New York, 20 September 2026
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, visited the Albanian Catholic Church “Our Lady of Shkodra” in Hartsdale, New York, where he attended Sunday Mass.
The Mass was celebrated by His Eminence Albanian Cardinal Ernest Simoni Troshani, together with Father Pjetër Popaj, in the presence of worshippers and members of the Albanian-American community.
In his remarks following the Mass, Prime Minister Kurti emphasized that, at the age of 97, just weeks before his 98th birthday, Cardinal Ernest Simoni continues to convey with the same strength the message of faith, hope and love for humanity. He added that the Mass was moving, carrying a message of kindness, understanding and respect for one another.
“It is a particular pleasure and honour to be here with you today, and allow me first to greet His Eminence, Cardinal Ernest Simoni Troshani, whose life, which is itself a work, inspires all of us, both as citizens of a republic and as Albanians wherever we may be, but also as state officials,” said Prime Minister Kurti.
The “Our Lady of Shkodra” parish, established in 1989, is among the important religious and national institutions of the Albanian community in the United States of America. The church in Hartsdale was consecrated in 1999 and over the years has become an important centre of the religious, cultural and social life of Albanians in New York.
In addition to its religious mission, it continues to contribute to preserving the Albanian language, culture, traditions and national identity among younger generations of the diaspora.
Prime Minister Kurti expressed his gratitude for the work and dedication of Father Pjetër Popaj, Cardinal Ernest Simoni and all members of the “Our Lady of Shkodra” Church community, as well as for the longstanding contribution of the Albanian-American community to maintaining ties with the homeland and supporting Kosovo.
Full speech by Prime Minister Kurti following the Mass:
It is a particular pleasure and honour to be here with you today, and allow me first to greet His Eminence, Cardinal Ernest Simoni Troshani, whose life, which is itself a work, inspires all of us, both as citizens of a republic and as Albanians wherever we may be, but also as state officials. Thank you very much, Your Eminence, Cardinal Ernest.
We are coming here to you from Yonkers, where we were to lay fresh flowers and pay tribute at the graves of the three Bytyqi brothers, Yll, Ilir and Mehmet Bytyqi, who in 1999, as members of the “Atlantic” Battalion of the Kosovo Liberation Army, were brutally killed by Serbian forces.
Their bodies rest peacefully in Yonkers, but not entirely, because justice has not been served for them. Therefore, at every meeting we have with U.S. officials, we raise the issue of the lack of justice for these three Albanians, these three Americans, these three freedom fighters, who sacrificed themselves for the state we have and the freedom we enjoy together.
Glory to the Bytyqi brothers and to all the martyrs of the Albanian nation!
Shkodra is a lady, Our Lady of Shkodra is twice a lady, and the Albanian Catholic Church “Our Lady of Shkodra” here is thrice a lady.
I believe that one of the factors that will show how far the Albanian nation has come in the 21st century will be precisely the state of Shkodra. The entire Albanian nation has a duty to develop Shkodra and raise it as high as possible, because it is an ancient city, rich in tradition and culture, which has given much to the Albanian nation and even more than that, and which today deserves our utmost dedication.
Therefore, one of the projects we have with the Republic of Albania is also the construction of the Prishtina–Durrës railway, which will include the Gjakova–Shkodra segment, which forms the spring of the Albanian nation.
I am here in New York with a delegation from Kosovo. With me are the Minister of Finance, Hekuran Murati; the Minister of Public Administration and Digitalization; the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Kreshnik Ahmeti; our Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to the United States, based in Washington, D.C., Ilir Dugolli; as well as our friends from the Presheva Valley, Mayor Ardita Sinani and Member of Parliament from Bujanoc, Shaip Kamberi.
You know that in the Republic of Kosovo, in a 120-seat Parliament, we have 10 seats reserved for Serbs. One of them is my minister, while the other nine belong to Vučić’s party, and even official Belgrade considers nine too few. It considers them too few because it wants all ten. On the other hand, the only Albanian member of parliament we have in Serbia, Shaip Kamberi, is considered too much, because he is a hard worker and represents with dignity the Albanians who are oppressed and exploited. Therefore, brothers and sisters, I ask for your support in helping the Albanians of Presheva, Medvegja and Bujanoc, with everything we know and everything we can do.
The state must be strong, but the state must also be good. Therefore, our government seeks to bring peace, justice and love together.
The Albanian Catholic Church has historically made a great contribution, and for us it represents an example to be followed through sacrifice for the common good and by placing the public interest, by placing the community, above the personal and individual interests of anyone.
Thank you very much for such a warm welcome!
Long live the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Albania!
May God bless the American nation and the Albanian nation!
Thank you!
