The President of Kosovo, a country in Southeast Europe, visited Waterbury to meet and thank Albanian residents for their support Saturday evening.
Waiting with roses in hand, children dressed in traditional clothing were eager to greet the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu. The President was welcomed by a crowd at the Albanian American Cultural Center.
“With your help, Kosovo found its voice in the world and the dream of freedom and independence became a reality,” Osmani-Sadriu said. “Let us ensure that the friendship between Kosovo in the United States grows even stronger, so that our children and our grandchildren in the future, will inherit a bond that is unbreakable, a partnership that endures and a future built on freedom and the dignity.”
Kosovo is a country of a million people, mostly Albanians. It declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Since then, Kosova and the United States have been strong allies.
“The freedom fighters of Kosovo deserve our wholehearted support, and I will continue to be there in your corner,” Senator Richard Blumenthal said.
Waterbury has a significant Albanian population but people from out of the state came all the way here just to see the President of Kosovo.
“We feel like one still,” Mugni Zhaku said, from Franklin, New Jersey. “We are here but our hearts are there.”
Mayor Paul Pernerewski Jr. gifted the president with a key to the city, a sign that she and the people of Kosovo are always welcome.
“Their contribution to our city’s culture, our economy and our civic life have enriched Waterbury for generations,” he said. “Our communities are tied together by shared values of faith, family, hard work.”