Bronx Albanians cheer Kosovo independence
Belmont celebrates 1-year anniversary of freedom
by DANIEL BEEKMAN
Comment
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| Dancers, musicians and folk singers brought the Balkans to Belmont last week. I loved the music,” library supervisor Donna Benjamin said. “And the kids were just adorable.” Photo by Daniel Beekman |
Albanian culture is alive and well, from Belmont to the Balkans. On Wednesday, February 11, ethnic Albanians crowded into the Belmont’s Library for a night of folk poetry, dance and song, and a salute to Kosovo.
Kosovo is a landlocked republic in southern Europe. Most Kosovars are ethnic Albanians. The United Nations helped Kosovo break from Serbia in 1999, following a bloody war. On February 17, 2008, Kosovo declared independence.
“Tonight was fun,” Mirlinda Dakaj, a Kosovar-American who attends M.S. 135 on Wallace Avenue, said. “We celebrated our culture. We celebrated our freedom.”
Several countries, including the United States, Turkey, Albania, Germany, Ital, France and the United Kingdom recognize Kosovo as independent. Other countries, including Russia and China, don’t.
Sander Cotaj, an ethnic Albanian from Montenegro – another Balkan country – immigrated to Pelham Parkway in 1985 and secured a job at Arthur Avenue’s Calabria Pork Store. Cotaj is proud of his adopted country.
“I’m lucky to live in this century, to see what Albanians have achieved,” he said. “God bless America, our savior.”
A year ago, the Cotaj family gathered at a café on E. 187th Street to watch Kosovo declare independence. Two Star Coffee Shop picked up the tab.
“We ate all we could eat and drank all we could drink,” Cotaj said. “We spent the entire time on our feet, feeling peace.”
In Belmont last week, Cotaj applauded dancers decked out in hand sewn pants, vests and booties. Esad Rizai, president of the Bronx-based Albanian American Society Foundation, called the costumes 2,800 years old.
“We’re here to keep our culture alive,” Rizai said. “With so many Albanian kids born here in the Bronx, we want them to understand.”
On Tuesday, February 17, City Councilmen James Vacca and Joel Rivera hosted a Kosovo independence party at City Hall. The Bronx is the heart of the Albanian diaspora. Allerton, Morris Park and Mosholu boast significant Albanian populations.
“This is where we first settled,” Rizai said of Belmont. “We have 1,000 families in Pelham Parkway alone.”
According to Kosovo-born Monroe College professor Haxhi Berisha, ethnic Albanians run 20 stores and restaurants in Belmont. “We have Italian, Jewish, Albanian, Latino and Jamaican neighbors,” Berisha said. “We get along. We work together. People in the Bronx know Albania.”
Kosovo is a landlocked republic in southern Europe. Most Kosovars are ethnic Albanians. The United Nations helped Kosovo break from Serbia in 1999, following a bloody war. On February 17, 2008, Kosovo declared independence.
“Tonight was fun,” Mirlinda Dakaj, a Kosovar-American who attends M.S. 135 on Wallace Avenue, said. “We celebrated our culture. We celebrated our freedom.”
Several countries, including the United States, Turkey, Albania, Germany, Ital, France and the United Kingdom recognize Kosovo as independent. Other countries, including Russia and China, don’t.
Sander Cotaj, an ethnic Albanian from Montenegro – another Balkan country – immigrated to Pelham Parkway in 1985 and secured a job at Arthur Avenue’s Calabria Pork Store. Cotaj is proud of his adopted country.
“I’m lucky to live in this century, to see what Albanians have achieved,” he said. “God bless America, our savior.”
A year ago, the Cotaj family gathered at a café on E. 187th Street to watch Kosovo declare independence. Two Star Coffee Shop picked up the tab.
“We ate all we could eat and drank all we could drink,” Cotaj said. “We spent the entire time on our feet, feeling peace.”
