[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 14, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E589-E590]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      THE BAJRAKTARIS--50 YEARS IN AMERICA--A STORY OF STRUGGLE, 
                       PERSEVERANCE, AND TRIUMPH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 14, 2019

  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor an extraordinary Albanian-
American family and my constituents, the Bajraktaris, and their journey 
of struggles and triumphs. Long before they came to the United States, 
this family earned its place in history books with acts of great 
bravery and generosity. The Bajraktaris originally hail from their 
hometown of Vranoc, located on the outside of Peja, a city in Kosova. 
Throughout history, they were locally recognized leaders who led more 
than 40 villages in the struggle for the freedom of Kosova.
  Empires came and went, but the Bajraktaris remained. Their famous 
family towers and homes were burned down at least five times by various 
groups such as the Ottomans, the Serbs, the Montenegrins, the Fascists, 
the Nazis and then by the Communists. Each time they stood up to the 
invaders, chased them out, and rebuilt their communities. They were 
proud of their freedom, their Albanian heritage and tradition, and they 
were proud defenders of their homeland.
  This is the context in which, Harry Bajraktari, a well-known 
Albanian-American leader, was born and grew up. Throughout his life, 
Harry was inspired by the stories of struggle for the survival of the 
Albanian nation and the perseverance of his ancestors.
  In 1969, the life of his family reached a turning point. Facing 
political oppression by the Yugoslav government and economic hardship, 
his parents, Mete and Ziza Bajraktari, decided to journey to the United 
States of America, together with their four children, including Harry, 
and his siblings, Nurija, Litafete and Hateme.
  They traveled by train to Italy, where they applied for political 
asylum in the United States. After nine months away from home, their 
application was approved, and on February 24, 1970, the Bajraktari 
family arrived in New York. They had no money and spoke no English. 
Through their new community, they found help from other families and 
friends who had previously immigrated to the United States. At the 
beginning, they lived at the home of Musli and Hysen Mulosmani and 
their family, who hosted them with generosity in The Bronx, NY.
  Over the last 50 years, I can personally attest that the Bajraktari 
family have achieved the American Dream. They have been hard-working 
and dedicated, and they have made the most of the opportunities that 
their new homeland has had to offer. Still, like many immigrants, life 
was not easy. Mete Bajraktari worked as a maintenance worker during the 
day and his wife Ziza as a janitor during the night. Through sacrifice 
and determination, Mete and Ziza strived to give their children a 
chance for a better life.
  Their sacrifices soon paid off. At the early age of 20, my good 
friend, Harry Bajraktari, exhibited extraordinary entrepreneurial 
skills and spirit, when he began to purchase real estate in The Bronx. 
Alongside his uncle, Rrustem Gecaj, they founded Bajraktari Realty and, 
in the following decades, expanded their business ventures throughout 
New York and Kosova.
  Harry's entrepreneurial achievements had a major impact that extended 
well beyond the reach of the Bajraktari family. His accomplishments 
contributed to the revival in the Bronx and, in turn, made it possible 
for him to help an abundance of people in need. Bajraktari Realty's 
success created jobs and stimulated growth for other businesses around 
his properties, ranging from real estate, restaurants, and more. Once 
again, the Bajraktari family legacy brought real change to the lives of 
people in their community.
  Though the family was experiencing success in their new home, they 
never forgot the people and the country they left behind. Their 
birthplace, Kosova, descended into dark times under the oppression of 
the Serbian strongman, Slobodan Milosevic. At the same time, and for 
over 50 years, Albania was under the iron fist of communist dictator, 
Enver Hoxha. The Bajraktari family answered the call to help their 
homeland and began to mobilize the people of Kosova and Albania.

[[Page E590]]

