Eliot Engel and Azem Hajdari, the path that unites them
Written by: Rudina Hajdari
There are moments in life when you realize that the paths you’ve followed were not coincidences. That certain encounters, certain choices, and certain discoveries are part of a deeper order, one that connects the past to the present and gives you a sense of direction.
My journey led me, without knowing it, to a story that had begun long before me.
When I started working in Eliot Engel’s office in 2013, I didn’t know that he and my father, Azem Hajdari, had previously met in Washington in 1998. I didn’t know that their stories had intersected and that fate would place me right there, next to a man my father had met shortly before he was killed.
I discovered it by accident. One day, while I was working there, I decided to mention it to Congressman Engel. I told him that there was a photo of them, almost 20 years ago, and, with a smile, I added that he looked younger. He replied humorously: “Younger?” He may not have fully remembered that meeting, but for me it was a moment of great importance.
Two worlds that I had thought were separate came together in a single moment. They gave me a sense of direction, as if every step had brought me, without me realizing it, exactly where I needed to be.
Eliot Engel worked tirelessly on the issue of Kosovo. He adored that country and constantly supported our people wherever he was. Therefore, when he honored the figure of Azem Hajdari with an official act in the American Congress, for me it was an echo beyond borders and undoubtedly an extraordinary exaltation. On September 12, 2013, Congressman Engel spoke about my father in the American Congress, calling him a champion of democratic values and a hero for Albanians.
But he didn’t stop there. In 2016, he came to Albania and stood in front of the memorial, laid flowers and spoke with a respect that went beyond political duty. He called on young Albanians to be inspired by his figure to make the right change in their country.
The last time was in 2021, in Tropoja, when during his last visit to Albania, he also stopped at the bust of Azem Hajdari in Bajram Curri, where the final road that would connect them forever was inaugurated. In Valbona, the main road is named after Azem Hajdari. It connects to another road named after Congressman Engel, which connects Albania with Kosovo.
For me, this is not just a geographical coincidence. It is a symbolic continuity, a spiritual connection between sacrifice and support, between those who fought for freedom from within and those who supported it from without. A journey that began with effort and sacrifice and that continues today as a vision, a connection, and a direction for the future. I am deeply grateful to have known this extraordinary man.
Thank you for everything!
Rest in peace, Congressman Engel!
