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CONVERSATION SERIES WITH MARTIN VULAJ, FORMER DIRECTOR OF NAAC

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By Rafaela Prifti

 “Albanians must come together and devise a national strategy,” says Martin Vulaj on Kosova-Serbia negotiations. “They need to consider all of the consequences of each action before making decisions and, above all, they must never threaten their relationship with the United States.”  At the end of our conversation, he suggests four items for the upcoming summit led by Europeans.

Dielli: Recently you wrote The Dangerous Road Ahead, which you open with these words: “Kosova is facing a perfect political storm on the immediate horizon.” Can you describe the political storm as you see it? Have we ever been “in a perfect storm” before? Is there a historical precedence to be considered? 

Mr. Vulaj -The storm that could line up perfectly consists of the U.S. walking away from the talks out of frustration and leaving Kosova back in the hands of a traditionally pro Serbian Europe combined with the KLA indictments providing a thin moral cover to Europe. Europe has demonstrated their pro Serb bias not only historically but also recently and, with the US out and KLA indictments as cover, my concern is that they could use this cover as an excuse to enable Serbia to move forward towards Europe while justifying why they are keeping the Albanians back.  They could leave Kosova in a political ghetto and use the Albanians as a buffer against Turkey’s influence in Europe. I am not saying that this is the likely outcome but this is now a clear possibility with which the Albanians must be aware and actively working to prevent.

In terms of historical precedents, the only one I could think of that is somewhat similar is the time of the Berlin conference when Serbia, Montenegro and Greece made claims on Albanian lands and, without meaningful Albanian participation, half of those lands were ceded to those claims.  The KLA indictments and the political infighting amongst Albanians make participation in the current processes less meaningful then it otherwise could be and increases the likelihood that Kosova’s fate will be decided by the great powers without full participation by the Albanians.

Dielli: By making a statement about a perfect political storm, do you wish to impress a sense of urgency that you feel is not being recognized by politicians, or by the diaspora? All of the above? 

Mr. Vulaj -Yes!  We are at a critical juncture.  We must ensure the continued participation of the United States and the Albanians must come up with a united national strategy or risk letting the Kosova issue endlessly drift without resolution at best or an unfavorable outcome at worst.

Dielli: Prior to organizing the Zoom meeting of Ambassador Grenell with community representative at the end of June, you reposted an article on the role of the diaspora from 2013 along with the comment about being or taking part in the process to influence the process. I asked you if diaspora should sit at the talks and you said that it has not been constructive so far. What are your thoughts today? 

Mr. Vulaj – The diaspora has consistently been helpful throughout history but, traditionally, they always take a more conservative or extreme position.  That has been the case recently as well with the heavy criticism of the process and the Administration.  Many have taken these positions without any interaction with the Administration and without actually knowing much about the process.  I don’t think this has been helpful.

However, I would like to see the diaspora as part of the process if only so we could better understand the realities of the process and so this reality can then be communicated to the greater diaspora.  In this manner, the diaspora could be better informed and form positions based on information rather than fears and manipulations

Dielli: Any feedback on your Opinion piece? Have you heard from politicians, community activists?  

Mr. Vulaj: The feedback has been quite positive and my perspective has been valued.  I have had several conversations with politicians overseas to reinforce my message.  The concept has been supported but I am concerned that party interests will continue to dominate national ones.

Dielli: Last month, Kosova Government has put in place a Council of Experts. Some critics see it as an additional bureaucratic body. Would it be part of the process? With regards to negotiations of Kosova and Serbia, you suggested A Unity Team? How do you see it?

Mr. Vulaj – The Council of Experts is an advisory body that the PM has created to enable him to draw on the experience and know-how of experts from various fields.  They have no decision making capacity.

