Former U.S. Congressman Joseph DioGuardi has reflected on his lifelong connection to the Albanian community and his efforts to raise awareness of the Albanian cause in the United States, speaking in Prishtina at an event marking the 37th anniversary of the Albanian American Civic League (AACL) and the Albanian American Civic Foundation.
The anniversary was marked with a seminar titled “A Promise Kept: AACL and Kosovo’s Path to Freedom and Independence,” bringing together figures who discussed the organization’s role in supporting Kosovo’s struggle for freedom and independence.
DioGuardi spoke about his Albanian heritage and the influence of his father, whom he described as an Arbëresh from Kukës, Albania, and a farmer who had received little formal education.
“I have spent a good part of my life trying to tell the world who you, the Albanians, are,” DioGuardi said, explaining that his father had not been able to undertake such efforts himself because of his lack of education.
He also recalled learning the Albanian expression “Gur-gur bëhet mur” (“Stone by stone, a wall is built”), which he said helped him begin to understand the Albanian language.
DioGuardi recalled a conversation with his father in which he responded to the saying by adding his own version: “Mur-mur bëhet kala” (“Wall by wall, a fortress is built”).
The former congressman has long been associated with advocacy for Albanian-American issues and efforts to strengthen U.S. support for Kosovo.
Powles Highlights AACL’s Role in Kosovo’s Cause
Human rights specialist Steven Powles KC also addressed the organization’s contribution to Kosovo’s path toward freedom and independence, including its work related to the Kosovo conflict and proceedings involving former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders at The Hague.
Powles said the discussion focused on two major aspects of the AACL’s contribution: its efforts to bring international attention to Kosovo and its work in support of former KLA members facing proceedings before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague.
He also discussed the legacy of former Serbian President Slobodan Milošević and the responsibility of Serbian forces and paramilitary groups for crimes committed in Kosovo during the war.
Powles said Milošević had been brought before an international tribunal and held responsible for war crimes and atrocities committed in Kosovo, describing him as responsible for Serbian forces and paramilitary organizations involved in crimes during the conflict.
The anniversary event in Prishtina highlighted the long-running role of Albanian-American advocacy organizations in building political support for Kosovo in the United States and internationally, while also reflecting on the continuing legal and historical debates surrounding the Kosovo war.