In Belmont last week, Cotaj applauded dancers decked out in hand sewn pants, vests and booties. Esad Rizai, president of the Bronx-based Albanian American Society Foundation, called the costumes 2,800 years old.
“We’re here to keep our culture alive,” Rizai said. “With so many Albanian kids born here in the Bronx, we want them to understand.”
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“This is where we first settled,” Rizai said of Belmont. “We have 1,000 families in Pelham Parkway alone.”
According to Kosovo-born Monroe College professor Haxhi Berisha, ethnic Albanians run 20 stores and restaurants in Belmont. “We have Italian, Jewish, Albanian, Latino and Jamaican neighbors,” Berisha said. “We get along. We work together. People in the Bronx know Albania.”
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of yournabe.com.
Pana wrote on Feb 21, 2009 3:56 AM:
" John...shouldn't Serbs feel ashamed what they did in Balkans? Oh, and shouldn't you feel stupid to find this story stupid, because the author is just describing an event, that's all there is. "
mike wrote on Feb 21, 2009 7:01 AM:
" yeah US really felt angry about the Serbs and that is why they sent 20,000 troops in Kosova and even built a military base -:) i like how Serbs try to spread lies - i guess they have done that forever and their history is one big lie "
Vuk wrote on Feb 21, 2009 9:50 AM:
" So there are Albanians in the Bronx. Let's hope that they don't multiply like they did in Kosovo and then one day declare the Bronx to be independent and Albanian. By the way... the US military built the largest military base outside of the US in Kosovo... do you really think that they care about your independence? "
KLAUCK wrote on Feb 21, 2009 11:15 AM:
" I am an Albanian and I was born Christian. I often feel ashamed of being a Christian. Especially when I see how Serbian people behave towards Albanians and other neighbours. If they really were Christians would welcome Albanians inot their house and support them as much as possible. Instead they choose to do the apposite thing. Spreading hate insulting Albanians and just keep telling as much as lies as possible.Just go on you tube and have a look how many videos have serbian people designed to insult Albanins. "
Vuk wrote on Feb 21, 2009 12:08 PM:
" KLAUCK - It's sad that you bring religion into these comments at all. Having land forcefully taken away and given to anyone (of any race or religion!), will lead to tensions. The Serbs did not go to war based on religion. The Serbs were persecuted in Kosovo since far before even Milosevic was in power. I can't believe that you can even say that often you feel ashamed to be Christian! The Serbs were under Ottoman rule for 600 years in Kosovo while Turks and Albanians strolled around freely. Because of that I am damn proud to be Christian and will never cheer for this fake independence. "
Eric wrote on Feb 21, 2009 12:40 PM:
" "Vuk"..your a phsyco idiotic pre-historic brainwashed monkey..so what that they build a military base..at least the kosovar-albanians will live in peace and not in the control of the blood drinkers of nazi serbia...why are you so upset..WTF is your problem....they rather be controled by the U.S then get killed and rape by the serbs...serbs are knowing at killing, raping children..their history is written in books.. "
Vuk wrote on Feb 21, 2009 1:27 PM:
" Eric... how very wrong you are. Besides the outright foul language, you're history books must be from some kind of 'special edition'. Speaking of Nazis... It was the Albanians who joined the third reich. I believe they were called the 'SS Skanderberg' or something like that....probably when (you) they developed those unruly traits that are mentioned above. "
Eric wrote on Feb 21, 2009 2:43 PM:
" "vuk" once again you being a low mind...open any high school history book...in europe, in U.S everywhere,...the history of serbs ethnic cleansing toward albanians its written..it will be there as long as the sun comes up in the morning..cant change... kosovo is free at last....
