ms SHIRLEY CLOYES DIOGUARDI

The Albanian American Civic League informed Congressman Jerrold Nadler in New York about the steps that need to be taken to resolve the conflict between Serbia and Kosova.

The Albanian American Civic League is engaged in informing the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs about the conflict between Serbia and Kosova and the steps that can be taken to resolve the conflict.

the Albanian American Civic League is engaged in informing the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs about the conflict between Serbia and Kosova and the steps that can be taken to resolve the conflict.

Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi, Balkan Affairs Adviser, and former Congressman Joe DioGuardi, President of the Albanian American Civic League, attended the May 18 Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, chaired by Senator Robert Menendez, for which Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi provided extensive materials to the senior staff during the months preceding the hearing and after which she and Joe DioGuardi met briefly with Senator Menendez.

Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi, Balkan Affairs Adviser, and former Congressman Joe DioGuardi, President, of the Albanian American Civic League, met with Congressman Gregory Meeks, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, on November 5 about the need to establish human and civil rights for Albanians in Southern Serbia. They have maintained in regular contact with the senior staff in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about the need for a full Committee hearing on the resolution of the Serbia-Kosova conflict.

Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi, Balkan Affairs Adviser, and former Congressman Joe DioGuardi, President, of the Albanian American Civic League, met with Senator Robert Menendez. Shirley made a presentation about the need for a full Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the resolution of the Serbia-Kosova conflict. She cited the importance of Prishtina and Belgrade sitting down at the negotiating table only after Belgrade recognizes the independence of Kosova, a position that Senator Menendez supports.

Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi, Balkan Affairs Adviser, and former Congressman Joe DioGuardi, President, of the Albanian American Civic League, brought four Albanian political leaders from the Presheva Valley in Serbia to Washington meet with Congressman James McGovern, co-chair of the the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission; with Martin McDowell, the State Department's Director for Central and Southeast Europe; and with Sarah Arkin, in charge of Europe for the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, chaired by Senator Bob Menendez, for the purpose of discussing Serbia's discrimination of Albanians in the Presheva Valley and the steps that need to be taken to resolve the Serbia-Kosova conflict. Their visit concluded with our taking them to the Former Member of Congress's Annual Statesmanship Awards Dinner where we introduced them to Senator Tim Kaine and former Congresswoman Connie Morella.

Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi, Balkan Affairs Adviser, and former Congressman Joe DioGuardi, President, of the Albanian American Civic League, are in discussion with the senior staff of Senator Robert Menendez, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about the need for a Committee hearing on the resolution of the conflict between Serbia and Kosova.

AACL Balkan Affairs Adviser Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi and former Congressman Joe DioGuardi, AACL President, met in Washington with nine senior staff (2 in their offices and 7 from their hotels on Microsoft Teams, by request because of Covid-19), who report to Members of the House and Senate Foreign Affairs Committees and the Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation in the Senate and the Subcommittee on Europe, Energy, the Environment, and Cyber in the House to discuss the U.S. government's strategy for the final settlement of the conflict between Serbia and Kosova.

Shirley Cloyes and former Congressman Joe DioGuardi did not conduct lobbying issues during the fourth quarter.

Shirley Cloyes and former Congressman Joe DioGuardi did not conduct lobbying issues during the third quarter.

Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi and former Congressman Joe DioGuardi connected by phone and email with the senior staff of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel, the House Subcommittee on Europe Chairman William Keating and Member Gregory Meeks, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez, the Senate Subcommittee on Europe Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen and Member Chris Coons regarding the efforts needed to prevent the partition of Kosova, orchestrated by Serbia and Russia.

The Albanian American Civic League did not conduct any lobbying activities during this period.

My husband, former Congressman Joe DioGuardi, and I held meetings from November 12 to 15, 2019 with Legislative Directors and Foreign Policy LAs in the offices of Members of the House Subcommittee on Europe, including Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Vincente Gonzalez (D-TX), Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), Albio Sires(D-NJ), Jim Costa (D-CA), David Trone (D-MD), Ted Deutch (D-FL), William Keating (D-MA), and Gregory Meeks (D-NY) and Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, including Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Chris Coons (D-DE) to discuss the increasing influence of Turkey, Russia, and Serbia in Southeast Europe and the destabilizing impact that this is having on Albanians in Albania, Kosova, Macedonia, Montenegro, the Presheva Valley, and Chameria.

