Dielli | The Sun

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

US to rejoin UNESCO to counter China’s influence

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Rafaela Prifti/

UNESCO announced Monday that the United States plans to rejoin the specialized agency of the U.N. The announcement was hailed as “a historic moment for UNESCO” by its Director General, Audrey Azoulay. The Biden administration says the U.S. is formalizing the plan to return to the U.N.’s educational and scientific organization after a five-year absence. The motivation stems from concerns that China is ‘filling the gap’ in UNESCO policymaking particularly with regard to technology and artificial intelligence.

The decision is a big boost to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. A vote by member states is expected in the coming weeks. It would seem to be a formality given the resounding applause as the announcement was made at the agency’s Paris headquarters. No objection to the return of a country that was once its single biggest funder. Prior to the withdrawal, the U.S. contributed 22% of the agency’s overall funding. UNESCO’s annual operating budge is $534 million. The U.S. and Israel stopped financing UNESCO after it voted to include Palestine as a member state in 2011. In 2018 the Trump administration withdrew from the agency altogether, citing long-running anti-Israel bias and management problems. AP news reports that while Palestinian membership in UNESCO triggered the U.S. fallout with the agency, its return is more about China’s growing influence.

The Biden administration has already requested $150 million for the 2024 budget to go toward UNESCO dues and arrears. The US will have to pay more than $600 million accumulated in back dues. The US officials said that the decision to rejoin UNESCO is just the latest example of the U.S. deciding it can do more to counter China by actively engaging in U.N. institutions rather than sitting on the sidelines.

The Paris-based body was founded on November 15, 1945 with the mission of promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It is known for its Word Heritage Program and various other projects on climate and environment.

Sources: UNESCO Press Announcement, AP News

The English Translation of Sterjo Spasse’s Novel Why?! To be Released

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Rafaela Prifti/

The recent publication of Sterjo Spasse’s novel From Life to Life – Why? provides the English language reader a chance to enjoy one of the classic novels of Albanian literature. Sterjo Spasse, (1914-1989) an Albanian writer of Macedonian origin from Lake Prespa, is the author of ten novels and several collections of short stories as well as some education related works. His first novel, usually referred to for short as Pse!? (Why!?Nga jeta në jetë – Pse!?) is considered to be one of the great Albanian novels of the early twentieth century. The story is presented in a form of a diary of a young intellectual whose life undergoes turmoil and backlash in a backward rural society. Spasse completed writing it in his late teens in 1933. Two years later it was published in Korça, Albania.

Stefan Zhelev, a former student of the American University of Bulgaria, reportedly became aware of the novel through his friendship with Albanian students. Neli Nenkova, his wife and talented designer, did the art work on the book cover. “Thanks to the wonderful translation of Robert Wilton, a former British diplomat and excellent connoisseur of the Albanian language, Neli and Stefan believed in the translation project,” writes Flas Shqip https://flasshqip.ca/…/8531-botohet-ne-anglisht-romani…

Should the reader be curious to pick up a book by Sterjo Spasse, evidently the Library of Congress has all of his novels and many of the short stories, says Grant Harris, former Chief, European Division. More than ten years ago, on May 12, 2012 Mr. Harris had moderated on the premises an event titled “Sterjo Spasse: Honoring the Albanian Writer of Macedonian Descent”. The now retired Chief at European Division recalls how writer Naum Prifti, Arian Spasse, author’s grandson, and Gilbert Galanxhi, Albania’s Ambassador in DC at the time, were among the presenters who shared their thoughts and perspectives on the legacy of Spasse. Mr. Harris remembers being impressed that Macedonians and Albanians joined in promoting the event. He says “It told me that Spasse’s appeal reached beyond ethnic Albanians.”

It is an on-point sentiment in terms of the author’s impact as the English speaking public will now have what is regarded as Sterjo Spasse’s masterpiece in their hands.