once again dont change subject...you still did not understand what i said about naz.... "
once again dont change subject...you still did not understand what i said about naz.... "
Vuk wrote on Feb 21, 2009 2:53 PM:
" When was Kosovo ever not free? The entire infrastructure was paid for by Serbian taxes which supported and paid for Albanian schools, television and religious centers. By the way, that loose term 'ethnic cleansing' was first put into action by Kosovo Albanians during the early 80's. Also, I did understand what you said about Nazis... I'm just comparing! :-) "
Dave wrote on Feb 21, 2009 4:05 PM:
" 'Vuk' that is the biggest load of crap that's be written by you so far. We went in there to save innocent people being massacred for being a different ethnic group and stopped it at that. We will flex our mighty muscles whenever we have the chance when we notice such injustice, the West knows Slavic tendencies towards their neighbors very well. "
Shqiptar wrote on Feb 21, 2009 4:38 PM:
" Vuk "too bad" for serbs they can no longer go on with thier daily routine to torcher or murder civilians, cuz every angle you look at you have fire waiting for them. And i know that it's in your evil blood to do such thing, and i hope than that day comes when you continue your routine in the middle of belgrade.
peace out loseeeerrrrrrrrrr "
peace out loseeeerrrrrrrrrr "
Eric wrote on Feb 21, 2009 5:15 PM:
" "vuk" dude 1 million albanians came to albania and macedonia because they are going to get kill by the serbs..thats why NATO bombed you..i remeber my grandfather letting them in the basement and gave them food and everything..you telling me that was not ethnic cleansing...sorry you cant hide it my friend..no matter what you do..its recorded for good..dont reply no more..serbs are subhumans..its a shame to humanity..how do you live with your selfs..Serbia never in E.U, never..albania will be the first one to Veto "
Valmir wrote on Feb 21, 2009 5:27 PM:
" Vuk, are you mentaly ill or you have been just grown and brainwashed like that from your parents?
First of all, Serbs came to Kosovo. They killed Albanians (Kosovars) from 1900 forward just to get the land of Kosovo wich is Albanian. You first cleaned Nis from Kosovar (200.000 to 500.000 Kosovars were moved from their homes with violence) Then the war happend and after that Beograd paid Albanians in Mitrovica just to leave their homes so Serbs could move in them. 11.000 Kosovars have been moved out of their homes after the war happend from South Mitrovica, from Serbian forces.
I really hope you pig's will start to face the reality and i really really hope you will stop being so nacionalistish. Stop dreaming, enjoy reality. "
First of all, Serbs came to Kosovo. They killed Albanians (Kosovars) from 1900 forward just to get the land of Kosovo wich is Albanian. You first cleaned Nis from Kosovar (200.000 to 500.000 Kosovars were moved from their homes with violence) Then the war happend and after that Beograd paid Albanians in Mitrovica just to leave their homes so Serbs could move in them. 11.000 Kosovars have been moved out of their homes after the war happend from South Mitrovica, from Serbian forces.
I really hope you pig's will start to face the reality and i really really hope you will stop being so nacionalistish. Stop dreaming, enjoy reality. "
Andsrew wrote on Feb 22, 2009 12:23 AM:
" Vuk you\re dreaming man... I love Albanians and their culture... go back to russia before we kill you. "
niko wrote on Feb 22, 2009 1:21 AM:
" according to you vuk, albanians just strolled around while serbs suffered right? you obviously do not know anything....albanians got it the worst from the turks...in fact, im from the town of berat...and i am orthodox just like u...the reason why the architecture of the city is that way is because it was the only land the turks gave to those who did not convert...dont come in here and tell me that albanians just strolled around under the turks. "
Erion wrote on Feb 22, 2009 5:48 PM:
" Hey Vuk, your whole idea that Albanians multiplied and took over Kosova from your fellow Serb’s does not hold a lot of water and in fact it’s quite the opposite. You must have got your facts from your special edition books that were printed in Belgrade.