The Albanian American Civic League did no lobbying between July 1 and September 30, 2019. Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi was late in filing because of illness and then travel overseas.

On May 15 and 16, former Congressman Joe DioGuardi and Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi met in Washington, DC, with the senior foreign policy staff for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Senate Democratic Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID and Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee), and Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)to discuss the breakdown in the Prishtina-Belgrade negotiations because of Serbia's failure to recognize the independence of Kosova and the internal political crisis in Albania. Joe DioGuardi met with Speaker Pelosi, while Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi discussed the human rights problems for Albanians in the Presheva Valley, with political leaders Shaip Kamberi, Ardita Sinani, and Ragmi Mustafa, who were guests of the DioGuardis at the Annual Meeting of the US Association of Former Members of Congress on May 13 and 14.

On September 26, former Congressman Joe DioGuardi, Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi, and members of the Albanian American Civic League Board met in Washington, DC, with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Chair of the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats. Cloyes DioGuardi made the presentation on the Civic League's behalf about the serious political problems in Kosova and Macedonia and steps the US government could take to help resolve them and bring peace and stability to Southeast Europe--first and foremost to require Serbia to recognize the independence of Kosova and to ask the five Members of the European Union who have not to do the same.

Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi testified on April 18, 2018, before the House Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats about the status of Macedonia and Kosova at a hearing about the impact of the Dayton Accords on the Western Balkans twenty years later. On June 25, former Congressman Joe DioGuardi and Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi met in Washington, DC, with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Chair of the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats, and two members of the Albanian parliament to discuss the current political situation in Albania.

On March 22, former Congressman Joe DioGuardi and I met in Washington, DC, with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Chair of the House Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats, to discuss the need for a hearing focusing on the political crisis in Macedonia. Rohrabacher and his Professional Staff member for the Subcommittee, Chadwick Gore, informed us that a hearing had been scheduled for April 18, 2018, looking at the legacy of the Dayton Accords in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and they agreed that Macedonia and Kosova could be incorporated into the hearing, since the impact of the Dayton Accords on the Western Balkans as a whole needed to be revisited more than 20 years after the agreement was signed in Dayton.

On November 21, we met in New York with Congressman Ed Royce, Chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, (R-CA), to discuss unresolved political problems in Macedonia between ethnic Albanians and ethnic Macedonians and Russian intervention in the Western Balkans.

On July 9, we held a meeting in Staten Island with Congressman Dan Donovan (R-NY) to discuss the political problems facing Albanians in Macedonia. On September 26, we held a meeting with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher in Washington, DC, to discuss the continuing political crisis in Macedonia and the energy crisis in Bangladesh.

After the May 17 hearing on the Balkans chaired by Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) in his Subcommittee, we lobbied Congressman Rohrabacher and his Committee staff about the need to visit Macedonia during the summer recess to assess the new government, a coalition of the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia, led by Zoran Zaev, and the Democratic Party of Albanians-Movement for Reforms, led by Ziadin Sela. On June 7, we contacted Elizabeth O'Bagy, senior legislative assistant to Senator John McCain (R-AZ) to discuss our interest in a Senate hearing about unresolved conflicts in the Balkans, and the forthcoming Special Court for Kosovo in The Hague.

Lobbying Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Chair of the House Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats, on February 13, 2017, about the growing political crisis in Macedonia and the need for a Congressional hearing on the Balkans, in light of the European Union's weak performance in the Balkans, ever since the United States handed over leadership in the region to the EU twelve years ago.

Lobbying Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Chair of the House Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats, in October about the political crisis in Macedonia.

July 11 meeting with Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chair, Senate Armed Services Committee on the political crises in Macedonia, the need to further delay national elections (now scheduled for December) due to the failure of the ruling parties to implement the political reforms required by the European Union, and to call for a hearing in the Senate to investigate the corruption and lack of rule of law in Macedonia, the degree to which the State Department in successive administrations has kept the corrupt ruling coalition in power in the name of maintaining stability at all costs, and proposals for a new foreign policy in Macedonia and throughout the Western Balkans.

April 13 meeting in Washington, DC, with Representative Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Chair, House Subcommittee on European and Eurasian Affairs, to discuss the political crises in Macedonia and Kosova, and to call for a hearing, either in the Subcommittee or in the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, to investigate the corruption and lack of rule of law in both countries and to challenge US foreign policy, specifically the degree to which the State Department has kept corrupt ruling parties in Kosova and Macedonia in power in the name of maintaining stability at all costs.

