Mayor Bloomberg and representatives of the Albanian-American Community to Visit Kosova

(Bloomberg to bring along an Albanian flag to be flown in Prishtina on Flag Day)

Washington, DC, November 11, 2003: The National Albanian American Council (NAAC) issued the following statement regarding the visit that Mayor Michael Bloomberg plans to have in Kosova on the occasion of Albanian Flag Day.
New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg along with several representatives of the Albanian-American community will be visiting Kosova on the occasion of Albanian Independence Day.
Mayor Bloomberg, who will be arriving in Prishtina, Kosova on November 24 accompanied by leaders of the Albanian-American community including religious and cultural figures, announced his first visit to Kosova in front of thousands of Albanian-Americans attending the XIII Albanian Festival thast was hosted by the Albanian Catholic Church "Our Lady of Shkodra" on November 9.
Some of the activities Mr. Bloomberg will be engaged in during his trip to Prishtina, Kosova include visiting KFOR troops in Camp Bondsteel, a flag exchange ceremony with the local leaders, a cultural affair honoring Albanian Flag Day where the Mayor will likely make a few remarks expressing his feelings for the Albanian people and last, but certainly not least, he will participate in a ceremony at the monument of Mother Teresa in honor of her distinguished work.
Former NAAC Chairman Richard Lukaj and Trustee Ben Celaj who met recently with staff members from the Mayor?s Office to discuss details regarding the upcoming visit to Kosova, stated that Bloomberg?s visit to Prishtina speaks for the significant potential of the politically active Albanian community in New York City and the important role it could play in the redevelopment of Kosova.
Mssrs. Lukaj and Celaj said, "We are proud supporters of the mayor and are extremely pleased that he has opted to express his appreciation and respect for his significant Albanian-American constituency by virtue of this visit."
This is not the first time that Bloomberg reaches out to NAAC and the Albanian-American community. On February 26, 2001 shortly before announcing his candidacy for mayor, this self-made man met with a number of NAAC members and representatives of the Albanian-American community to discuss the role New York City's Albanian-Americans could play in his bid for mayor.
Before becoming Mayor of New York City, Mr. Bloomberg was the head of financial media giant Bloomberg, LLC. He founded the company in 1981, turning an initial order for 20 terminals into a multimedia, analytical and news service supplying information in almost every country around the world, including the Vatican.