It is a fact that Slavs crossed the Danube and moved into the Balkans by the 6th century AD. It is also a fact that the earliest inhabitants of Kosova were called Illyrians by both Romans and Greeks. It is widely accepted by world scholars except the Serbs (I wonder why?) that Albanians are the direct descendants of the Illyrians. The Illyrian king Bardyllis (meaning white star in Albanian) in the 4th century BC had turned Illyria in a formidable power that is over one thousand years before your ancestors had ever stepped foot anywhere near Kosova. So tell me , how could Albanians have taken something that belonged to them from you? Does that make any sense to you? When you see a house that you like, do you knock on their door and tell them to move out because it belongs to you? When they refuse, do you than start making up stories that it is the birthplace of your entire family in order to convince their neighbors that it belongs to you?
According to you the Serbs are the ones that have suffered since they got into Kosova and tried to throw the Albanians out. But both you and I know that Serbs are notorious for their brutality with their neighbors. We don’t even have to go too far back in your short history in the Balkans to verify this. Look at what the Serbs did in the 90’s in Bosnia and Croatia by pot marking those lands with mass graves.
You bring up the large U.S base in Kosova and Albanian cooperation with your enemies from the past. Albanians are very welcoming people. They welcome guests and protect them as if they were their family. Serbs were once their guest, but as history shows they wore out their welcome with their deeds. This is the only reason why Albanians have cooperated with the Serbian enemies in the past, because they were Serbia’s enemies not because they agreed with their ideology. U.S on the other hand was not your enemy. They were the only country that decided enough was enough with your mass graves and ethnic cleansing of your neighbors and took a stand. Albanians will forever be grateful to the U.S for this and the U.S will always be a welcomed guest onto their land, unlike the Serbs. "
It is a fact that Slavs crossed the Danube and moved into the Balkans by the 6th century AD. It is also a fact that the earliest inhabitants of Kosova were called Illyrians by both Romans and Greeks. It is widely accepted by world scholars except the Serbs (I wonder why?) that Albanians are the direct descendants of the Illyrians. The Illyrian king Bardyllis (meaning white star in Albanian) in the 4th century BC had turned Illyria in a formidable power that is over one thousand years before your ancestors had ever stepped foot anywhere near Kosova. So tell me , how could Albanians have taken something that belonged to them from you? Does that make any sense to you? When you see a house that you like, do you knock on their door and tell them to move out because it belongs to you? When they refuse, do you than start making up stories that it is the birthplace of your entire family in order to convince their neighbors that it belongs to you?
According to you the Serbs are the ones that have suffered since they got into Kosova and tried to throw the Albanians out. But both you and I know that Serbs are notorious for their brutality with their neighbors. We don’t even have to go too far back in your short history in the Balkans to verify this. Look at what the Serbs did in the 90’s in Bosnia and Croatia by pot marking those lands with mass graves.
You bring up the large U.S base in Kosova and Albanian cooperation with your enemies from the past. Albanians are very welcoming people. They welcome guests and protect them as if they were their family. Serbs were once their guest, but as history shows they wore out their welcome with their deeds. This is the only reason why Albanians have cooperated with the Serbian enemies in the past, because they were Serbia’s enemies not because they agreed with their ideology. U.S on the other hand was not your enemy. They were the only country that decided enough was enough with your mass graves and ethnic cleansing of your neighbors and took a stand. Albanians will forever be grateful to the U.S for this and the U.S will always be a welcomed guest onto their land, unlike the Serbs. "
curt wrote on Feb 22, 2009 8:30 PM:
" Where did Vuk? Is he hidding, or, did he finaly see the light of knowledge?
Nothing personal Vuk, but, you and your countrymen need to study the history of the region before you start speaking again. That should have been done centuries ago when you moved into the region from North-East.
Curt "
Nothing personal Vuk, but, you and your countrymen need to study the history of the region before you start speaking again. That should have been done centuries ago when you moved into the region from North-East.
