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| Mark Gjonaj speaking |
Men with a proud look, crossed the Atlantic Ocean, grasped their weapons and fought for freedom of Kosovo 20 years ago. Even though they had Albanian origin, many of them did not knew Albanian, but the blood was 'boiling inside them' when their compatriots were massacred by the bloody hand of the Serbian army in their own Homeland.
Two decades ago, a large number of Albanian-American youths left everything they had - their families, homes and businesses in the US - and wore the military uniforms to join the Kosovo Liberation Army. The three Bytyqi brothers never returned back.
Members of the Atlantic Battalion came to Tirana to tell their story. Gani Shehu, former commander of the Battalion recalls his unimaginable sacrifices, among which when he by himself returned to war even though he was injured with a bullet. 67 former Atlantic Battalion fighters recall the 20th anniversary of the Kosovo War. They have chosen the same path they described years ago.
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| Atlantic Batalion |
Mr. Mark Gjonaj was also with them - member of the New York City Council. Asked by Albanian media, referring to the political situation in Albania he said that the political leaders should have as their primary interests the citizens and Albania.
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| Atlantic Batalion |
"I encourage Albanian political leaders to leave aside the divisions, they have many things in common, and begin to focus on the real problems of the people, of the Fatherland and of the national causes. They must take care of the Albanian children to get the best possible education and have a great future, they must make sure that people have economic prosperity so they can enjoy their lives and take care of their families as well. Politicians must take care of providing to people with better health systems, providing older people with some years of peace and prosperity with dignity. This is my message to the Albanian political category and there is no better example than the Atlantic battalion.
Interestingly, a teenager of just 16 years old joined hundreds of boys and men of the Atlantic battalion, she was Linda Muriqi.