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Prurje të reja në historinë e komunitetit dhe të ardhmen e tij si “familje e madhe shqiptare” nga Festivali i Usterit

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Rafaela Prifti/

Nga datat dy deri katër qershor Festivali shqiptar i Usterit me jetëgjatësi 40 vjeçare ruajti traditën e respektuar por solli edhe risi e projekte afatgjate për historinë e bashkësisë shqiptare këtu edhe përtej oqeanit Atlantik. Ceremonia e inagurimit të rrugës Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu, ardhja e mysafirëve arbëreshë dhe pasurimi i pavionit shqiptar për muzeun e historisë së Usterit përbëjnë tri nga veçoritë më të spikatura të tij. Ndonëse festivali mbahet në këtë qytezë, historikisht pjesëmarrësit vijnë nga shtete e vende larg e afër. Tenda e madhe në oborrin e Kishës Ortodokse Shqiptare Fjetja e Shën Mërisë rrethakohej me flamujt e banderolat e bizneseve shqiptare që mbështetën veprimtarinë. Kisha, si organizatore me përvojë të gjatë në mbledhjen e fondeve, është amvisë e mirë e vendorëve dhe mysafirëve, siç shihej tek manifestimi i trashëgimisë shqiptare duke nisur nga menyja artizanale e gastronomike deri te programi i larmishëm artistik. Lidhja me grupin arbëresh ishte një homazh për heroin kombëtar, për të cilën djemtë e Kishës së Shën Mërisë si mikpritës ishin veçanërisht të kënaqur.

Frank Zdruli, me origjinë nga Korça, dhe Presidenti i kësaj shoqate, i ardhur në Massachusetts në vitet e adoleshencës e vlerëson shumë ruajtjen e traditës, riteve dhe gjuhës shqipe. “Në rolin drejtues si President i Djemve të Shën Marisë, ndihma dhe dhurata jonë me e vlefshme për Festivalin dhe për gjithë shqiptarët ështe padyshim inagurimi i emërimit të nderit rrugës Salisbury në emër të Heroit tonë kombëtar Gjergj Kastrioti Scanderbeg Way. Akoma më mbresëlënëse është prania e pasardhësit të familjes Kastrioti Loris Castriota Skanderbegh dhe Kryebashkiakut të “Horës së Arbëreshëvet” Piana degli Albanesi nga Sicilia, Rosario Petta në këtë ditë historike dhe ceremoniale. Do ta kujtoj për jetë pasi ashtu si 6 shekuj më parë na i bashkon përsëri heroi ynë kombëtar dy komunitetet shqiptare më të vjetra larguar ndër dy kontinentet në 555 vjetorin përkujtimor të Gjergj Kastriotit Skenderbeut.”

Banor i Usterit prej një kohe të gjatë, Frank vetë ka marrë pjesë në festivalin shqiptar në fillim si valltar. Ai mban mend se fillimisht programi i valleve ishte nismë e grupit të parë që u krijua në Boston me Dhimitraq Demirin dhe AANO (Albanian American National Organization). Pas dhjetë vjetëve, në 2007, kur ai erdhi me familjen në Uster, Frank Zdruli u bë pjesë e grupit organizativ të kishës dhe prej atëherë ai dhe Greg Steffon kanë qenë bashkëkryetarë të shtatë festivaleve në Uster.

Këtë vit Frank dhe Greg ia kaluan “stafetën” organizatorëve të rinj. Zdruli thotë se përvoja e tij tani mund të shërbejë për të këshilluar dhe ndihmuar në ruajtjen e traditave të bashkësisë shqiptare duke u përqendruar më shumë te brezat e rinj. “Rritja e nivelit të Festivalit por edhe e komunitetit shqiptar në vazhdimësi kërkon edhe ndarjen e detyrave në rolet e drejtuesve të tjerë. Tani eksperienca jonë e fituar duhet të vihet në funksion të këshillimit të ekipit të ri drejtues dhe fokusimi jonë si drejtues duhet të jetë tek forcimi i komunitetit në një solidifikim të brezit të ri që rritet në Uster,” thotë Frank.

