Nishani honors Albanian – American community leaders

Nicholas Pano, Harry Bajraktari, Richard Lukaj granted Honor of Nation Award; National Albanian- American Council awarded with Skanderbeg Order by President Bujar Nishani.
NEW YORK, Oct. 1 – President Bujar Nishani has honored key leaders in the Albanian-American community for their efforts in helping Albania’s progress over the past two decades.
Nishani, who was in the United States this week to speak at the UN General Assembly meeting, attended several other events in New York and Michigan to meet with members of the Albanian American community.
At an event in New York City he decorated several Albanian-Americans, including Nikolla Pano and Anthony Athanas.
President Nishani said he wanted to pay tribute to Albanian-Americans for their contribution to their ancestral homeland. He said they never forgot their Albanian roots, using their energies and skills to help modernize Albania.
Nishani added Albania has seen many achievements over the past two decades, which have been accomplished with the support of international partners, including the United States, which he said has played an irreplaceable role.
“I want to point out the great contribution and generous support given by the Albanian community in America as well – your grandfathers and fathers – whose hearts, despite the distance, despite the gloom of communist in their home country for several decades – their hearts never stopped beating for their sisters and brothers back home.” Nishani said.
The National Albanian American Council, a very active lobbying organization based in Washington, which maintains close ties with the U.S. Congress and the State Department, was honored with the Skanderbeg Order award, received on behalf of the board, by the executive director, Avni Mustafa.
The Honor of the Nation Award was also awarded to Nicholas Pano, an Albanian- American academic and previous contributor to Tirana Times. He is the author of many books and articles on Balkan affairs and a keen observer of developments in Albania as well as an eminent analyst of Albania’s democracy issues.
“I had the opportunity to meet some of my old friends. It was a magnificent evening that left a deep impression. I’m very excited and very proud to be Albanian,” Pano told the Albanian service of the Voice of America after the ceremony.
The Honor of the Nation Award was granted posthumously to Antony Athanas, a leader in the Albanian American community in Boston and a successful restaurateur who backed the Vatra (Hearth) Patriotic Organization.
His famous restaurant, Pier 4 had become an important meeting point of the Albanian community and regularly frequented by American presidents, actors and key U.S. personalities. He passed away in 2005, and the medal was received by one of his sons.
The Honor of the Nation Award was also granted to two successful Albanian- American businessmen, Harry Bajraktari and Richard Lukaj, for their philanthropic activities currently and the past, particularly during the Kosovo crisis in 1999.
Congressman Eliot Engel also spoke at the event.