January 29 meeting in New York with Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Chair Emeritus of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, to discuss the unresolved conflict in Southeast Europe, especially in Kosova, Macedonia, and Bosnia and the need for a hearing in the Committee on Foreign Affairs to address the need for strong US Ambassadors in the region, the implementation of a meaningful State Department policy, and the engagement of Albanians--who have lived in harmony for centuries as Muslims, Orthodox Christians, Roman Catholics, and Jews--to prevent the incursion of ISIS into Western Europe.

October 11 meeting in NY with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, Chair of the House Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats, to discuss the plight of Albanians in the Presheva Valley. October 25 meeting in NY with Congressman Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, to discuss the brewing political crises in Macedonia and Kosova and the need for a spring 2016 Congressional hearing to address this. December 6 meeting in NY with Congressman Mac Thornberry, Chair of the House Armed Services Committee, to discuss the need to maintain US leadership of Camp Bondsteel until the Serbian-Albanian conflict in northern Kosova is resoved.

October 11 meeting in NY with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, Chair of the House Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats, to discuss the plight of Albanians in the Presheva Valley. October 25 meeting in NY with Congressman Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, to discuss the brewing political crises in Macedonia and Kosova and the need for a spring 2016 Congressional hearing to address this. December 6 meeting in NY with Congressman Mac Thornberry, Chair of the House Armed Services Committee, to discuss the need to maintain US leadership of Camp Bondsteel until the Serbian-Albanian conflict in northern Kosova is resoved.

April 29, hearing on the Western Balkans, to examine the region 20 years after the signing of the Dayton Accords, chaired by Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Chair of the House Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats. AACL president Joe DioGuardi testified at the hearing about the political crisis in Macedonia and the challenges facing Kosovo because of the failure of the Prishtina-Belgrade talks and the lack of public support for the current Kosova government. Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi and Joe DioGuardi held a meeting with Congressman Rohrabacher later that day to discuss the results of his trip to the Balkans. June 14, the Civic League lobbied Senator John McCain (R-AZ) in Manhattan about the political crisis in Macedonia and the importance of Albanians as a pro-American force that could prevent the incursion of ISIS into Europe. Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi, at Senator McCain's instruction, forwarded to his Chief of Staff in June backgrounders on the situation in Macedonia. June 14, Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi spoke at length with Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY) about the link between Albanians and the Chinese in rescuing Jews during the Holocaust and her involvement in the effort to resolve the Serbian-Albanian conflict in the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

January 11, meeting with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, Chair of the House Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats to discuss the political crisis in Macedonia. February 11, meeting with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher and his foreign policy staff in Washington, DC, to discuss the need for a hearing on Macedonia and Kosova, a hearing th was recommended by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce in Washington, DC, on September 17, 2014, following a briefing in the Subcommittee on Europe at which the Chairman spoke and Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi testified about the crisis in Macedonia. March 23, meeting with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher and his foreign policy staff, at which he proposed a hearing in his Subcommittee on April 29, 2015, that would focus on Kosova, Macedonia, and Bosnia, twenty years after the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords that ended the war in Bosnia.

January 11, meeting with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, Chair of the House Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats to discuss the political crisis in Macedonia. February 11, meeting with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher and his foreign policy staff in Washington, DC, to discuss the need for a hearing on Macedonia and Kosova, a hearing th was recommended by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce in Washington, DC, on September 17, 2014, following a briefing in the Subcommittee on Europe at which the Chairman spoke and Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi testified about the crisis in Macedonia. March 23, meeting with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher and his foreign policy staff, at which he proposed a hearing in his Subcommittee on April 29, 2015, that would focus on Kosova, Macedonia, and Bosnia, twenty years after the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords that ended the war in Bosnia.

Met with Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, on December 7 in Manhattan to discuss the root causes of problems in Kosova and Macedonia and the importance of a hearing on the region during the 114th Congress.

Briefed Congressman Peter Raskam (R-IL)in his district about the status of Albanians in Macedonia. On September 17, held a briefing in the hearing room of the Subcommittee on Europe and Eurasia for Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairwoman Emeritus Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), and Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on the current crisis in Macedonia. On September 18, held a 2-hour meeting with Carina Canaan, State Department Desk Officer for Macedonia and Montenegro, about the status of Albanians in Macedonia and the impact of the "Monstra Case" on conditions in the country.

Gave a briefing on June 30 to Congressman Tom Reed (R-NY) about the status of Albanians in Macedonia, recommending that the US government make a comprehensive assessment of the extent to which the reforms outlined in the Ohrid Framework Agreement of August 2001 have been implemented. Since many of the Agreement's provisions have yet to be implemented, there is little trust in government, civil society is hobbled, and the country is highly dysfunctional. We asked Congressman Reed to collaborate with Congressmen Gibson and Rohrabacher on developing a new US foreign policy approach to resolving interethnic problems in Macedonia, especially addressing corruption in the ruling ethnic Macedonian and ethnic Albanian coalition. Congressman Gibson met with the State Department in June to get the Administration's assessment of the Ohrid Agreement, and we asked Congressman Reed to do the same.

Gave a briefing on June 30 to Congressman Tom Reed (R-NY) about the status of Albanians in Macedonia, recommending that the US government make a comprehensive assessment of the extent to which the reforms outlined in the Ohrid Framework Agreement of August 2001 have been implemented. Since many of the Agreement's provisions have yet to be implemented, there is little trust in government, civil society is hobbled, and the country is highly dysfunctional. We asked Congressman Reed to collaborate with Congressmen Gibson and Rohrabacher on developing a new US foreign policy approach to resolving interethnic problems in Macedonia, especially addressing corruption in the ruling ethnic Macedonian and ethnic Albanian coalition. Congressman Gibson met with the State Department in June to get the Administration's assessment of the Ohrid Agreement, and we asked Congressman Reed to do the same.

Gave a briefing on March 18 to Congressman Chris Gibson (R-NY) about the status of Albanians in Macedonia, recommending that the U.S. government make a comprehensive assessment of the extent to which the reforms outlined in the Ohrid Framework Agreement of August 2001 have been implemented. Because many of the provisions of the Agreement have yet to be implemented, there is little trust in state institutions; civil society is hobbled; and the country is largely dysfunctional.

Lobbied Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) to reintroduce H.Res. 812, "commending Albanians in Albania and Kosova for protecting and saving the lives of all Jews who either lived in Albania or sought asylum there during the Holocaust." Lobbied Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) to reintroduce the corresponding Senate Resolution, S.Res. 601.

Lobbied the staff of Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) about the flaws in the EU-sponsored agreement between Serbia and Kosovo. Shirley Cloyes testified before the hearing on Kosova on April 24 in the House Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats, chaired by Congressman Rohrabacher. Cloyes, Joe DioGuardi, and AACL Board members met with House Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman, Edward Royce (R-CA), on April 25 to brief him on the hearing. On June 23, Civic Leaguemembers briefed Congressman Rush Holt (D-NJ) in New Jersey about issues concerning Albanians in the Balkans.

Lobbied Congressman Dana Rorhabacher (R-CA), chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats, to hold a hearing on the negotiations between Serbia and Kosova to resolve the Balkan conflict.

We worked with the staffs of Congressmen Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) to introduce H.Res. 812 (on Nov. 15) and S.Res. 601 (on Nov. 27), recognizing the 100th anniversary of Albania's independence and the saving role that Albanians from Albania and Kosova played in saving Jews during the Holocaust. On December 7, we met with Congressman Buck McKeon, chair of the Armed Services Committee, to discuss the ongoing need for a U.S. presence in Kosova.

On July 11, we met with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher ofthe House Committee on Foreign Affairs to discuss the threat to peace in the Balkans ifthe negotiations between Serbia and Kosova lead to the partition of northern Kosova, the ongoing interethic strife in Macedonia and Montenagro, and human rights violations in the Presheva Valley. On August 21, we met with Congressman Jerrold nadler to discuss plans for the 100th anniversary of Albania's declaration of independence on November 28.

We assisted Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), senior member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, in arranging meetings with members of the Assembly and civil society in Kosova during his visit to the country in November 2011, for the purpose of discussing the resolution of the conflict between Belgrade and Prishtina about the final status of Kosova. On December 12, Joe DioGuardi, Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi, and some members of the AACL Board of Directors met with Congressman Buck McKeon, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, about the need to maintain U.S. leadership at Camp Bondsteel in Ferizaj, Kosova, until the conflict in northern Kosova is resolved.

On September 30, the Civic League lobbied Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, regarding the challenges facing Albanians living in Kosova, Albania, Montenegro, Macedonia, and Greece. Particular attention was given to Belgrade's attempt to make the de facto partition of northern Kosova a de jure reality and the violation of the human rights of Albanians in Greece, especially the Chams who were the victims of genocide in World War II.

On March 31, the Civic League met with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) to discuss the still unresolved final status of Kosova and the Prishtina-Belgrade negotiations. We also met with the staff of Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), the chairwoman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Congressman Tom Marino (R-PA), a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs to discuss the current situation in Southeast Europe.

We met Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) on July 23, to discuss the repression of Albanians in the Presheva Valley, and Civic League Balkan Affairs Adviser Shirley Cloyes participated in an interview with him conducted by the Albanian section of Voice of America regarding Belgrade's ongoing efforts to undermine Kosova's sovereignty by blocking the participation of Kosova Serbs north of the Ibar River in the political, economic, and social life of the nation.

We discussed with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and his staff the ongoing repression of the Albanian-majority population in the Presheva Valley (southern Serbia), including the arrest, torture, imprisonment in Belgrade, and trial of nine Albanians from the region.

We discussed our forthcoming fact-finding mission to Kosova with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), who asked us to report back to him. We continued to monitor the status of the Albanian Americans arrested, tortured, and jailed in Montenegro with Rohrabacher and the Southeast Europe adviser to Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE). Senator Charles Schumer was the keynote speaker at a May 25 fundraiser in White Plains for the establishment of the Mother Teresa Roman Catholic Cathedral in Prishtina, Kosova.

We worked with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and the foreign policy staffers for Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in support of the independence of Kosova (achieved on February 17) and on an effort to free the American Albanians, who were arrested, tortured, and imprisoned in Montenegro on September 10, 2006.

We worked with foreign policy staffers for Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Joe Biden (D-DE), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), member of the House Commitee on Foreign Affairs, to monitor the status and trial of fourteen Albanians, including three American citizens, who were arrested, tortured, and imprisoned in Montenegro in September 2006. We also lobbied Congressman

Rohrabacher, and foreign policy staffers for Senators Joseph Biden (D-DE) and John McCain (R-AZ) to discuss the need for ongoing Congressional investigation into the torture, arrest, and ongoing pretrial detention since September 10, 2006, in Montenegro of fourteen Albanians, including three American citizens. Congressman Lantos subsequently met with Montenegrin Ambassador Vlahovic and by phone with Montenegrin Prime Minister Sturanvoic to discuss the status of the Albanian American prisoners and to offer his recommendations for a resolution of their case. On April 23, Congressman Lantos participated with former Congressman Joe DioGuardi and Shirley Cloyes in a forum on "Kosova and the Road to Peace in the Balkans" that was sponsored in Manhattan by the National Committee on American Foreign Policy. We worked with the Committee staff for Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, to introduce on January 5, 2007, H.Res. 36, calling on the U.S. government to declare its support for the independence of Kosova now. We also worked with the Committee staff in support of a hearing on the final status of Kosova, which was held on April 16. After the hearing, we held meetings with Congressman Lantos, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Congressman Dana

Kosova now and the introduction of a resolution similar to S.Res. 521, recognizing the unique role that Albanians played in saving Jews during the Nazi Holocaust. On September 15, we brought Albanian Deputy Foreign Minister Edith Harxhi to meet withCongressman Lantos and his staff to discuss the goals of the new Albanian government of Sali Berisha, specifically its strategy for ending corruption, strengthening the rule of law, and revitalizing the economy. We met with the staff of Congressman Lantos on December 12 to discuss the draft of a new resolution in support of U.S. recognition of Kosova's independence now and a hearing on Kosova's final status in the winter of 2007. On September 14, we met with Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) and awarded him the AACL's sixth annual Balkans Peace Award in the House International Relations Committee reception room in the Capitol Building (H-139). Senator John McCain (R-AZ), co-recipient of the 2006 award, was unable to attend the September 14 meeting. We presented the award to him in October. We met with Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and the staff of Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE) on September 14 to discuss Kosova's final status and the challenges facing the new Albanian government (with Edith Harxhi). From October to December, we worked with the staffs of Senator Biden and Representatives Lantos, Ros-Lehtinen, and Rohrabacher to produce letters to the government of Montenegro inquiring into the arrest and torture of fourteen Albanians, including three Americans. We held meetings in July and September with Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House International Relations Committee, to discuss the reintroduction in the 110th Congress of House Resolution 24 in support of the independence of