Frank Zdruli e vlerëson pasurimin dhe dokumentimin e historisë së bashkësisë shqiptare për muzeun e qytetit si pjesë me rëndësi e trashëgimisë sonë. Një nismë e tillë e cila është e inkuadruar në festival është gjithashtu një projekti në vazhdimësi e sipër, nën kujdesin dhe e koordinuar nga qendra shqiptare pranë Politeknikumit të Usterit. Frank thotë se “së bashku me kolegun tim Gregory Steffon energjitë tona tashmë janë vënë në ecurinë e projektit afatgjatë që kemi ndërmarrë me Muzeumin Historic të Worcester dhe Albanian Project Center të WPI për të dixhitalizuar historinë e komunitetit shqiptar si pjesë e historisë.”

Dielli e ndoqi festivalin që nga dita e hapjes dhe në vazhdim. Ndonëse në ditët e fundjavës, moti ishte me reshje dhe temperaturat e ulëta, pjesëmarrësit ishin të shumtë. Në mbyllje i pyetëm mysafirët arbëreshë për mbresat nga Festivali i Usterit. Ata thanë se bashkësia këtu i kishte pritur krahëhapur dhe se “ishin ndjerë pjesëtarë të familjes së madhe shqiptare” përtej Atlantikut.

Dje, të ftuar në Katedralen ortodokse shqiptare të Shën Gjergjit në Boston, ata me zonjat e tyre u pritën nga anëtarë të bordit të Kishës, pjesëtarë të shoqatave e aktivistë të komunitetit. Kryebashkiaku Rosario Petta dhe gazetari Loris Castriota Skanderbegh e ripërforcuan “lidhjen vëllazërore” në një vend që ka domethënie të shumëfishta historike “për të gjithë që kanë gjak shqiptari,” thanë ata.

Foto: nga e majta, Petrit Alibeaj, Sami Ajdini, Erik Hoxha, Mark Kosmo, Brunilda Sota, Rafaela Prifti, Giusepina, David Kosta, Rosario Petta, Dhimiter Demiri, Frank Zdruli, Loris Castriota Skanderbegh, Grazia Vietri, Elisabeta Cani, Enertila (Eni) Kosta, Naum Prendo, Evans Liolin,

Ulur: Neka Doko, Feride Istogu Gillesberg, Erand Sojli, Adriaktik (Adriano) Hila, Luljeta (Gulia) Batelli, Klojdan Pepi

Foto: Flamuri historik i Shën Gjergjit në Fondin e trashëgimisë kulturore Fan Noli, Kryebashkiaku Rosario Petta, gazetari Loris Castriota Skanderbegh, Neka Doko, Përgjegjëse e Bibliotekës memoriale Fan Noli

Foto nga Festivali

Carol Laska, the Veteran of Albanian Worcester Festival recalls how it started and why it’s going on for 40 years

by

Rafaela Prifti/

Carol Laska is a veteran of the Worcester Albanian Festival. Born in NYC to Albanian parents, she lived there until she was five years old before making her home in Worcester “for the rest of her life”. Her whole family is from this central Massachusetts town where Albanians have settled from early 20th century. With a sizeable community estimated to be close to 20,000 comes the keeping of such Albanian traditions like cooking, music, the folk dances, as ways of honoring and passing down the heritage to the next generation. The Albanian Orthodox Church of St. Mary’s Assumption of Worcester is known as the birthplace and main organizer of the three-day event “production” that is held every alternate year since 1983. After a four-year gap due to Covid restrictions, this year’s event again gathered Albanians from near and far as well as locals on the Church’s property on 535 Salisbury Street. The Worcester Telegram and Gazette writes: “Local folks enjoyed a weekend visit to Albania without leaving town….the event which ends Sunday is the oldest and largest Albanian festival in the US.”

