Kosovo Leader Draws Big Crowd to Staten Island Festival

Midland Beach became the center of attention for Staten Island's first Albanian Festival. A large group showed up in red, black, and white. The day had live music, many food stands, and vendors selling goods. Visitors could eat fries, crepes, and pizza, but they could also try burek, a savory pastry filled with items such as meat or cheese.

The festival was clearly rooted in Albanian-American culture, but it also felt wider than one group. Traditional clothing was sold near sports gear that mixed New York team styles with Albanian designs. Artan Syla, who runs Bronx-based Textile Threads, said his Knicks hats sold the best this summer. The shop also made Skanderbeg jerseys that looked like Aaron Judge shirts. Syla pointed to Yankees hats and said they would likely disappear once the playoffs began.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti was one of the biggest draws. People gathered around him as he walked a red carpet, asking for photos and handshakes. On stage, he spoke in Albanian, and the crowd listened closely. Solida Rrjolli said recent events made the day feel heavier for her. She moved from Albania to New Dorp 30 years ago, when she was 12. She said many people just want peace. She called the Sept. 16 ruling that sentenced former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi to 25 years in prison by a war crimes tribunal in The Hague unjust. She also said seeing Serbians celebrate worried her. Rrjolli said she has refugee friends and visits home each year. She believes the new legal decisions deepen division in the Balkans. At the festival, she taught around her about Albanian history and culture. She also said her son would be dancing.

Dzemal Lanica and Naser Nika helped plan the event. Lanica is president of the Albanian American Association of Ulgin, and Nika is president of the Albanian American Association of Staten Island. They said the festival is meant for children and later generations so culture does not fade. Lanica moved from Montenegro seven years ago and said many older community members have not been back to their countries for decades. He likes burek, qebapa, and Albanian burgers. The organizers had held a fourth annual Albanian picnic on May 31 before this festival. This event was aimed at bringing in non-Albanians too. Lanica said it took about three months to arrange. They worked with Albanians from New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Connecticut, with help from people back home. Local leaders were there, including city councilmember David Carr, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, and District Attorney Mike McMahon. McMahon said he was glad many Albanian Americans had made Staten Island their home. He said events like this help make the island stronger.

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