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Albanian-Americans celebrate Albanian's independence
English

Albanian-Americans celebrate Albanian's independence

Tirana, November 28, 2010 - Hundreds of Albanian-Americans gathered today in the Belmont Section of the Bronx to raise the Albanian flag in celebration of Albania’s Independence Day.

They recognized the history of friendship between Albania and the United States, which goes back to the date Albania became independent. As a matter of fact, the first two counties to recognize Albanian’s independence were The State of Vatican City and the United States.

The history of the Albanian people is unique: as direct descendents of the ancient Illyrians, they are among the oldest civilizations of Europe. The Albanian language constitutes its own branch of the Indo-European languages, and Albanian cultural traditions are distinctive for their extraordinary emphasis on hospitality and generosity (something that no doubt influenced the most famous Albanian of all -- Mother Teresa).

On November 28, 1912, after five centuries of Ottoman rule, Albania achieved independence upon declaration by the country’s heroes, such as Ismail Qemali, Luigj Gurakuqi and Dom Nikolle Kacorri, who raised the flag on the balcony of the two-story building in Vlorë, where the Declaration of Independence had just been signed.

These heroes then went on to form the first government of Albania. Dom Nikollë Kaçorri, a Catholic priest, became the Vice Prime minister of the Provisional Government of Albania.

He is credited as the writer of the Declaration of Independence in the Albanian language. Ismail Qemali became the Prime Minister of Albania (1912-1914). He had lived in Istanbul where he had a distinguished career as an Ottoman civil servant, including being the governor of Beirut. Whereas Gurakuqi became Minister of Education.

Mark Gjonaj, the co-founder of the Albanian-American Community Association and the organizer of this historical event made sure that the streets of the Bronx were decorated with both Albania and American flags.

“Today, we are all Albanians” said James Vacca, New York City Councilman, and a vivid supporter of both the Albanian and Kosovar communities of the Bronx.

In the 1500s, Albania came under the rule of the Ottoman Empire (centered in today’s Republic of Turkey), and did not gain its independence until 1912. From 1944 to 1990, Albania was a Communist state, ruled by Enver Hoxha, a Muslim dictator, who prohibited the mentioning of Luigj Gurakuqi and Dom Nikoll Kacorri because they were both Roman Catholics from the Northern Albania, which Hoxha hated passionately. Though today their contribution to Albania’s independence if acknowledged by Albanian’s government, still the Monument of Independence in Vlora, which was erected during the communist rule, continues to be a misrepresentation of what happened that day. Neither Gurakuqi nor Kocorri have been added to the Monument where they historically belong.

“On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Albania as you celebrate your Independence Day on November 28. I wish all the people of Albania a safe and happy Independence Day celebration,” said Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State in a message sent to Albania.

Today Albania has an emerging democracy and is a member of various regional and international organizations, such as the Organization of the Islamic Conference, United Nations and Union for the Mediterranean.

KOMENTE