How did it all start and why does it go on? To get some answers about what the event meant for Albanians then and what brings them back here, I spoke to the unofficial Festival Veteran, Carol Laska. I found her by the entrance of St. Mary’s. She was carrying copies of the Albanian Cookbook from the storage room to the kiosk set up at the church courtyard. Starting in 1983 and working continuously since then, Carol Laska said that the first festivals were held on the Church’s property downtown at Mechanics Hall. “It was a bazaar as we called it and all the ladies prepared the food and did crafts like on Christmas or holidays,” she recalls.

I asked Carol how the idea of the festival came to be in the first place. She said the idea stemmed from the desire to serve the city of Worcester. “We have always done bazaars and fairs very well, which, at first, were one day events. How else can we serve the city? With the first festival, suddenly, we became part of the city’s culture scene. People knew about Albanian food, and we would alternate with the Greek cooking.” She believes that what brings everybody in, apart from the delicacies and ethnic dishes is the comradery. “They all come to meet family members and relatives,” says Carol. She remembers that her own family who is originally from Worcester would ask each other: “Are you going to come? And they would all meet here.” At first the fundraiser venue was by the building which was located on Wellington Avenue, downtown Worcester.”

Her early memories of the bazaars are integrated with the stories her family has told her and the accounts of the former chairs of the Church. “The first ones went very well, and we raised money for the church so the St. Mary’s Assumption Albanian Orthodox church could stay open.”

I wondered which festival of which year stood out to Carol, in the 40-year period of holding the event. Ms. Laska said that it was the integration of the dances in the last twenty years or so. The young generation learning the Albanian steps was an important part of the culture that was embraced by the festival and organizers. “The families want their children to learn the dances. Originally, it started by the men and women who were part of the dance group. Seeing members dressed up in traditional Albanian costumes added vibrancy and color to the gathering,” said Carol.

Since Worcester Albanians have settled for over a century, I posed a question of the community’s dynamic in the context of the church fundraiser. With the new wave of immigrants coming in from Albania after the collapse of the previous system in the 90s, the newcomers found the festival to be a link between generations while being an expression of Albanian hospitality. “They wanted to be part of the community and getting involved with the festival was one way of doing it,” she indicated. That brings up an important point in our conversation. Although St. Mary’s Assumption is an Orthodox Church and most expats and members are from Southern towns like Korca, villages like Dardha and surrounding area, Carol points out that there is a large portion of Albanians who are Muslim. But being Albanian is the main theme. “It is a cultural center. They all meet here at different holidays and that is the way it has always been.”

Carol Laska has been on the Board of the Church for a few years. Currently, she is also very proud to continue with her duties as the Chairperson of the Albanian Cookbook. While holding the reprints in her hands, she says that “the book of was put together by all the little ladies who made sure to write down the recipes and measurements of the Albanian delicious dishes,” for posterity.

Raising Funds and Cancer Awareness, AFC Hits All the Right Notes at Boston Gala Concert

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Rafaela Prifti/

To raise funds in order to benefit patients, caregivers, survivors, Albanians Fighting Cancer (AFC) USA hosted a concert of classical music with two internationally acclaimed artists Inva Mula and Genc Tukici at Jordan Hall, New England Conservatory on Saturday. The event also raised spirits and placed AFC on the map as the leading cancer advocacy organization for the community. https://gazetadielli.com/misioni-fisnik-i-afc-nderthuret…/ Eglantina Kica, physician and general sponsor of AFC, in her opening remarks noted how encouraging it is to have the support shown at the fundraiser. She said that it furthers the AFC mission, dedication and hard work of its members. Thanking the Board and the donors as well as all supporters and volunteers, Roberta Panariti Nashi, founder and director of AFC called the concert an “homage to hope”. She cited a quote by Pope Frances echoing the message that only love gives meaning and happiness in life: “We are born to help one another regardless of hardships. Life is beautiful when you are happy but it is even more beautiful when others are happy because of you.”