What I proposed is the creation of a negotiating team that represents all of the major Albanian parliamentary parties whereby each representative would fully take part in the decision making process.  By creating this organ, you create political stability without the need for the expansion of the government.  The government currently has a scant majority (61 out of 120 votes), is fragile and vulnerable to pressure.  With the full participation of the political parties in the Negotiating team you effectively expand the government without the need to go through the political machinations of bringing the current one down, decreeing VV (as winner of last elections) to create new government, waiting for their constitutionally allotted time to expire, and then moving on to the next party to create the government.  It is a lot of wasted time when we have little to spare.  The inclusion of the opposition in a decision making capacity, into the negotiating team creates the political stability required to go forward and brings more faith and credibility to the process from the people’s perspective.

Dielli: Ambassador Frank Wisner, former US envoy ofKosova peace talks, has characterized the present situation as a political and a constitutional crises? What is your comment?

Mr. Vulaj – I do think it is a political crisis but not a constitutional one.  The shocking announcement of the Special Prosecutor has effectively sidelined the President and, at the very least, disrupted the talks.  Although there is no formal indictment, it is unlikely that the international community will interact with the President until the matter is cleared up and the government has a very thin majority.  All of this creates political instability which must be overcome for Kosova to move forward.  However, there is no constitutional crisis.

Dielli: Ambassador Wisner and Ambassador Burns have stated their opposition with respect to holding the summit in the US. Their argument is that it would deepen the divide between Europe and US. What do you say to that?

Mr. Vulaj – Mr. Wisner and Mr. Burns are very experienced diplomats and, I believe, they are looking at this issue from a very traditional diplomatic viewpoint.  The fact is however that there already is great division between the US and Europe on the Kosova peace process.  In fact, the announcement of the Special Prosecutor (which by his admission was aimed at impacting these talks) may very well be a manifestation of that division.  The truth is that Europe has had this matter in their hands since the end of the War in 1999.  After 8 years of futility, it was the US who stepped forward and declared Kosova independent.  Europe again has had the “dialogue” process since 2011 with no signs of significant progress.  Even after Kosova fulfilled all of the necessary conditions for the liberation of visas, the EU could not even keep their promise to do even that.  Europe has consistently failed when it comes to resolving Kosova’s issues and enabling her to move forward into her European future.  Therefore, unless we have US leadership this simply will not happen.

Dielli: Mr. Harry Bajraktari has called for disbanding Kosova Special Court, on the grounds of it being “a waste of time, resources and interfering with the political process”. What are your thoughts? 

Mr, Vulaj -Harry Bajraktari has long been an activist, protagonist and investor in Kosova.  He is amongst the most important members of our community when it comes to the Kosova issue and more.  His call is a manifestation of frustration with how the international community has handled Kosova and a reflection of a fundamental unfairness with which Kosova is being viewed and treated.  Just think for a second that when these indictments come down by the Special Court, there will have been far more Kosovars indicted for war crimes than Serbs!   That is unthinkable and unjustifiable.

Albanians must come together and devise a national strategy for dealing with and emerging from this situation.  Europe has always viewed Serbia favorably and Albanians with great skepticism.  We could find ourselves where Europe has the excuse they need to enable Serbia to move forward and keep the Albanians in a political ghetto as a buffer against the influence of Turkey in Europe.  Therefore, I believe that the Albanians must look at all options that they have but they also must not be rash.  They need to consider all of the consequences of each action before making decisions and, this above all, they must never threaten their relationship with the United States.  If we have a way out, it is through Washington.

Dielli: Tomorrow the representatives of Prishtina and Belgrade will attend a summit led by France President Emmanuel Macron and Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel. Ambassador Grenell has issued the following statement: “We are pleased to see the Europeans will convene a meeting on July 10thfor further discussions with Kosovo and Serbia. We offer our total support and are grateful for their leadership”. What are your expectations if any Mr. Vulaj?

Mr. Vulaj – The fact that the process is being hosted at the level of Macron and Merkel is a positive sign but Europe’s history with the Kosova issue still leaves me skeptical.   I believe that in order to restore faith to the process and have a successful outcome, four things should be done:

1. Approve the liberalization of visas. The visa issue is not tied to the process but it would be a small clear sign that Europe is increasingly serious and increasingly coordinated.

