënvizuar marrëveshjen tregtare me Kinën, si tentativë për ta ndaluar ekspozitën solo nga Badiucao – emri pseudonim i artistit i cili me artin e tij vë në shënjestër qëndrimet e Kinës në sferën e të drejtave të njeriut. “Punimet në ekspozitë janë plot gënjeshtra antikineze, shtrembërojnë fakte, përhapin informacione të rreme, mashtrojnë mirëkuptimin e popullit italian dhe lëndojnë rëndë ndjenjat e popullit kinez duke rrezikuar marrëdhëniet miqësore midis Kinës dhe Italisë,” thuhet midis të tjerave në shkresën zyrtare. 

Kryebashkiaku i Breshës, Emilio Del Bono, ju përgjigj letrës me “finesë dhe vendosmëri” tha Elettra Stamboulis, kuratore e ekspozitës në muzeun e qytetit Santa Giulia (Xhulia), njofton agjencia e lajmeve Associated Press. “Sigurisht jemi disi të preokupuar jo aq shumë për sigurinë e artistit por sepse e dimë se ka shumë rrugë të fshehta për t’i bërë të heshtin artistët disidentë,” tha ajo.

Pas anulimit të një ekspozite vetjake në Hong Kong në 2018 për shkak të presioneve. Badiucao tha se ndihet “krenar dhe i lumtur” që krijimet e tij do të shihen nga publiku në Bresha.

“Arti im ka në qendër temën e të drejtave të njeriut në Kinë dhe kjo më bën mua armikun numer 1,” that Badiucao. “Më gjurmojnë. Më ndjekin mua, familjen, kërcënojnë njerëzit që punojnë me mua, pa pushim. Kjo është arsyeja pse është shumë e vështirë për mua të hap ekspozita në galeri të njohura, dhe muze si ky.” 

Në punimet e tij ka piktura në vaj, instalime dhe art performativ. Një prej tyre lidhet me një skandal kontaminimi të ushqimit të foshnjeve të eksportuara nga Kina në 2018, një tjetër që sjell jehonën e masakrës në sheshin Tiananmen dhe një krijim kushtuar Lëvizjes Çadra që përfaqëson demonstratat pro-demokratike të Hong Kong-ut të shtypur nga Kina, shkruan agjencia e lajmeve Associated Press.

Në ditët që ekspozita do jetë e hapur, Badiucao do ulet në një karrike torturash dhe do lexoj nga ditari i një banori të qytetit Wuhan, Kinë, vendi ku u identifikua për herë të parë coronavirus.

“Kushdo që provoi të thotë të vërtetën ose të tregonte diçka që nuk ishte konform vijës së qeverisë kineze do pësonte ndëshkim, prandaj unë u drejtova një apel publik në Twitter banorëve të Wuhan-it për t’a mbartur barrën dhe rrezikun bashkë me ata, Nëse më besoni, më dërgoni çfarë dini,” tha Badiucao. Leximi i ditarit që përmban ngjarjet e 100 ditëve është pjesë e artit performativ të artistit. 

Ai e mbajti të fshehtë identitetin e tij për vite me radhë, dhe dilte me maskë në takime publike për të mos rrezikuar anëtarët e familjes. Ruajtja e sekretit kaq gjatë madje u krahasua me artistin britanik të grafiteve Banksy, identiteti i të cilit ka mbetur një mister.  Për Badiucao-n, krahasimet e huqin thelbin e problemit. 

“Nëse Banksy zbulohet se kush është një ditë, ai ose ajo nuk do përndiqen nga shërbimi sekret policor anglez, kurse rasti tim është diçka krejt tjetër,” tha ai. “Po ashtu, jam shumë i zemëruar me Banksy-n sepse nuk ka krijuar asgjë që kritikon qeverinë kineze.”

Zëdhënësi për Amnesty International Italia, Riccardo Noury, ka shprehur “kënaqësi që Bresha është vendi mikpritës i ekspozitës së një artisti të ndjeshëm ndaj të drejtës i cili me artin e tij demaskon shkeljet e të drejtave njerëzore.” 

Ekspozita ndërkomëtare përshkon karrierën artistike të Badiucao-s nga fillimi deri në punimet e fundit të krijuara në situatën e rëndë të shkaktuar nga pandemia Covid 19. Në një punim të titulluar “Si e Lufton Kina Coronavirusin” paraqiten katër figura, të ngjashme me ato që paraqiten në pamfletet e njoftimeve publike por maska, në vend të mbulojë pjesën e poshtme të fytyrës, bëhet shuk për të mbyllur gojën. Tema e lirisë është harku lidhës i krijmeve dhe bashkë me të fuqia e qëndresës ndaj cenzurës e shprehur në punimin “Ideas Are Bulletproof” (Idetë Nuk Vriten nga Plumbi). 

Badiucao, i cili ka qenë asistent i një tjetri artist disident kinez në Berlin, Ai Weiwei, tani krijon në azil nga Australia. 

China Is (Not) Nearby” (Kina (Nuk) Eshte Prane) do jetë e hapur deri në 13 shkurt, 2022 në sallat e Museo di Santa Giulia, Brescia.

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW

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Rafaela Prifti/

A Saturday gathering at the Saint George Cathedral, South Boston, was billed as Life School Networking Meeting, Albanian Mission Driven Entrepreneurship and Fundraising Event. For a few hours, the paths of a group of Albanian- Americans converged at the Chancery’s Office space to share, exchange, appreciate each other’s journeys up to here and look ahead. The common denominator is that they are trainees and trainers, students and teachers at Life School just as they are host of and guests at the event. The other unifying thread is their origin and heritage, their past and present brought them to here and now. Born in Albania or Kosovo, they all chose to call this country, a second homeland. And so it is here where they searched for and invested into ideas and strategies proven to work or not, but nonetheless valuable lessons for all. Elona Lopari was a senior member for business management and marketing for two decades before she decided to launch Life School and offer coaching, training and counseling to hundreds of businesses and individuals around the country. Krenar Komoni, who received a Master Degree in Electrical Engeneering from Tufts University, was asked to be the first employee of an MIT start up before he stumbled upon an idea that led him to start his own company. Their stories exemplify the relentless drive of an inner perseverance bound to lead to advancement for each one while being part of a supporting community of people.

Elona Lopari, the CEO and founder of Life School of New York, joined by more than a dozen coaches, consultants, experts, were hosted by Fan Noli Library and Cultural Center in Boston. The host and event organizer, Neka Doko, is also the library’s archivist, who has joined Life School in February 2021. She says that she was immediately intrigued by the idea of connecting the two entities that dwell in the realm of mind and spirit. Her mentoring with Life School is focused on Spiritual Education and Eco Healing Energies, allowing Neka to be an excellent ambassador of both entities. With regard to the significance of the first networking meeting at Saint George’s, she said that “it was to invite the Life School crew members of Boston and its founder at the oldest Albanian American community and make our bridge between the two institutions officiated as a legit collaboration with mutual interests.”

The Saturday meeting was launched by Michael Gregory, the Lay Chairman of the Saint George’s board and the lay church people, followed by the welcoming speech of his wife, Lauren Toli Gregory, former trustee and now adviser of the Saint George’s board. Leaning on the theme of mutual missions, Elona Lopari who founded Life School in 2019, emphasized that it’s about a positive social impact for the benefit of all. “The event signifies an uber-connection between the history and culture of Albanians, appropriately held at Saint George’s Cathedral. The broader mission of Fan Noli to unite Albanians and support the community echoes the overall mission of Life School that aims to elevate the members of the community personally and professionally. And in turn each one would exact a more powerful impact on society’s well being in order to benefit the future generations,” said the Chief Executive of Life School, an online platform dedicated to self-improvement in all areas including personal careers and relations, business and marketing, health, parenting, education and guidance.

Against the backdrop of antique icons of the Saints, a painting of Albania’s national hero, Skenderbeu, photos and memorabilia of the Church’s founder Fan Noli, the attendees listened to the presentations of the guest speakers relate their experiences of pursuing their mission driven goals.

