![\"Albanian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/O2FQTZOMAFELVE3GXAQNZQRWKA.jpg\")
The November 2025 street naming ceremony brought together the two national figures who never met in life but now stand together on Staten Island.Photos courtesy of Naser Nika<\/p>\nSTATEN ISLAND, NY — Hundreds of Albanian Americans and local officials gathered on Nov. 30 to dedicate \u201cIsa Boletini Way\u201d at the intersection of Father Capodanno Boulevard and Seaview Avenue. The street sign now stands meters from \u201cIsmail Qemali Road,\u201d which was named two years ago, symbolically uniting two Albanian national heroes who never met in life.<\/p>\n
The ceremony brought together government officials from Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Albania, along with New York state and city leaders. Naser Nika, president of the Albanian American Association of Staten Island, led the multi-year effort to secure the street naming.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday, we are not simply naming a street. Today, we are honoring our history, our roots, and the figures who gave us a national identity,\u201d Nika told the gathering.<\/p>\n
The event opened with the national anthems of the United States and Albania, performed by an NYPD officer and singer Ilsi Ademi. A ceremonial squad from the NYPD and Albanian American police officers from the Illyrian Society marched with American and Albanian flags. Imam Edin Gjoni delivered a blessing and message of unity.<\/p>\n
The November 2025 street naming ceremony brought together the two national figures who never met in life but now stand together on Staten Island.Photos courtesy of Naser Nika<\/p>\n
Moderator Bledar Maqellara credited Nika\u2019s dedication to achieving the street naming. \u201cFor years he gathered documents, signatures, held meetings, wrote letters, and often spent his own money and many sleepless nights. Yet, he accomplished his mission,\u201d Maqellara said.<\/p>\n
Nika described Boletini as \u201ca man who never separated his weapon from his body, his soul from his homeland, and his faith from the flag.\u201d He recalled Boletini\u2019s words: \u201cI am well when Albania is well.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is proof that our community is organized, strong, and respected. It is proof that our work, unity, and investment in culture and history bring results,\u201d Nika said.<\/p>\n
Faton Peci, newly elected mayor of Mitrovica, said the street naming \u201csymbolizes the Albanian struggle for freedom, while also reflecting the strong bond between Albanians and the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018Isa Boletini Way\u2019 in New York is a powerful message to younger generations that freedom and dignity are values that must be protected every day,\u201d Peci stated.<\/p>\n
Arben Fetai, deputy prime minister of North Macedonia, called the moment deeply meaningful. \u201cYou are our strongest bridge to America and the most dignified ambassadors of our nation,\u201d he told the Albanian-American community.<\/p>\n
Other dignitaries in attendance included Fatmir Gjeka, minister of human and minority rights of Montenegro; Bashkim Ramosaj, mayor of De\u00e7an; Violetta Berisha, mayor of Fairview, New Jersey; Albanian Parliament member Belind K\u00eblli\u00e7i; Dr. Blerim Reka, chief of general consulate of the Republic of Kosovo in New York; and Suela Janina, permanent representative of Albania to the United Nations.<\/p>\n
New York officials who spoke included Borough President Vito Fossella, Councilmember David Carr, District Attorney Michael McMahon, Assemblyman Michael Tannousis, and Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton. A representative of Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, Lily Zafaranloo, also attended.<\/p>\n
Community activist Shp\u00ebtim Qorraj expressed gratitude on behalf of Albanian American associations. \u201cWith deep respect and pride, we continue uniting to honor our history, our heroes, and to give our children a stronger future. Together we are stronger,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The ceremony concluded with performances by the Barbana Group and traditional dances from the Sk\u00ebnderbej, Dibra, and Struga associations, as well as the Gjergj Fishta School.<\/p>\n
Nika thanked supporting organizations, including the Kosovo Association led by Qorraj, Ana e Malit led by Albert Salaj, Sk\u00ebnderbej led by Imer La\u00e7aj, Dibra led by Hakim Budzuku, Kraja led by Mirsad Kovaci and Venera Gjenashaj, and Struga led by Sinan Alimi. He gave special recognition to activist Ruki Ajdari for his contributions to the Albanian community.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"STATEN ISLAND, NY — Hundreds of Albanian Americans and local officials gathered on Nov. 30 to dedicate \u201cIsa…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":60111,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[9,24,63,134,136,135],"class_list":{"0":"post-60110","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-staten-island","8":"tag-new-york","9":"tag-new-york-city","10":"tag-nyc","11":"tag-staten-island","12":"tag-staten-island-headlines","13":"tag-staten-island-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60110","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60110"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60110\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/60111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60110"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60110"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60110"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}