2. Change the goal of the dialogue from “normalization of relations”to“mutual recognition”. This would harmonize the EU position with that of the United States as reflected in the two letters from President Trump to the presidents of Kosovo and Serbia. It would also ensure that Kosova would be able to complete her statehood and be enabled to be integrated into NATO and the UN and eventually the EU. Under the current format that isn’t necessarily the case. In fact, it is possible that the current format would enable Serbia to fulfill her chapter 35 requirements of the EU and enable Serbia to move forward while potentially leaving Kosovo where it currently is.

3. Europe most work with the 5EU members that do not recognize Kosovo to secure that recognition or, at the very least, abstain from the process so that they are not an impediment as they have been even with the visa issue

4. The EU should provide a roadmap for the talks. This would set expectations from the start and prevent the aimless drift that have defined past European processes.

I think that all four points above are very doable and would ensure both faith in the process and its success. In the absence of such action, I am concerned that once again we will enter into the aimless drift with no certain outcomes and no timeline

INTERVIEW WITH MS. SOPHIA ZAYAS, BRONX REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE AT THE NY GOVERNOR OFFICE

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BY RAFAELA PRIFTI/

Ms. Sophia Zayas, Bronx Representative at the Governor Cuomo’s Office of Regional Affairs, talked to the English Editor of Dielli (The Sun) about the dramatic impact of the pandemic to the community she serves and the strength of cultivating relationships that unite us. Her immigrant roots make her feel at home in the densely populated and diverse neighborhoods of the Bronx including a large Albanian-American community. She has attended Albania’s and Kosovo’s Independence Day along with Albanian representatives, officials, families and guests, who remember Ms. Zayas hand-signing of the eagle and saying in perfect Albanian, “Hej Shqipe!” a common greeting among fellow Albanians. All those memories became more endearing in the months of the pandemic that started in March followed by lockdown orders in New York, which was suddently the epicenter of a major health crisis. In those days most New Yorkers, overwhelmed and anxious, watched Governor Cuomo’s daily briefings to stay informed and learn how to manage or practice a new kind of living in the time of Coronavirus.

I conducted my interview with Sophia Zayas in two parts, starting at the end of May. At the time, some areas in the Bronx were more affected compared to other boroughs. The Regional Representative worked on the front lines with community leaders, advocates and residents. I asked her to describe the response specifically to those 5 zip codes, where at least one has a large Albanian population. “I communicated on a daily basis with local electeds, community representatives and related the feedback to Albany and to the Governor. One contributing factor of the situation was the large influx of impoverished people that highlighted health disparities. I was able to communicate the need of the significantly affected areas to the Governor, who responded by bringing more testing to the South Bronx. A good step in our response to the unfolding heath crisis was the antibody testing. It was the outcome of effective communication with churches and members of the community. At the same time, the response in Zip codes that were less affected focused on providing more PPE, more hand sanitizer from the state, and equipment to protect themselves,” said the Governor’s Bronx Representative. When I addressed a shared concern about testing capacity in New York, Ms. Zayas recalled the “rough patch between the Governor and the Federal Government to address the need to increase testing”. She added: “As a result of those efforts, COVID diagnostic testing and antibody testing are available to urgent care centers, pharmacies, churches and grocery stores, in order to get employees tested. In addition, antibody testing was brought to supermarkets, although it wasn’t promoted, it was only for random sampling. It has a great success rate and the community response was immediate. They appreciated seeing that the Governor’s Office and Department of Health were out there and concerned about their needs.” Talking about NAICHA – Housing Authority – which is overrun with cases, Sophia noted that the need came to the regional representatives and it was addressed by the Governor. “They developed a program,” said Ms. Zayas, “consisting of ready responders such as paramedics and practitioners who are currently on-site at the housing facilities. Residents can call the ready responders to their doors for their health needs.” In my next question I brought up the preparations for a possible second wave, that was much talked about in the media. She indicated that while trying to be optimistic about getting through the worst time, this is no time to put the guard down. Experts have stated that a second wave is probable. “As we go into Phase One of the reopening,” the Bronx Borough Gubernatorial official said, “Pelham Gardens which has a significant number of Albanians, has a dramatically higher Infection rates compared to the city. My job as the Regional Rep. as we’re going into phase one is to listen and console people who are in quarantine and under lockdown orders, but also to encourage mask-wearing and take preventive measures. People have been distracted because of the tragedies, looting and rioting. I’m trying to put the focus on putting a mask and social distancing and to be careful. I think we’re at a good place in terms of the COVID cases as a state. The Bronx has to be mindful of how we go about moving forward.” 