Archimandrite Theofan (Koja) of the Saint George’s Albanian Orthodox Cathedral, Boston commended “the musical selections that smoothly transitioned from classical compositions to Albanians ballads, old and new.” The recurring theme of finding hope in life’s moment of despair resonated with the audience and the artists. On stage soprano Inva Mula praised AFC as a one of a kind association that has moved her deeply. “Genci and I have toured around the world, we have not encountered an organizations such as this one,” she said amid much applause.

Sitting close to the stage of the prestigious hall, Mara from Worcester also credited “the careful selection of Italian and French arias followed by a well covered Albanian repertoire that was endearing to the community and embodied the theme of the concert.” A few aisles behind her, Valbona Lavdari, a North Shore based realtor, came to show support for AFC along with her mother and some friends. In anticipation of the concert, Valbona, who is from Berat and has moved with her family to the Boston area over two decades ago, posted a video urging her followers on social media to come to the event and be part of the experience. It is the kind of support that AFC is very grateful to have received, Dr. Ivi Kasimati said in his thank-you-address at the end.

Another resident of the Boston area, Ariana Cani, recalls her childhood memories from the time she and now-world-known artists were growing up in Albania. Ariana’s wish is to see more events like the concert of Inva Mula and Genc Tukiçi, “a dual pleasure of sounds that couples her wonderful voice with his magical hands to benefit a humanitarian cause.” Ariana Cani “counts herself fortunate to have known Roberta, the head of AFC, whom she admires for the drive and commitment centered on the community. Miranda Bego, the designated driver of the trio group of friends, replayed some songs acapella on the way home.

In the audience, there were folks of various demographics, including first-born Americans with their Albanian American parents and grandparents. Although the former group doesn’t particularly follow the classical music and is likely unfamiliar with the old-time repertoire of Shkodra songs, they politely applauded and sometimes snapped pics during the performance. Yet some of them grew more attentive when the audience responded to Inva’s invite to sing along. That’s because “it reminded me of our family’s gatherings when we burst out singing as a group,” says Rea Kondi, a Junior at Northeastern University.

In one of Tukici’s arrangement of an Albanian musical potpourri, as soon as the notes played out, some audience members immediately reacted to the song written in 1901 by Thoma Avrami, a teacher of the first Albanian language school that opened in Korca. Easily a top covered Albanian song popularized by the Lira choir, its original title was Longing for Motherland (Dëshërim për Mëmëdhenë) later known by a different name Mornings of May (Mëngjeset e Majit). Many knew its lyrics and some only the refrain yet when Tukici’s piano keys sounded out the notes the air inside Jordan Hall was charged with emotion. “Tukici’s arrangement of Dua Më Shumë Shqipërinë (I love Albania the most) embodied the double-layered meaning of the song,” says Mara. It is about love for one another and above all a love hymn to the homeland. Suddenly the impromptu accompanying turned the audience into an enchanted choir that performed live from the seats the over-a-hundred-year-old tune with the celebrity pianist on stage. Everyone instantly knew that it was the most memorable moment of the event.

In the days leading to and after the concert, AFC mailbox has been flooded with messages from survivors, family members and other supporters of the cause. One individual in Columbus, Ohio, who is going through radiation and chemo, writes: “I am grateful to you for spreading awareness especially in normalizing the word cancer,” that usually carries the weight of a death sentence in our culture. The note continues to say that “knowing that there are others specially Albanians that are going thru this helped out a lot!” In the end, the patient offers “to do my part to help the next person like myself who is or will go through this journey! Thank you!”

Albanians Fighting Cancer – USA https://albaniansfightingcancer.org/ is a registered non-profit charity in Boston, MA 501(c)(3) founded in 2019. It is dedicated to raising awareness in our community about cancer prevention & treatment as well as helping families and patients battling cancer disease.