Archive 1999-2004
H.RES. 28 REISSUED BY CONGRESSMEN LANTOS AND HYDE. On the night of President Bush’s State of the Union Message, the AACL executive board met inside the U.S. Capitol Building. That day Congressmen Tom Lantos and Henry Hyde sent a revised “Dear Colleague” to all 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives with their bill, calling on the United States to declare its support for the independence of Kosova, and with Morton Abramowitz’s op-ed article, “Snatching Defeat in the Balkans.” January 2004. Click here for H. Res. 28, the story, and the photographs.
2003
THE ALBANIAN AMERICAN CIVIC LEAGUE–FIFTEEN YEARS LATER. On the occasion of Flag Day, Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi reflects on the Civic League’s accomplishments in 2003 in light of its past successes as the only officially registered and independent Albanian issue advocacy group in Washington, DC. November 2003. Full text available here in English and Albanian.
REDISCOVERING MY ALBANIAN ROOTS. By Joe DioGuardi. After the beatification of Mother Teresa in Rome, Joe DioGuardi took a Civic League delegation to Greci, his father’s Arberesh birthplace and the home of the descendants of Skanderbeg’s soldiers. Here he reflects on this legacy. November 2003. Full text available here in English and Albanian.
U.S. HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE HEARING ON THE FUTURE OF KOSOVA: On May 21, Congressmen Henry Hyde and Tom Lantos convened an historic hearing on the independence of Kosova, at the urging of the Civic League. June 2003. Text of hearing report available here in English and Albanian. Joe DioGuardi’s testimony available here in English and Albanian. Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi’s testimony available here in English and Albanian. Click here for photos.
House Resolution 28: The Congressional Resolution in support of the independence of Kosova now, which was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on January 27, 2003, by Congressman Tom Lantos, the Ranking Democrat on the House International Relations Committee, and Congressman Henry Hyde, the Committee’s Chairman. June 2003. Full text available here. For the history of H.Res. 28, click here.
2002
2001
GOVERNOR GEORGE PATAKI PROCLAIMS NOVEMBER 28, 2001, AS ALBANIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY IN NEW YORK STATE. November 2001. Full text available here.
CONGRESSMAN DANA ROHRABACHER REAFFIRMS HIS SUPPORT FOR ALBANIAN FREEDOM. July 23, 2001. Full text available here.
2000
THE ALBANIAN AMERICAN CIVIC LEAGUE VISITS THE ALBANIAN COMMUNITY OF NEW ZEALAND: Former Congressman Joe Dioguardi and his wife Shirley Cloyes, visited New Zealand. December 2000. Full text available here.
THE ALBANIAN AMERICAN CIVIC LEAGUE OPPOSES THE WEST’S RESTORATION OF DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH SERBIA: Former Congressman Joe DioGuardi, president of the Albanian American Civic League, and AACL Balkan affair adviser Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi, went to Melbourne on November 25 to join with the Albanian Australian community to protest the restoration of diplomatic relations with “Yugoslavia” by the United States, Germany, France, and Great Britain. November 2000. Full text available here.
THE CIVIC LEAGUE DENOUNCES EXIT STRATEGY FOR MILOSEVIC. Letters to The Washington Post and The New York Times. June-July 2000. Full text of letter to the Washington Post available here. Letter to the New York Times available here.
ALBANIAN AMERICAN CIVIC LEAGUE CALLS FOR THE DEFEAT OF THE CHINA TRADE BILL In light of the Chinese Communist government’s support of Serbian dictator and indicted war criminal Slobodan Milosevic, the Albanian American Civic League called on the U.S. Congress today to defeat legislatio that would grant permanent normal trade status to China. May 19 2000. Full text available here.
TEN YEARS OF THE ALBANIAN AMERICAN CIVIC LEAGUE. A Historic Chronology of Major Activities to Free Albanians in the Balkans from Slavic Domination and Communism, February 2000. Full text available here.
1999
LETTER TO PRESIDENT CLINTON BY JOE DIOGUARDI. Mr. President, how many Albanians must die before we do the right thing namely arm the KLA, as we did Croats in Bosnia – and commiting NATO ground troops to stop the genocide and finish the job we started? April 1999. Full letter available here.
RALLY IN WASHINGTON DC. Albanian American Civic League, UCK (KLA) and “Vendlindja Thërret” (“Homeland Calls”) invite Albanian Community accross America to join in a massive rally, at the West Terrace of the U.S. Capitol Hill. More info
JOE DIOGUARDI SENDS A LETTER TO PRESIDENT CLINTON. “Mr. President, how many Albanians must die before we do the right thing-namely arm the KLA, as we did Croats in Bosnia-and commiting NATO ground troops to stop the genocide and finish the job we started?”. Full letter available.
SHIRLEY CLOYES’ TESTIMONY BEFORE THE HOUSE COMMITTE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS. Besides Shirley Cloyes, the main speakers were Dr. Henry Kissinger, Former Secretary of State; Jeanne Kirkpatrick, former Ambassador to UN and Senator Bobe Dole. Her complete written testimony is available.