She paused briefly to make a point about the protest and the health risks: “There was an uproar in our state and country. The protesters, marchers, looters and rioters on the street, are not practicing the safety measures which could mean a possible risk of an increase in infection cases. The Governor fears that if we start feeling overconfident with the low numbers now, we may become less vigilant in facing the virus. Often when people don’t read or hear about it, they start thinking the virus must be gone. That is not the case.”  She believes that under the strong leadership of the Governor the community stepped up to meet the challenge of an incredible magnitude and impact. From it, she acknowledges the valuable lessons of managing a health crisis and battling a pandemic. With regard to the economic impact, I asked her to share how the community felt about the first phase of reopening, which was on June 8th while protests had erupted, violent at times, and were continuing for days in our neighborhoods. “In light of protests, we have to pay close attention to what is happening in the region. COVID-19 is still in focus, while we have to stay alert to keep people from destroying properties and businesses that communities had worked hard to build for years. Reopening of construction and manufacturing companies and certain businesses who sell food is good for the economy and the community, as we they continue to practice social distancing and common sense,” said Sophia.

We continued the second part of the interview, when 100 days of the pandemic had passed from the date the first case was identified. Bronx had been a hotspot that experienced a significant rise of COVID-19 cases, a respiratory disease caused by a highly contagious virus. In the fourth month of the global health crises, the threat of the virus has not diminished. In one of the press briefings I attended, Governor Cuomo said that there is another virus in the society, “the virus of racism”. As protesters took to the streets to demand racial equality, the riots again impacted some boroughs like Brooklyn, Manhattan and the Bronx more significantly. There were sections in the Bronx like Fordham, Grand Concourse, Burnside, that saw a lot of devastation. The excitement of the phase one of the reopening was affected by a lot of destruction of small businesses, the looting and rioting in the streets and in our own community. 
“Albanian businesses were not affected by the looters and the rioters,” remarked Sophia. “Areas with Albanian businesses such as Morris Park were ready. They kept united and they didn’t allow for looters to come in their neighborhoods, whereas some Latino and Black-owned businesses were torn apart. Burnside, Grand Concourse and Fordham have minority owned businesses. Sadly, the looters ended up hurting their own community. I visited these areas with the President of The Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, Marlene Cintron, to assess the damage and assist through the Department of Financial Services, and loan programs.”

Ms. Sophia Zayas, who holds a College Degree in Business Law, is the first woman in her family to hold a state-level office position. I asked her to take me through her work day. Sophia answered: “The day of a Regional Rep is pretty unpredictable. I have been a Rep for 2 years. A pre-pandemic workday would include a range of things: such as setting out an agenda,  working on regional reports, expense reports to brief the Governor, emails from Albany, scheduling maybe a conference or planning events for the Governor whether it’s visits, scoping out places, speaking to people in the community, speaking to elected officials. One of the rep’s tasks is planning a program. who do we want to see in the audience, who do we invite, what is the topic, what will the Governor address. It is very challenging and overwhelming. We are molded for perfection as the governor is a perfectionist. Staying informed about the regional issues and its needs and also communicating effectively with the elected officials is of primary importance. I ask them what issues need to be addressed or if there’s anything I could do for them. I reach out to advocates or they could reach out to me. The advocates are non-profit organizations. Community residents can reach out about housing. We do constituency work.  If they’re not a part of my region I can refer them to a colleague or agency that can help them. There’s always action going on. The Reps know each other on a familial level and we work endless hours together. Our job is stressful but it comes with rewards. There are times where I’ve been upset and stressed out because something doesn’t turn out the way I want.”

