ARBNOR KRASNIQI’S COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP FUELLED BY A PAST AMID SERBIA’S WAR IN KOSOVO
Arbnor Krasniqi has taken time this weekend to cast his vote in Kosovo’s Parliamentary elections in Ottawa, a chance for the Kosovar diaspora to engage in their homeland's democratic process. Kosovo showed quite the democracy in the election process leaving little room for irregularities. The elections were being closely monitored by local and international organizations to ensure protocol and a smooth voting process was in place including members from Council of Europe. Since Kosovo’s independence in 2008, this is the first time Kosovo's parliament has completed its mandate in full.
Krasniqi says it’s a joy to participate in Kosovo’s election whose county's past brings back memories of surreal struggles, far away from exercising the right to vote. “it’s a great privilege to be part of any process that helps the growth of our homeland” A quarter-century ago, Krasniqi's family was among those uprooted by the war in Kosovo. “ My family’s experience during the Kosovo War was painful and heart breaking. At the time we left our country I was 20 years old” He adds “Memories are still fresh. The worst moments of all were the ones I looked into my parents eyes and seeing the fear in them not being able to provide safeguarding for us, it was hard, especially for me as the oldest”
Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti began his career as an activist whose activism evolved into a political party. During NATO’s air bombing campaign, Kurti was arrested and beaten by Serbian forces where he was receiving a 15-year prison sentence, only to be acquitted later due to international outcry. The movement ‘Vetevendosje’ joined the political race since 2010 with Kurti as its leader. Throughout the latest term, Prime Minister Albin Kurti's tenure was marked by friction with Western countries, including the US, escalating ethnic tensions that required an increased US military presence to stabilize the region. The results of today's vote will decide Kosovo's leadership in peace negotiations with Serbia, and the future of Europe’s youngest country with a population smaller than Toronto. Exit polls indicate that Kurti is in the lead but without a clear majority, a dip from the last elections.
With Donald Trump now as U.S. President, and Kurti with a record of an agenda on his own, all eyes will be on Kosovo when talks with Serbia resume.
However, Krasniqi is optimistic about future progress. “We need to strengthen our country in areas like manufacturing, defense, and security,” he hopes.
Source: Museum of Immigration, Pier 21
Krasniqi remembers well when tensions turned into a deadly war in the late 1990's, something he hopes will never happen again “We lived in an apartment building of mixed nationalities, Albanians and Serbs. Seeing our neighbors in paramilitaries uniforms and loaded with weapons, was extremely frightening. Those were the deciding moments that we decided to leave Kosovo and took the train to Blace, North Macedonia. The train was full of fellow Albanians that were escaping. We were accompanied with Serbian Paramilitary Soldiers that were asking questions, especially to younger guys like me as well they were asking for money in order for us to “pass” through the checkpoints (that were controlled by Serbs as well) easier. That was quite a journey to remember!” Krasniqi and his family spent five weeks in Macedonia’s refugee camp before taking a leap of faith and start a new journey in Canada.
Krasniqi's family was part of the 5,000 refugees Canada initially airlifted in response to the crisis “We were lost! Didn’t talk much nor know much about Canada. It was the reception that made all of us blend within this amazing society that a lot of us call home now.”
Krasniqi recalls a difficult new beginning in Canada but he attributes the success of Kosovo refugees is a result of the support they received from Canadians. The influx of refugees led to the formation of new Albanian communities, enriching Ottawa's cultural tapestry “At the time, Ottawa only had few Albanians. So here is how our integration in our new society begun, some of us started school to learn languages and some of us started work. It’s always the first generation that does sacrifice more, though in our case really paid off” he says.
Krasniqi is a father of three and lives in Ottawa with his family and now blends in well with locals. His community leadership and volunteer work has been exemplary in Ottawa where for many years he has served as the President of the Albanian-Canadian Organization from helping with community events to providing Albanian language supplement classes to children.
Kosovo declared independence in 2008 with Canada, U.S., Germany, being one of the first few countries to recognize its new status. Kosovo and Albania now have embassies in Ottawa actively engaging with the local Albanian community through various cultural and commemorative events.
Krasniqi says the diaspora from Kosovo that arrived is refugees is a prime example of Canada’s humanitarian efforts that has also helped shape the future of their adoptive homeland “while most of us were working in different fields, mainly in construction, the younger generation was going through different paths of education. I can say with a pride that as a member of Albanian Community, here in Ottawa, we have done extremely well! Among us we have great entrepreneurs, our members that have integrated very well that they represent us in all levels of government; we have doctors; nurses etc.” he says.