Honourable Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, Ms. Gërvalla-Schwarz,
Honourable Mr. Rrustem Berisha, former commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army in Koshare,
Honourable Ministers and Deputy Ministers of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo,
Honourable members of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo,
Honourable leaders and representatives of Political Parties, Mr. Ramush Haradinaj, Mr. Ali Ahmeti, who are here with us today,
Honourable representatives of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo,
Honourable families of martyrs, veterans and invalids of the Kosovo Liberation Army,
Honourable members of the former 138th “Agim Ramadani” Brigade,
Dear citizens of Kosovo,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Honourable media,
The morning of April 9th, 27 years ago, began early in Koshare. The units of the Kosovo Liberation Army set off towards the border line. The terrain was difficult and the confrontation began in the early hours. Fearless and full of courage, our soldiers advanced step by step, until they broke the Albania-Kosovo border, unjustly established almost a century ago, the border that had divided Albanians since 1913.
On the first day of this epic, Abush Loku, Bashkim Jasiqi, Ramiz Krasniqi and Rifat Çelaj fell as martyrs. The fighting continued uninterrupted. The next day, the soldiers of the Kosovo Liberation Army managed to take control of the border crossing in Koshare. The “Cobra” unit, together with the first battalion and the military police, were the first to enter that area, which until then was held by the Serbian army.
On April 11, during the attempt to take Opllaz, following two days of fierce fighting, the strategist, painter, poet and multidimensional artist, Agim Ramadani,upon whom was the 138th Brigade later baptized, fell on the battlefield. He had led the attack from the first day. He was on the front line when the border was broken. His fall was a great loss for Kosovo, but at the same time it became a strength for his soldiers, who carried out his bequest to remove the border, which at that time divided the Albanians from one side to the other on the Drini.
In the following days, the confrontation became even fiercer. On April 19th in a single day, 13 soldiers of the Kosovo Liberation Army fell.
One of the main leaders of the battle and the brigade, Sali Çekaj, was also immortalized.
At that mountain range, the fighting did not stop. Despite the severity of the attacks, the soldiers of the Kosovo Liberation Army did not surrender, kept the border open and did not retreat at any cost.
The fighting continued until June, when entire brigades, special units, operational groups, fighters from all over Kosovo, from all Albanian lands and from our diaspora were involved.
The Battle of Koshare was also joined by foreign volunteers who chose to fight here, some of whom fell in Koshare side by side with our fighters.
Therefore, today we honor and bow down to the martyrs of Kosovo, the Italian Francesco Bider, the Frenchman Paillard Arnaud Pierre and the Algerian Murad Muhamet Ali. This proves that our fight for freedom was just, so it had such a great and wide resonance that it received support from the entire democratic world.
During the Battle of Koshare, 114 KLA fighters were killed and over 380 were wounded.
These fighters, who headed to Koshare that spring, knew well what they are getting into, they knew that return was not certain, but they did it for freedom, they fell for freedom and they brought freedom.
Therefore, the Battle of Koshare is among the most glorious battles in our modern history.
The state of Kosovo was built upon this courage, on decisions taken in highly dangerous conditions and on the sacrifice of entire generations.
Honouring the heroes and fighters of the 138th “Agim Ramadani” Brigade, within the framework of the “Ditët e shqipes” event, shows our determination to work with dedication so that Kosovo becomes such as those who fell for our freedom dreamed of.
On behalf of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo, I express my deepest respects to all the fighters of Koshare!
Glory to the martyrs of the Kosovo Liberation Army!
May their memory be eternal!
Thank you!