  Harry Bajraktari soon became an Albanian-American community leader 
and worked hard to educate politicians, diplomats, and experts on the 
issue of Kosova and Albania.
  The Kosovar crisis was part of the larger Yugoslavian implosion, with 
genocide and massive war crimes ravaging the now-dissolved country. 
With waves of refugees and a spreading instability in southern Europe, 
it was clear that American leadership was desperately needed.
  Fortunately, the cause for Kosovar independence found broad 
bipartisan support in Congress and throughout the country. With Harry's 
guidance, I helped found the bipartisan Albanian Issues Caucus more 
than 25 years ago. I'll never forget traveling to Kosova in 1996 with 
Harry and raising the American flag at the opening of the United States 
Information Agency office in Kosova's capital, Prishtina.
  Through his efforts fighting for freedom in Kosova, Harry and many of 
his friends in the Albanian American community came to know and work 
closely with leaders in the Senate and House. Across the American 
political spectrum, Harry led his community in meetings with key 
leaders, including Senator Bob Dole, Vice President Biden, Mitch 
McConnell, Alfonse D'Amato, Tom Lantos, Susan Molinari, and many 
others.
  In his advocacy for independence in Kosova and democracy in Albania, 
Harry Bajraktari contributed to community organizations, wrote-op-eds, 
met with American and international officials, testified in the U.S. 
Congress and spoke at many rallies. In 1991, he founded Illyria, a 
modern and professional Albanian-American newspaper. Based in New York, 
it had subscribers throughout the United States and overseas. To this 
day, Illyria remains a voice for Albanian-Americans and continues to 
inform the community and the American people.
  In 1992, President George H.W. Bush issued what is known as the 
Christmas Warning to Milosevic, threatening military intervention if 
Serbia provoked a war in Kosova. In March 1999, after Belgrade's tanks 
rolled into Kosova, President Bill Clinton fulfilled that promise, and 
the United States led NATO in war against Yugoslavia. They stopped a 
humanitarian catastrophe and the ethnic cleansing of more than a 
million Albanians, and liberated Kosova.
  This represented the end of the wars of Milosevic's Balkan wars and, 
one year later, he fell from power, ushering in a new era of relative 
peace and stability in the region. In 2008, Kosova became the newest 
independent country in Europe with the support and the recognition of 
the United States. It is now recognized by more than 110 nations.
  Harry Bajraktari followed the example of other great Albanian-
American leaders of the early 20th century like Bishop Fan Noli and 
Ambassador Faik Konitza, who worked to forge the special relationship 
and historic friendship between ethnic Albanians and the United States 
of America. He was also inspired by a great Albanian American leader in 
business and politics, Anthony Athanas, in Boston.
  Harry and many others from such states as New York, Massachusetts, 
New Jersey, Connecticut, Texas, Illinois, Michigan and other states 
worked together and became instrumental in making the voice of Albanian 
Americans heard in Washington. They founded the National Albanian 
American Council, which was the leading Albanian American organization 
in Washington, D.C. for many years.
  Although Mete Bajraktari passed away in 1998 and did not live to see 
his dream of a free and independent Kosova come true, his family 
continues remember him as they continue to fight for their homeland. 
Today, a major shopping center in Peja is dedicated to him, fifty years 
after he fled Belgrade's oppression. That shopping center stands strong 
in the heart of the city and I am honored that a street in my name 
borders that facility.
  For his great work in support of Kosova's independence, advocacy for 
democracy in Albania, and human rights throughout the Balkans, Harry 
Bajraktari has been recognized with the highest medals and honors. 
These awards are high honors from the President of Kosova, the 
President of Albania and recognition from the White House. When the 
story of Kosova is finally told, let us always recall the commitment of 
Harry Bajraktari and his family.
  Here in the United States, Harry Bajraktari is recognized for his 
support for humanitarian and community initiatives. He and his family 
are proud, patriotic, Americans with a deep gratitude for what their 
new home, the United States, has given to them, and, in exchange, their 
hard work and success has made New York and this country a better place 
to live.
  When they arrived on these shores, the Bajraktaris were only six 
people. A seventh, the youngest sibling, Miftar, was born during that 
first year in America. Today, Harry Bajraktari is the proud father of 
four children and has eight grandchildren. His sister, Nurije 
(Bajraktari) Osmani has four children and three grandchildren. Litafete 
(Bajraktari) Gega has four children and one grandchild. Hateme 
(Bajraktari) Nezaj has three children. Miftar Bajraktari has three 
children.
  Mete and Ziza have passed away, but their memory lives with their 
children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. The continued story of 
the Bajraktari family will live on as a singular example of achieving 
the American dream. And today, their vision has become a reality, and 
their promises have been fulfilled. Harry has told me on many occasions 
his family's journey to America and the opportunities afforded to them 
through this journey was worth their many sacrifices. These are the 
kind of stories and people that add depth and humanity to our country's 
rich heritage. And, for myself, I am proud to call Harry Bajraktari and 
his family close personal friends and to honor the 50th anniversary of 
their arrival in the United States.

                          ____________________