7 minutes agoWalker is decorated by Begaj: A “Greater Albania” already exists
Periskopi(3 years ago)
(3 years ago)Albanian President Bajram Begaj decorated with one of the highest medals of the Republic of Albania, that of “Flag Order Knight”, Ambassador William Walker, former head of O Monitoring Mission The SEU in Kosovo in the years 99 that named the Recak massacre “crime against humanity”. At the ceremony held in Tirana, Begaj said [...]
Begaj said Ambassador Walker is an international personality, diplomat and humanitarian, which, with his work and contribution, established an incompatible relationship with the Albanian nation and with all citizens of Kosovo.
The dozen of five innocent Recak citizens were brutally massacred by Milosevic's regime's military and paramilitary troops. Ambassador Walker, the first, exposed this cruel act worldwide and described the massacre before the media as a crime against humanity. Thanks to his actions and commitments, the whole world was informed of crimes in Kosovo. The whole civilized world was shocked. Civilised and democratic countries, as well as the international community, responded quickly to condemn genocide in the heart of Europe and bring an end to the Milosevic regime in Kosovo”, Begaj said.
The Albanian president expressed gratitude to the American ambassador for his commitment to human rights and for continued support of Albanian rights, as well as for close co-operation with the Albanian community in the United States.
Kosovo's people today stand for democracy and freedom, but the shadows of those sad times still revolve around our region, in the era of another new and bloody war in Europe. Just to remember the crimes, to preserve peace and to leave a world in peace for our children, we appreciate personalities like Ambassador Walker, who in their work and dedication have become an example to follow and have entered history as guardians and defenders of peace, life, freedom and prosperity of Kosovo citizens, the region and our nation”, Begaj said.
Begaj also cited the book that Walker is writing for Recak, saying it would be an important and added contribution for the reasons and principles that the democratic world, the US and NATO decided to intervene and end the Serbian genocide in Kosovo.
In his address, Ambassador Walker expressed gratitude for the decoration by the Albanian state. He said he spent a lot of time showing the world what the newest state in Europe represents.
I accept as a highly esteemed, very humble and unexpected recognition of my efforts on behalf of the Albanian cause... In the years since my retirement as an American diplomat in 2000, I have devoted much time to trying to make the outside world as understandable as what I've been involved with in Kosovo and what this new nation means, what he represents”, Walker said.
Walker, who said he is often invited to the Albanian diaspora event in America, said he is always asked about the idea of joining Albania and Kosovo. However, Walker said that a “Large Albania” already exists, but not in the sense of geographic ethnicity.
In my opinion, a great Albanian already exists, not as a geographical entity, but rather as a universal body of thought. In two decades of interaction with the Albanian community in the US, in diaspora around the world and certainly home, I was very impressed by the evidence of a larger cultural Albanian, and it is an entity just as solid and co-operative, as that of any internationally recognised national state”, he said.
According to him, despite his criticism of Albanians, he said ties linking Albanians as one are far more important than their differences.
With all my criticism of my Albanian homeland, for the diaspora, that they are so divided politically or on other issues, I agree that no matter how divisive such differences are, the links that connect Albanians as one are far more important than the differences between them. Wherever they are born in the world, children of Albanian parents will learn Albanian -- what the two-headed eagle represents -- will learn what it means to be Albanian. This, for me, is the creation of a real Albanian”, Walker said.
Ambassador Walker has spent these days in Kosovo for the 15th anniversary of the Recak massacre.
