Former American congressman Joe DioGuardi and his wife, Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi, have become citizens of Kosovo.
The Acting President of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu, handed them the citizenship decrees during a special ceremony.
DioGuardi has been for years one of the most powerful voices in Washington in support of the Albanians of Kosovo and its independence. Even his wife, Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi, is committed to the Albanian issue and Kosovo.
Joseph John DioGuardi (known as Joe DioGuardi) is an American accountant and politician of Albanian origin, who served as the first Albanian-American congressman in the United States Congress.
He represented New York’s 20th district as a member of the Republican Party from 1985–1989. DioGuardi is also the founder and president of the Albanian-American Civic League (AACL), a lobbying organization that has played a historic role in raising awareness in Washington about the rights of Albanians in the Balkans and the independence of Kosovo.
