President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani has decorated Albanian-American leader Harry Bajraktari with the “Order of Freedom”, recognizing more than three decades of decisive lobbying, advocacy, and state-building work during Kosovo’s most defining moments.

In a solemn ceremony, President Osmani praised Bajraktari as one of the strongest voices Kosovo has ever had in the United States — a figure who worked closely with President Ibrahim Rugova and carried Kosovo’s cause into the White House, Congress, and major American institutions. For decades, he served as a key bridge between Prishtina and Washington, using his networks to advance Kosovo’s path toward freedom, independence, and international recognition, while supporting both the peaceful movement of the ’90s and the Kosovo Liberation Army during the war.

In an emotional message, Bajraktari called the decoration an unforgettable moment for him and his family, “an honor beyond words from the country we dreamed of and worked for across generations.” He dedicated the award to the entire Albanian-American community that has stood by Kosovo through every chapter of its struggle. Thanking President Osmani and Kosovo’s partners in the U.S., he emphasized that the medal is a reminder that the work for Kosovo never truly ends — it continues every day with integrity, love, and commitment to future generations. “God bless Kosovo, God bless America,” he said.