I asked if she could share a moment that had made her proud.

Ms. Zayas said that the Sheridan Expressway was a huge transportation project that is still going on now. “The Governor wanted to come to the Bronx to announce it. They gave me 18 hours to build an event for the Expressway. I didn’t know how I was going to get 400 people in a room in less than 18 hours. I made calls and sent emails, reached out to people and the school we were close to. We ended up with 500 people in the auditorium. The Governor was very pleased and congratulated me so I felt accomplished in my job as a Rep,” For Sophia, part of that event comes with cultivating relationships in the community.” It was a great segue to my last question about her connections with the Albanian community and who was the first Albanian she had met in the Bronx. “The first Albanian I met was Esad Rizai. I introduced myself as the new Bronx Regional Representative. In observance of the Albanian independence. I brought the proclamation on behalf of the Governor and presented it to the Albanian-American Society Foundation. We became great friends. Albanians are very welcoming and accepting. I feel that my network of Albanians is wide, I’ve been able to cultivate relationships with the Albanian community. This past year at the Kosovo Independence event I  presented the proclamation to honor posthumously Ali Rizai, Esad’s father, and the work he’s done. I brought Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul to honor Albania and Kosovo Independence at the Borough Hall at the Bronx Borough President Office. The Lieutenant Governor presented a proclamation on behalf of Governor Cuomo to the whole Albanian community and organizations. I value the good relationships of its members with Governor Cuomo. Whatever their needs might be, I try my best to provide services to keep them united.”

US Special Envoy Urges Kosovo Politicians to Move Forward with Talks

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By Rafaela Prifti/

Dielli reported on the Zoom meeting of the US Presidential Envoy on Kosovo Serbia dialogue with community representatives on Friday.  

A Special Prosecutor in the Hague announced formally existing charges against Kosovo President Thaci, while he and Prime Minister Hoti were on their way to Washington for a round of talks with Serbia’s leader at the White House. On his Tweeter account on June 25th Ambassador Grenell acknowledged the decision of Mr. Thaci and then Mr. Hoti to return to Kosovo, while asserting that “we look forward to rescheduling the meeting soon”. 

The cancelled talks led by US prompted a call with the Albanian-American community. Leading up to it, Ambassador Grenell had a briefing with President Trump, according to press reporting and the organizer of the call, Martin Vulaj. 

On Friday, Ambassador Grenell met online Elmi Berisha, President of Pan-Albanian Federation of America VATRA, Martin Vulaj, former Executive Director of NAAC, Ana Cenaj, Representative of Albanian Cultural Center of Dallas Community and Uk Lushi of the Atlantic Battalion. During the call, Special Envoy on Kosovo Serbia Dialogue indicated that having the approval of the President for the dialogue resumption is of particular importance now, said Mr. Vulaj. The stated concern was that the President may have concluded that the parties are simply not ready for the deal and may well have the envoy assigned to other tasks. Reportedly, Ambassador Grenell did secure the green light to restart the dialogue under his auspices. On behalf of VATRA, its President Elmi Berisha expressed full confidence in President’s Trump administration. In the call, the American diplomat is reported to have said that Kosovo politicians have to organize and express their intentions with respect to restarting the dialogue. Mr. Grenell’s hope is to continue the process with rescheduling a meeting in about a month’s time, said Mr. Vulaj, who set up the call. According to him, Ambassador Richard Grenell indicated that the process consists of two phases: the first one is the economic normalization which he is working on and, the second is the political agreement phase where the engagement of Europeans comes in as the US Envoy views it as primarily their responsibility. The participants on the call were assured that there never was a secret deal or plan for a fast deal and also land swaps and such were not only never on the table but never discussed at all in Mr. Grenell’s presence. He reiterated his position and strong belief in improving economic relations as the economic growth that creates jobs and stabilizes migration can create an environment where political agreements are possible. Former Head of NAAC said that Ambassador Grenell was critical of Europeans’ narrow focus on political issues and expressed frustration with the Europeans’ failure to approve the liberalization of visas for Kosovo. “The takeaway,” said Mr. Vulaj was that “Ambassador Grenell stressed the urgency for the Kosovars to get organized and determine who will be sitting at those two seats at the table in the talks led by the US.” 

