By Kyle Sutton
The Patriot Ledger
Feb 18, 2008
QUINCY — “It means a lot. They are our people, they are Albanians,” said Leo Keka, owner of the Alba restaurant, who came over to the United States from Albania in 1990. About 100 people were expected for the celebration, including U.S. Rep. William Delahunt, D-Quincy, said Keka, who lives in Milton.
The secession of Kosovo from Serbia, made official by the Kosovo parliament Sunday, has been backed by the United States and the European Union. Kosovo has been formally part of Serbia but under U.N. administration since the end of the Kosovo War in 1999.
“This is the fourth of July for all of us. It’s the happiest day of my life,” said Ferhat Ymeraga, 53, of Kent, Wash., who was visiting a college in Boston with his wife and son. Their family came to the United States from Djakovica, Kosovo, in 1990. “This is a celebration of all Albanians regardless of religion,” Ymeraga said.
Also in attendance was Dritan Korca, who came to the United States from Albania 10 years ago and has lived in Quincy ever since. “It’s something we’ve been waiting for so many, many years,” said Korca, who runs a travel agency.
The crowd included members of the Massachusetts Albanian American Society – Besa, a nonprofit organization promoting the progress of the state’s Albanian-American community.
Albana Orgocka, co-chair of the society, said the reality of it was yet to sink in. “We’re still watching the TV and still can’t believe it,” said Orgocka, who lives in Melrose. “It’s just the most amazing thing that’s happened.”
Kosovo is home to about 2 million people, 90 percent of whom are ethnic Albanians.
Stefan Kochi, who serves in the Massachusetts chapter of the National Albanian American Council, did not see the decision to declare Kosovo’s independence as retaliatory against any other nation.
“I think Albanians in Kosovo never intended on destroying Yugoslavia – they just wanted their own rights,” Kochi said of the former European federation that once comprised what are now seven separate countries.
The declaration of independence has faced strong opposition from Serbia and its ally Russia, with Serbian president Boris Tadic vowing never to recognize Kosovo’s independence.
But after 10 years of fighting for their freedom, Alba owner Keka doubted the people of Kosovo would turn back now. “I don’t think that Albanians will want to live with that anymore,” Keka said.