The UN conference for Albanians who saved the Jews: Kosovo ambassador issues unhappy hall

At a conference organized at the United Nations headquarters in New York, directors of this organization said that Albania's help to the Jewish people during the Holocaust remains a powerful example of courage and integrity in the face of Nazi cruelty.

As reported by New York Voice of America, representatives of Albania, other countries and the Albanian diaspora in the US spoke at the conference.

The conference was titled “A question of humanity: The salvation of Hebrews in Albania during Holocaust”. It was organised by the UN Department of Global Communication, in co-operation with Albania's mission to the United Nations and the World Jewish Congress.

United Nations Deputy Secretary General Allison Smale said that the salvation of Jews from Albania during the Holocaust embodys the principles of the universal declaration of human rights, that everyone has the right to life, freedom and security of the person. She said that this example is especially important in today's world when people around the world witness the increasing population, xenophobic, neonism, and hate groups.

Albania's ambassador to the UN, Besiana Kadare, said Albanians sent the world a bright and powerful message through the history of hospitality, sacrifice and religious harmony -- a message that is badly needed in today's world. I am proud today that I honor the heritage of the Albanian people and that I am part of a nation that stood on the right side of history at the right time and made the right decision”, said Mrs. Kadare.

She said that the moral essence of trust, which is cultivating tolerance and respect for every human being, regardless of their origin or religion, should never be forgotten.

The president of the World Jewish Congress, Ronald Lauder, the noted philanthropist, said Albania stands apart from other countries as one of the few exceptions to Europe that displayed such a nobility. He said the opposite of love is not hatred, but indifference and particularly condemned indifference that, according to him, appears today in some countries, where candidates for political posts embrace anti-Semitic or anti-Israel platforms.

Anna Cohen, descendant of a Jewish family born and raised in Vlora, spoke of the respect of the Albanian people towards the Jews, who she said never forgets, while Majlinda Myrto, executive director of the foundation “Eye Count” shared with the audience the story of the Jewish rescue from her husband's family in Albania in 1943.

Eliot Engel, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Commission at the U.S. House of Representatives, said it is not surprising that Albanians in Albania survived Jews during the Holocaust, because it is an Albanian tradition and of great importance. Over the years when Albania was ruled by a dictator, he said, the Albanian people never lost their strength and will to be released one day and to be a democracy”.

Jonathan Cohen, acting representative of the United States at the UN, said that “we recognise and admire the Albanian tradition of religious tolerance and human nobility, which led Jews to find a safe haven in Albania to protect from Nazis”. This story of acceptance and courage, he said, is an example for all of us, because today, in many countries of the world, the international community has failed in this respect, such as the case of oppression in Burma, Syria, or Venezuela, where many governments dare not raise their voices, even take defense of those who commit crimes.

Tahir Kukaj, imam of the Islamic Cultural Centre in Staten Island, New York, said pictures of Jews and Albanians stationed in the conference room are also on display in his mosque. They, he said, were donated by the Jewish Union College to honor and commemorate those heroes. We educate our young people with a spirit of hospitality and trust. “The Albanians who rescued Jews were not superheroes, but they were people. We are neither superheroes nor batman; there's no need to be superhero to save human life, but you have to be human”, imam Kukaj said.

Cafo Boga, businessman and funder from New York, said the story of the salvation of Jews from Albanians has not been shown complete. More than half of Albanians live outside Albania's geographical boundaries. The same stories of Jewish salvation have occurred in Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, Macedonia, or northern Greece. And it seems to me that their actions are being forgotten if we focus only on Albania”. He said that for this reason, Kosovo's ambassador should have been allowed to speak at this forum. “The way Jews were treated by Albanians is the Albanian manner of welcoming”, said Mr. Boga.

Kosovo's ambassador to New York, Teuta Sahatqi, did not follow through on the discussion and then told the Voice of America on the phone that she regrets the organisers did not give her word at the conference. “The rescue of Jews during the war”, she said, “was an act of Albanians as a nation, and not just part of them”.

Austria's UN ambassador, Jan Kickert, said he is ashamed as Austrian of the fact that his countrymen did not show the courage shown by Albanians during the Holocaust.

Former congregator Joe DioGuardi said the discovery of the history of salvation of Jews by Albanians did not begin in 2007, as ever reported, but much earlier, in 1990, when he and the late conventioner Tom Lantos visited Albania. This story, he said, had remained oppressed under communism and no one knew anything. Mr. Diogoody said at the conference that in the salvation of Jews, Kosovo's contribution should not be forgotten, where people created an underground network for that purpose. Therefore, he added, it is unfortunate that Israel still does not recognise Kosovo.

The Bicak family from Librazhd, who saved 26 Jews during the war, had also been invited to the conference. Kemal Bicak commented on American Voice this way:

They came from Belgrade. They trusted in our family. The family maintained their tradition and kept them at home. The village cooperated, the Hasa and Bicak. Both tribes with great love and respect managed to rescue the Jews”.

Mr. Bicak said his family came from Albania at their own expense to express respect for the act of nobility and humanity that their descendants showed. Thanks to those who invited us, but it didn't come well (that we couldn't talk at the conference), because a little comment we should have given”.

Dr. Anna Cohen told the Voice of America that she has a memory and wants to deliver a message to Albanians who survived Jews during the war:

I am the Jewish daughter of Albania. When I was little, because as you know I'm from Vlora, I always made a drawing that looked sunset and a boat with the Albanian flag and the Israeli flag. And I would say: How nice if one day these flags can join. Will this ever happen? Look what is now being done with the Albanian and Israeli flag and that boat! That boat is packed with people coming to visit Albania. It's full of tourists coming to see the Hebrews Street that I did in 2006”

“The visiting people have begun to understand the importance of this humble people who at that time took all the Israelites into their midst and did not let them die. That's why I thank you from the heart for saving us”, said Anna Cohen.