TALKS CANCELED- INDICTED PRESIDENT THACI REACTS TO CHARGES

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By Rafaela Prifti

“Nobody can rewrite the history of Kosovo,” said President Thaci in his first reaction to the charges brought against him by the Special Kosovo Court in the Hague on Wednesday. He accused the international justice of “rewriting history” after he was charged with war crimes linked to the 1990s conflict with Serbia.

Three days before talks between top level officials of Kosovo and Serbia were on track to start at the White House, the Hague based Specialist Prosecutor’s Office released a Press Statement. The EU-backed body announced the filing of a ten-count indictment with the Kosovo Specialist Chamber, charging Kosovo President and nine others with a range of crimes against humanity and war crimes. The prosecutors said the charges were laid in April before being publicly unveiled on Wednesday. “The Indictment is only an accusation. It is the result of a lengthy investigation and reflects the SPO’s determination that it can prove all of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt,” the statement read.A Specialist Chambers Pre-Trial Judge has six months to review the indictment to decide on whether to confirm the charges. The assessment by a judge at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers will determine if the case goes to trial. According to the press release, the Specialist Prosecutor deemed it necessary to issue this public notice because of repeated efforts by Mr. Thaci and another of the accused, former head of Kosovo’s parliament,Kadri Veseli, to obstruct and undermine the work of the SPO. Mr. Thaci, who had accepted the invitation to attend the planned talks with Serbia’s leadership and was expected in Washington on Saturday, has cancelled the trip.Kosovo’s new Prime Minister, Abdullah Hoti, who was supposed to lead Kosovo’s delegation, cited the draft indictment as the reason for not attending the meeting at the White House: “I have informed Ambassador Grenell that I could not attend the June 27th meeting at the White House”, the Prime Minister said on Twitter. The US Envoy for the Balkans and broker of the talks, Ambassador Richard Grenell,announced via his Tweeter page that the event was rescheduled.

Last week, shortly after Ambassador Grenell had confirmed the revival of the negotiations led by US, the EU’s newly appointed envoy for peace talks, Miroslav Lajcak, flew to Belgrade and Prishtinain what appeared to be the EU reacting to being sidelined. International observers viewed “the Washington summit” as the key step in resolving the conflicts between Kosovo and Serbia.Some maintain that the recent spat between the US and Europe over the Balkan talks gives an opening for the European Union to preside over the negotiations. EU-mediated talks between the Balkan neighbors stalled in 2018. Although the impact of the indictment is unclear, the manner of the court’s announcement has raised a few questions. Kosovo Specialist Chamber was set up to examine allegations laid against Mr. Thaci in a 2011 report by the Council of Europe.

Back in March 2020, Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaçiand his Serbian counterpart were at the White House on their respective visits to the United States. They met with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, as well as US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Matthew Palmer.

Today Mr. Thaci is on his way back to Kosovo from Albania. He said on his Facebook Page that he will address his compatriots on Sunday.

PERSECUTION ACCOUNTS TO CONFRONT THE PAST AND MOVE TOWARDS EMPOWERMENT

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By Rafaela Prifti/

Three Albanian women who are collaborating onamanuscript titled “Even Walls Have Ears” shared their personal journey and vision with VATRAin a virtual meeting on Saturday. In reversing the metaphor of the walls, the project aims to be a platform to share the accounts of the persecuted in Albania, honor their legacy and pave the road to justice.

The founder of the projectEven Walls Have Ears,KristaleIvezajRama, is a Detroit native and first generation Albanian-American, who felt compelled to tell the story of her family’s persecution by the authoritarian regime. In the course of this mission, Kristale said she embarked on a personal inquiry into her own family’s suffering. Sheestablished a website by the same name. The official pageindicates that it is designed with “the sole purpose of recording and preserving the narratives of Albania’s persecuted under communism 1933-1992. The 4M GroupCommunications Director travelled to Albania for the first time two years ago. She fully credits Albanian artists AlketaXhafa-Mripa, film director Ervin Kotoriand several professionals who collaborated in the production of theart installations consisting oflight-projectionsofexpressionsby Albania’s formerly persecuted individuals and the documentary titled “Even Walls Have Ears”. Displayed prominently in six Albanian cities in May 2018, the project carried a lot of symbolism starting with its name “From sunset to sunrise” and the use of the metaphor of walls, in reverse semantic: from walls that could hear to the ones that speak through the visuals. In the communist past, the thousands of families were subjected to harsh treatment and fear of being heard anywhere they went. The expression only served as a reminder to go through the suffering in silence. Decades later, the walls are the chosen medium that speaks the horrible truths of the survivors. The design of the daunting project included three parts: thelight installation, a documentary and the publishing of a book. Towards that last goal,Kristaleand two Albanian women professionals have joined forces. EdliraShero, who brings the legal expertise, is a recent JD Law School graduate who also comes from an ex-persecuted family. HajrijeKolimja, an Education Research Assistant with the project, is a Fulbright recipient, who founded QeSHA Literacy Project, Laugh – The American Writing Center in Albania.

While working on the manuscript, the trio identified the gaps in Albania’s education system and acknowledged the old-fashioned style of teaching in schools around the country. With the goal of including the subject of political persecutions under communism in Albania, a partnership was born between QeSHA and Even Walls Have Ears.In the call, Kristalesaid that she appreciates having more partners that share the same philosophy and drive. She addressed specific points such as the need for the curriculum, an official public apology to the survivors and family members, the naming or designating a public holiday to honor the legacy of the victims of communist persecution.  Mrs. Ivezaj-Rama, whocommunicated in English during her presentation, commented onhow past injustices often beget injustices, and howthe trauma is passed down generation after generation and the families of formerly persecuted continue to pay the price of mistreatment. 

The team said that they are a grass roots group with no politicalagenda or party affiliations who have committed their time and resources towards this independent project. For the three of them it is important to begin by opening the conversation on the topic of how remembrance serves to acknowledge the deprivation of freedoms and civil liberties that the families of persecuted still carry with them. Yet, these stories and experiences are so removed when it comes to the millennials and young adults in the 21stcentury Albania, they said. Speaking for the group, Kristale said that “the project pays homage to the stories of politically persecuted. Yet, it goes beyond remembrance.” Then,with a more sober tone, she added:  “It is a responsibility!”

“The approach of the manuscript,”Kristale explained, “is anthropological.” So far, they have collected about sixty interviews and have lined up some of Vatra members and their families to participate. The interviews are conducted with an open mind and a caring heart. Each interview takesfrom two to eight hours a day. Questionnaires have been signed off by psychologists and in consultation with trauma specialists. Mrs. Ivezaj-Rama said she is mindful of the sensitive matter and very protective of the interviewee’s rights. Asked about the validity of each case and a reliable database, the architect of the project said that she works closely with the Authority of the Ex-State Security Files.

President of the Pan-Albanian Federation of America VATRA,ElmiBerishaand Members of the Executive Council and Board of Directorswho joined the online meeting expressed support and congratulated the group for the initiative. Among them,LekeMirakaj, Dine Dineetc. have suffered in Albania’s prisons for decades and have first- hand accounts of the horrors that went on in these places. VATRA, as a well-respected organization has long been a staunch promoter of books on topics of denouncing communism and focusing attention on the politically persecuted class. Researcher and journalist SokolPaja highlighted the importance of the new project and related some of the data that he has come across in his work. The length of the exposure to communism, “the communist footprint”, he said, “affects the individual’s behavior and mindset.” VATRA Secretary,NazoVeliu,addressed the plight of the ex-persecuted families and was critical of thepresent-day administrationof Albania that still mistreats them when it comes to education and employment. On Saturday, VATRA Deputy Chairman for Innovation, Integration and Youth, Ervin Dine, who has been supportive of the project since the early stages, initiated the meeting with VATRAofficials and guests online. Following the call, Dielli’s English Editorasked the three members of the team how they see the project in the long run. Each answer identifies a unique feature and clear targetsthat are part of their mission for justice and eventually healing. Here are their responses:

“In my time as a research assistant for Even Walls Have Ears (from Feb. 2020 – June 2020), I have seen the ways in which Kristalé dedicates herself to being a vessel for the stories of the survivors of persecution. Her energy and passion are infectious, and anyone with whom she speaks on the matter is instantly captivated. This is not to say there is no resistance, that the work of EWHE is easy. However, the outpour of support and messages that EWHE receives is a sure sign of a movement, whether they come from survivors, artists, intellectuals, or everyday citizens. This momentum makes EWHE’s work all the more important. As the founder of the literacy project, QeShA: Qendra e ShkrimtarisëAmerikane, it is important for me to encourage the telling and listening of the stories of all Albanians–especially those that come from painful histories (such as persecution). While QeShA’s goal is to increase critical literacy skills, confidence, and open dialogue through the power and love of the written word, it also seeks to serve as a model for future education in Albanian-speaking communities. If EWHE and QeShA are able to successfully collaborate with educators in Albania to spread the stories of survivors and enhance workshop-based curriculum, we hope to see our stories and methodologies scatter throughout all Albanian communities. This is why a project like EWHE is valuable in collaboration with QeShA. Giving voice to and spreading stories about great pain will encourage healing in all forms in the Albanian-speaking communities; once someone witnesses the bravery of another, they will feel motivated to follow their lead. Herein is located the movement of EWHE and QeShA. No longer will Albanian voices be taboo. They will be heard.”

– HajrijeKolimja, Founder of QeShA 

“EWHE is a movement in pursuit of social justice and remembrance. We hope this movement will be a catalyst for institutional change in Albania and a form of healing for those who were punished and then silenced.”

– EdliraShero, JD Law

“Remembrance in Albania continues to be a humanitarian crisis, and it’s the responsibility of the diaspora, and every Albanian to acknowledge the injustice experienced by thousands of families. The anger and pain is still felt by thousands more born from persecuted families and who hear the trigger word “dictatorship.” It is the source of our division, and does not allow the continued corruption to be challenged for what it is.It is what divides and further polarizes us as a nation. The current political, economic, and social predicament in Albania is the legacy of our Communist past. Albanians must confront this past to enact institutional change.

EWHE hopes to inspire more Albanian youth and non-Albanians to understand 47 years of the dictatorship through the experiences and perspectives of survivors and their families, as well as by encouraging more creatives to take part in this conversation.

The movement has begun as EWHE has already had writers, photographers, and many other peoples reach out to offer help to the project, and it looks forward to getting many more a part of this movement. Its new collaboration with the QeShA literacy project will ensure an open-dialogue approach to education around Albania’s Communist past.

We also need more film makers, song writers, educators, artists, therapists, architects, more creatives to aid in the process of remembrance through their various mediums, and to do so genuinely, away from the political debate of the past, and the political interests of the future. We need intelligent, empathetic humans as part of this movement, people who sincerely care about the health and progress of our community!”

-KristaleIvezaj Rama