Krenar Komoni, born in Prishtina, is a Boston-based entrepreneur, who is the CEO and Founder of Tive Inc., a multi-million dollar company that provides in-transit visibility for shipments throughout the globe. In a mini-Ted talk style, Krenar Komoni conveyed how he was at the brink of business bankruptcy a few years ago and facing the odds stacked against his company. In response to that, he posed a question that helps frame the situation differently. The question eponymous with a book title: Who moved my cheese? is considered the ‘bible’ of adapting our mindset to go from complaining to problem-solving. Such an effective image and meaningful talk was the mark of the presentations, in-person and online, of guests invited by the host of the meeting. Loreta Stamo, network specialist with a New York company, participated with a recorded video presentation on her trade’s formula of connecting. Also by way of a recording, Max McKenna, President of One Coalition, introduced himself as an American who has been with the Albanian community of Boston for many years. McKenna owns a web agency. His new non-profit organization, named One Coalition, a project he and his team researched for many years, is dedicated to enhancing education opportunities for young adults in Albania.

As far as network meetings go, Neka Doko hopes that “this will serve as a right step forward for our communities in Boston, New York and other places to help one another.” As the expert of the field, I asked Elona for the takeaway message of the event. “I hope the takeaway for the participants is to find a purpose or the drive that moves them forward in their business or social lives by helping themselves, their families and communities. Stemming from this kind of networking, I do see sustainable and viable connections,” replied she. For Neka, teaching and training spiritual energies at Life School is her true calling and this is the place for her, a place where she feels “all elements are in synergy and harmony.”

At lunch break conversations erupted among the attendees curious to know more about each others interests and life paths while the rays of Saturday sun brushed on the chairs, the large shiny oak desk with a huge TV screen on top, the glass and wood cabinets at the Chancery’s Office.

In the afternoon session, the very Reverend, His Excellency Father Arthur Liolin joined the group. Effortlessly and with ease, his grace mingled and then sat down for the screening of a documentary film produced by Neka Doko to mark his 50 years of dedication and service to the Church.

It all came full circle.

The morning session and the afternoon segment of the meeting complemented one another. In keeping with the legacy of an established community, proud of its roots, the mission in the broader sense “is about enlightenment” as Neka put it.

Like the Church, Life School is not one thing to all people but rather it responds to the needs, experiences, goals and motivations that have been presented to and are present in the person’s life.

The Environment Is Only Part Of What Is At Stake In the Skavica Dam

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The Power of Protesting

by Rafaela Prifti/

Following the protest held by Albanian American community leaders and activists to denounce the Skavica project last Friday, Dielli caught up with a number of participants and organizers to get their perspectives. Wearing the message of the rally on T-shirts and holding banners, each of them addressed the crowd gathered at the plaza across from the UN Headquarters in midtown New York. All of them have taken a stand against the Hydro Power Project set to be located upstream of the Drin river that will displace local communities, threaten their livelihood, condemn dozens of villages, disrupt the habitat, and wipe out a part of history that connects Albanians as a people. Their nationality and sense of identity is tied to the land where they come from. 

New York based reporter and journalist Beqir Sina is a proud Dibra son who traces his origins from the Sina village of Diber. He is a long-standing Vatra member and son of Rasim Sina, late Secretary General of the Pan-Albanian Federation of America Vatra through 1970s, and its Brooklyn Chapter President.

“This is not about politics,” Sina told Dielli, “we are all affected by it, no matter where you stand in the political spectrum.” He has embraced the cause and calls on others to stand with him and be heard. “Although, this may impact some people more directly than others, right now,” the journalist believes that “soon enough it will take a toll on all of us.” Leaning on the proud history and mesmerizing beauty of Dibra region, he condemned the greed of Albania’s government officials and financial dealings of Prime Minister Edi Rama that are threatening to wipe out entire villages for the construction of the Skavica dam. Beqir Sina’s remarks at the protest made references to Dibra’s proud history, its natural resources, while calling out the greed and corruption of Albania’s government members and officials:

“We have gathered here today to engage in a long battle for what has made us proud historically, namely our identity as Dibran. Dibran Forever! We have come together to protest for an issue that concerns all of us which perhaps today may impact some more than others but it’s about a matter that spells doom for everyone one day. This is about our pride and dignity!

