[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 42 (Thursday, April 6, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E517]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING DR. SAMI REPISHTI ON HIS SEVENTY-FIFTH BIRTHDAY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETER T. KING

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 6, 2000

  Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, today I honor and congratulate an exemplary 
constituent of mine, Dr. Sami Repishti, on his seventy-fifth birthday. 
Throughout his life, Dr. Repishti has been dedicated to fighting human 
rights violations to which he has been long exposed.
  Dr. Repishti was born in Shkoder, Albania in 1925. He and his family 
were victims of Italian fascist and Nazi terrorism. Despite being 
arrested and jailed for ``pro-American'' activities, Dr. Repishti 
immigrated to the United States in 1962. He continued his college 
education and eventually received a Doctorate in French in 1977 from 
the City University of New York and the University of Paris, France. 
From 1966 to 1991, he taught French and Italian in the Malverne Public 
School System, serving as District Chairman of the Department of 
Foreign Languages from 1976 to 1991, and from 1976 to 1991 was an 
adjunct professor at Adelphi University. He retired in 1991 after a 
dedicated and fruitful teaching career.
  After his retirement, Dr. Repishti founded the National Albanian 
American Council in 1996 and served as its president until 1998. This 
organization is dedicated to fighting for freedom and human rights for 
all Albanians. He has testified before the United States Congress 
several times, and nobly represented the Albanian American community at 
the White House and Department of State. He has long been a leader of 
cultural and political activities and is a well-respected member of his 
community.
  Dr. Repishti currently resides in Baldwin, New York with his wife 
Diane. They have two children: Daron, a physician, and Ava, a lawyer.
  Mr. Speaker, I am truly honored to represent such a respectable man, 
Dr. Repishti's life should serve as an example for all Americans. It is 
my pleasure and honor, to congratulate Dr. Sami Repishti on his 
birthday and to sincerely offer him my best wishes.

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