Curt "
Jovan wrote on Feb 23, 2009 3:13 PM:
" Kosovo is Serbia
no matter what the KLA/CIA try and spell out. The truth always wins in the end. I advise people to study history before making improper comments. "
no matter what the KLA/CIA try and spell out. The truth always wins in the end. I advise people to study history before making improper comments. "
krshnik wrote on Feb 23, 2009 4:42 PM:
" Hej a luftoni per Kosoven.
Investoni.
Hajdeni ndihmoni.
Me fjale jemi ....
diaspora nuk poinveston ne Kosove
nukkandermjetsuar per njohje.
keng e valle kercoime per kosoven apo per vete
hajdeni nje here.pse nukkanje institucion kombetar te diaspores???/
Prekthenilibra,agjitacioni me shkrim esht me i madhe se 10 bashkime.
Per gazeta,fotografi,filma kosova ka me tepri. "
Investoni.
Hajdeni ndihmoni.
Me fjale jemi ....
diaspora nuk poinveston ne Kosove
nukkandermjetsuar per njohje.
keng e valle kercoime per kosoven apo per vete
hajdeni nje here.pse nukkanje institucion kombetar te diaspores???/
Prekthenilibra,agjitacioni me shkrim esht me i madhe se 10 bashkime.
Per gazeta,fotografi,filma kosova ka me tepri. "
eric wrote on Feb 23, 2009 9:08 PM:
" "jovan" go F your self...serbs came out of putin as s..you are slaves..kosovo was an illyrian land...now its free..kosovo will never be back with serbia not even in ur F..ing dreams.. "
Don M wrote on Feb 24, 2009 12:07 AM:
" We need to be reminded that on May 7, 2007 federal authorities busted the so-called Fort Dix Six before the alleged Muslim terrorists launched their murderous attack on the military installation. Four of the six are ethnic Albanians. Three of the four are brothers. And the fourth, according to authorities, was a sniper in Kosovo. Geometry teaches that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. If the charges against the Fort Dix Six stick, then that line leads from ethnic Albanians in the U.S. directly to their terrorist counterparts in Albania and Kosovo. "
Erion wrote on Feb 24, 2009 4:35 PM:
" Don, before you judge all Albanians by the actions of four maybe you should learn more about their past history and the actions of the 9 million around the world now. Albanians national hero Gjergj Kastriot Skenderbeu defended Christianity for 25 years from the Ottoman Empire during the Renaissance age. If it weren't for him, you might be posting as Abdul today. With that said, Albanians are not religious fanatics as matter of fact in Albania all three religious live in peace and harmony like no other place in the world. Marriages between all the different religions are very common as in my family, my mom is Christian orthodox and my father is Muslim and we celebrate holidays from both religions but do not favor neither one. There is a very popular saying in Albanian “Feja Shqiptarit eshte Shqiptaria” it means “The Albanian Religion is Albanian” So Don, yes there are low lifes in every society but I can assure you that the vast majority of Albanians will always be grateful to the U.S and will fight side by side with the Americans like they do in Iraq and Afghanistan. "
skupi wrote on Feb 28, 2009 12:09 PM:
" DON don't forgheth the american talibans ,one of them was john walker the other one (i do not remember his name ) its still in afhghanistan and sometime its spokeperson for al kaida, s "
Enver Oruci wrote on Mar 2, 2009 11:52 AM:
" Im very happy for Kosovars, but what a poor story, poorly written and very poor explanation of the community in the Bronx. "
niko wrote on Mar 4, 2009 12:36 AM:
" don, the biggest terrorist of all is america...the reason why iraq and afghanistan are that way is cuz of america...the money from the opium market in afghanistan goes mainly to america...america has done a lot worse then fort dix six "
ardita wrote on May 6, 2009 6:26 AM:
" pershendetje këngëtarja me e bukur per mua osht arta bajrami jam adhurusja e saj e pershendes shum kurse nga kosgetarët eshte labinot tahiri pershendetje per te dyt "
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John wrote on Feb 21, 2009 1:51 AM: