Fate of Kosovo Flying Lobbyist Unknown

The family and friends of James Berisha, who was flying across Africa to lobby for the recognition of Kosovo's independence, do not know whether he is still alive, according to a statement released on Wednesday.

It has been rumoured that he is being held in a prison in Eritrea, in east Africa, since they lost contact with him on August 15.

But in a statement issued by Flying for Kosovo, the website set up to promote his trip, it has now emerged that there has still been no confirmation of his whereabouts.

“It is with a deep and saddened heart that we still do not have any confirmation as to whether James is truly alive or not.

“Although it is rumoured that James is alive, and being held by Eritrean officials - in reality, there is absolutely no way to confirm that as fact, since his family has consistently been denied even telephone access to him.”

The statement went on to say that despite many meetings with many officials over the past five months, his family have received no concrete information.

“We have been told many, many stories, yet the fact still remains that not even his family has been allowed contact with James,” the statement continued.

“It is very important to remind you that James Berisha is a man that we all love and respect. Further, Flying for Kosovo is a mission that we all believe in.

“It is imperative that we all continue to do what we can to raise awareness in the world about Kosovo's independence.”

James Berisha’s relatives and colleagues in Pristina say he last contacted them on Monday, August 15, from Asmara, in Eritrea, where he planned to meet with officials in the state, which borders Ethiopia in the Horn of Africa.

Lumnije Gashi, who is based in Pristina and has been tracking Berisha's moves in Africa, said he was supposed to return to Sudan after two days.

A resident of the US state of Texas who grew up in Kosovo, Berisha started flying across Africa in November 2010, asking African states to recognise Kosovo’s independence, declared in 2008.

At the end of May, Berisha crash-landed in Sudan, after a cylinder of his Cessna 172 4-seater plane broke and blocked the supply of fuel to the engine. He was unharmed.

Berisha, 39, flew all over Latin and Central America in 2009, visiting 34 countries and four territories to thank states that had recognised Kosovo’s independence and lobby others that have not.

He was planning to continue his lobbying mission in Asia.