NAAC Hosts Public Forum with State Department Officials to Discuss Kosova’s Future

Washington, DC, May 12, 2003: The National Albanian American Council (NAAC) issued the following press release regarding the Public Forum that was held in New York on May 9th, 2003. An Albanian version of this release is enclosed at the end of this message.

The National Albanian American Council (NAAC) hosted a public forum on “The Future of Kosova” on May 9, 2003 in New York City where United States Department of State officials and the public exchanged views on the perspectives and policy approaches on Kosova’s future and addressed challenges facing Kosova today, including setting up democratic institutions and making a smooth transition to a free market economy.

Key speakers included Donald Braum, Deputy Director for Kosova in the U.S. Department of State and Joshua Black, Kosova Desk Officer in the U.S. Department of State. The forum was moderated by NAAC Chairman Richard S. Lukaj, whereas Mayor of Gjakova Aqif Shehu was at hand to inform the audience of developments in the western town.

Referring to the progress that has taken place since the war ended almost four years ago, Mr. Braum stated that Kosova now has a freely elected Assembly, its own police forces and the Kosova Protection Corps, mainly made up of members of the now disbanded Kosova Liberation Army (KLA). However, the U.S. official was quick to emphasize that much more remains to be done in achieving the desired progress.

“Institutions in Kosova remain sluggish; instead of thinking ideas, there is fighting”, Mr. Braum stressed, adding that the governmental institutions should be more active in addressing the sky-high unemployment of 70 percent, the return of the refugees, the lack of foreign investments and the low productivity.

Largely made up of members of the Albanian-American community as well as American scholars and authors interested in Kosova’s future and Albanian issues in general, the audience unanimously challenged the Department of State position of standards before status, which includes the return of refugees, freedom of movement for the minority, the formation of democratic institutions and the establishment of the rule of law, etc.

Stating that independence is the only solution to all the problems within Kosova and the entire peninsula, NAAC Board of Trustees Harry Bajraktari underlined that an internationally recognized sovereign Kosova will pave the way for economic development and will bring much needed regional stability.

Author and journalist Stephen Schwartz, a nationally syndicated columnist who has published several articles on Kosova in leading publications such as the National Review and Weekly Standard, expressed concern over the fact that despite being in Europe Kosova’s people have no water and electricity, domestic media runs the risk of being censored by UNMIK, and teachers go without getting paid for months at a time – forcing many of them to often take second jobs outside their professional filed, such as selling in the open market, construction, etc.

Mr. Schwartz stressed that failure to provide for these most basic needs could lead to a serious social crisis in Kosova. What will happen, he asked, if Kosova’s people can not take the lack of water and electricity anymore and decide to take to the street, then the teachers – who do not get paid enough to make a living – join them and UNMIK responds to coverage of the social crises by shutting down the press?

Other participants, such as community activist Ahmet Zherka, suggested that Kosova would be better off administered by the U.S. rather than the United Nations. Mr. Zherka pointed to the fact that many voting members of the U.N. Security Council who continue to oppose an independent Kosova were against the U.S.-led military effort to rid Iraq of Sadam Hussein’s dictatorial regime.

Responding to Mr. Zherka’s comments, Mr. Black pointed out that the future of Kosova is to be integrated with the European institutions, with the U.S. and with the world, adding that the U.N. has a role in achieving this goal.

Stating that “Albanians are among our (U.S.) best friends,” he noted that Albanians’ support for the U.S. military intervention in Iraq was highly noticed by senior U.S. officials in the White House and Department of State.

Held in New York City, which is home to the largest Albanian community in the U.S., the recent forum is a continuation of NAAC’s efforts to bring the Albanian-American Community and the U.S. government closer and provide them with an opportunity to exchange views regarding the future of Kosova. The forum also serves as an example of NAAC’s positive influence in Washington, D.C. while demonstrating the organizations efforts to realize a better future for all Albanians in the Balkans.

NAAC is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advocating for Albanians and promoting peace and economic development in the Balkans by fostering democratic policy, promoting respect for human rights, and conducting educational and developmental programs. For more information on the National Albanian American Council please visit us on the web at www.naac.org