Washington, DC -- Congressman Eliot L. Engel (D-NY) today released the following statement on the release of pilot James Berisha from prison in Eritrea.

"It is a great relief that James has been released from prison and has left Eritrea.  This is a belated holiday present for the Berisha family, and I wish for a quick reunion for James with his loved ones.

“I have been working behind the scenes for James Barisha’s release for several months and thank the Eritrean authorities for granting my humanitarian request to have him set free.  Many others helped to persuade the Eritreans to let James come home, and, to all who have worked to gain his freedom, I say thank you."

James Berisha is a pilot who was visiting countries all over the world in his "Flying for Kosovo" (www.flyingforkosovo.com) mission to persuade governments to recognize the Republic of Kosovo.  After his aircraft had technical difficulties in Sudan, he continued to Eritrea via commercial aircraft, and was later arrested and detained shortly after his arrival in Eritrea, where he was planning to meet with the government.  He was held largely incommunicado, and the US Consular staff in Eritrea had limited access to him. 

Attached is a letter Reps. Engel and Jean Schmidt (R-OH), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Albanian Issues Caucus, wrote to the government of Eritrea on November 22, 2012 calling for James Berisha's release.

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