Ames Mayor Haila, Podujeva Mayor Billiqi Sign Sister City Partnership
Published on June 20, 2025
PODUJEVA, Kosovo – In a heartfelt ceremony held on June 19, Liberation Day in Podujeva, the City of Ames and the Municipality of Podujeva, Kosovo formally signed a sister city agreement, marking the beginning of a lasting partnership rooted in shared values, mutual learning, and cultural exchange.
The official signing took place during a solemn session of the Podujeva Municipal Assembly commemorating the 26th anniversary of the city’s liberation. The event brought together dignitaries including members of the Kosovo Parliament, the Podujeva Minister of Agriculture, retired Iowa National Guard Major General Timothy Orr, and 30 Iowa representatives from eight other Iowa-Kosovo sister cities.
From Ames, Ames International Partner Cities Association (AIPCA) Board President Karla McCollum and former AIPCA president Cindy Hicks were present in person, while Mayor John Haila joined virtually from Iowa.
“This agreement is more than symbolic, it's a bridge between our communities,” said Podujeva Mayor Shpejtim Bulliqi. “It is a great honor for us to host the delegation from Ames here in our municipality. We see this as an opportunity for our youth, our students, and our entrepreneurs to learn from each other.”
The newly formed partnership is modeled on similar successful twinning efforts across Iowa and Kosovo, with Ames becoming the ninth Iowa city to partner with a Kosovo municipality. These relationships trace back to the historic connection between Iowa and Kosovo, forged in the early 2000s through peacekeeping efforts by the Iowa National Guard and nurtured over decades through education, agriculture, and cultural exchanges.
“We look forward to working together and focusing on topics of common interest such as agricultural research and development, exchange student education at Iowa State University, economic and business opportunities between our cities and state/country, and interactions with youth and adults,” said Ames Mayor John Haila, reflecting on the potential of the new partnership.
This agreement complements Ames’ existing international relationship with Koshu, Japan, which began more than 30 years ago. Together, these partnerships embody Ames’ commitment to global friendship and cooperation, with a special focus on education, innovation, and citizen diplomacy.
# # #
Photo caption: Mayor Shpejtim Bulliqi, of Podujeva, Kosovo, poses with Karla McCollum, Ames International Partner Cities Association Board President, in Kosovo, while Ames Mayor John Haila, is visible on the screen in the background. On June 19, a ceremony was held in Podujeva celebrating the signing of a sister city relationship between the two cities.