This is a symbolic protest for us to raise our voices to put a stop to the hordes bent on ruining the banks of “Drin i Zi” and, therefore, Dibra. We are here to denounce the crimes that are being committed against the splendid nature that God has bestowed upon Dibra region. We are here to put a stop to the feverish offenses by the oligarchs and government officials that are depleting Dibra’s resources to the bone. And we are here to block Edi Rama’s dealings with regard to Dibra. Finally, we are here for Dibra’s well being and for our own well-being because if Dibra is not OK, none of us will ever be OK!”

One of the speakers at the protest was Çezar Ndreu, great grandson of the legendary son of Dibra, Elez Isufi, and member of Vatra Board of Directors. He and his family members have suffered persecution under the communist regime in Albania. Although born far away from Diber, Ndreu said, that his roots are firmly planted there as he grew up listening to stories of Dibra and its people. Speaking at the protest, he recalled his family being forcefully displacement from the hometown and the plight of the families who were separated and their properties stripped as the borders were redrawn in 1913. “The areas and lands that will be flooded by the construction of Skavica hydro plant represent a part of our national history. There, back in the 15th century, our national hero, Skenderbeu, led his troops in roughly 18 battles against the Ottoman forces. Today, those lands provide for over 100,000 local residents.” “The cost versus benefit for the hydro plant is truly dismal,” said the proud Dibra descendant in reference to data analysis and assessment studies on this topic. Voicing the concerns of the critics and activists, Ndreu spoke about the mismanagement of electricity that has plagued the country for decades. “Albania has 140 hydro power plants and still cannot supply enough electricity for its residents. This project does not solve Albania’s inefficiency in the energy industry. It only floods thousands of acres thus devastating the lives of local residents and communities forever,” said Ndreu at the protest. Under the agreement the early works for the 210 MW Skavica plant on the Drin river are to move under a fast-track.

Among the activists who have joined forces to start an awareness campaign focusing on halting the Skavica Hydro Plant and saving the Dibra region, there are Board members, promoters and supporters like Dash Miftari, President of Dibra Association. Marko Kepi, President of Albanian Roots, Ilir Spata, Arif Mata, Ilmi Kacani.

The initiator Agron Damzi told Dielli that the protest at the UN was the first step. “We won’t stop and we won’t be stopped to the end,” he said. Damzi, whose roots are also in the Dibra region of Albania, is a proud US citizen and taxpayer, who feels “his civic duty” to halt this project from moving forward. Damzi acknowledges the uphill battle in fighting the agreement signed by Albania’s government in partnership with the largest construction company in the US. At this stage, he says, “we are getting feedback from the residents and local communities on the ground.” On that note, Agron Damzi refers to the recent Supreme Court decisions in Albania to temporary halt the construction work on two Hydro power plants in the northern municipality of Tropoja until the judges ruling on a lawsuit filed by residents alleging environment damage. “This is truly encouraging news,” said Damzi, who vows to keep on going to the end. With regard to the petition that was drafted and read by Dr. Ferzileta Gjika Vladi at the protest site, it is still being finalized. Dr. Vladi’s response to Dielli was that it will be published as soon as it is ready. The organizing committee will be meeting soon to plan and coordinate the next steps, said Damzi. Albanian-American, Jurgen Vladi, a native of Lura region, who holds a Science degree from NYU, cited studies and report findings related to the environmental issues specifically methane gas associated with large dams. “This last summer,” he said, “our children were so upset to hear the news that their favorite summer spot in Albania will be flooded by the dam construction.”

In July 2021, Albania’s Power Corporation (KESH), a government agency, and Bechtel, the largest construction company in the US, signed a contract for Skavica Hydro Project. Bechtel representatives maintain that Skavica will increase the Drin cascade’s output “as a regulating dam, giving greater protection against the devastating floods which impact the downstream communities annually.”

The protesters are determined to stand in the way of the dam and demand renewable energy solutions. Giving consideration to Dibra’s place in Albanian history and heritage, as well as the environmental and social impact of the Skavica project, they vow their position will be heard.

Photo Courtesy: Beqir Sina, Cezar Ndreu