Acting President Haxhiu: On April 27, 1999, in Mejë and Korenicë, one of the most serious massacres was committed during the last war in Kosovo
The Acting President of the Republic of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu, paid homage today at the Memorial Complex in Mejë. Acting President Haxhiu said on this occasion that on April 27th, 1999, 27 years ago, in Mejë and Korenica, one of the most serious massacres was committed during the last war in Kosovo. “376 unarmed Albanian civilians were killed and in order to hide the traces of the crimes, they were moved to mass graves in Serbia, in Batajnica, Rudnica and other places”, emphasized Acting President Haxhiu. She further said that today we honour and remember the 376 martyrs of these massacres, today we also honour and remember Mother Pashka, the mother who sacrificed herself, that is, ended her life after the reburial of her two sons. Today we also honour the contribution, sacrifice and resistance of the mothers of Gjakova, as well as all mothers who lost their loved ones during the war. “In this case, as you are aware, two and a half years ago an indictment was filed against over 50 people for this grave massacre”, said Acting President Haxhiu, while calling on “the institutions of justice to deal with this massacre without delay, which as I mentioned is one of the most serious massacres during the last war in Kosovo, but also to address the responsibilities in relation to the numerous crimes that Serbia has committed in Kosovo”, said Acting President Haxhiu.
Acting President Haxhiu: Rexhep Qosja as an intellectual, during the decisive years for the people of Kosovo, was a clear voice against oppression, against injustice and against efforts to deny our national identity
The Acting President of the Republic of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu, participated today in the Special Session in honour of Academician Rexhep Qosja. In her speech, Acting President Haxhiu said that today, at this commemorative session, the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo honours Academician Rexhep Qosja, as one of the people who transformed Albanian culture into a space of thought, polemic, awareness and historical responsibility. “Rexhep Qosja lived and created at a time when Albanians were constantly asked to prove their language, history, belonging and political rights. He responded to this time with works, studies, polemics, public positions and an intellectual discipline that is rarely seen in our public life. He built his thinking on the values of the National Renaissance, on the European Enlightenment heritage, on humanism and on the figures that gave Albanians historical direction”, said Acting President Haxhiu. She further added that as a writer, he proved that literature can be both art and conscience, further stating that in his artistic works he brought man face to face with fear, power, injustice and the dilemmas of our time. “Academician Qosja took the study of Albanian literature out of the confines of a narrow discipline and connected it to the greatest question of his time: how to keep alive the consciousness of a divided, oppressed people forced to defend their language, history, and political rights. With his research, profound interpretations, and new readings of our most important authors, Qosja made Albanian literature part of the great debate on the identity, historical continuity, and political rights of Albanians,” affirmed Acting President Haxhiu. As an intellectual, in the decisive years for the people of Kosovo, he was a clear voice against oppression, against injustice, and against efforts to deny our national identity, said Acting president Haxhiu “His contribution also extends to the political processes of the last century, when Kosovo sought freedom and a republic. Rexhep Qosja put his intellectual authority at the service of this right, articulating Kosovo’s freedom as a historical right and as a cause that required international affirmation”, emphasized the Acting President. According to her, in the cultural life of Kosovo, Professor Qosja takes the place of those rare figures who go beyond the institution and mark an entire era of thought. “The Albanological Institute, the University of Pristina, literature, theater, film and public debate are based on his work, courage and presence. For Qosja, culture had a duty. The book had a duty. The intellectual had a duty. Therefore, his work went beyond the library and entered the political history of Kosovo”, said Acting President Haxhiu. According to her, Qosja turned the argument into a means of defending Albanian identity and rights, before these rights took shape at political tables. “As early as the seventies, in his work “Panteoni i rralluar”, he had written about speech and silence as ethical, political and intellectual issues. Later, in the polemics of the eighties, in the journalism of the nineties and in the interviews where he articulated Kosovo’s right to self-determination, he proved that for the Albanian creator, silence could not be a refuge in times of oppression. Speech, for Qosja, was an obligation to the truth and to the people. In 1991, in an interview for the Belgrade press, when Yugoslavia was disintegrating and Kosovo was kept under oppression, academic Qosja declared that the perseverance and determination of the Albanian people would continue in the face of suffering, until Kosovo achieved the right that was due to it: the right to political and territorial self-determination”, said Acting President. She further said that Academician Rexhep Qosja did not seek honours for himself, but the Republic has a duty to honour those who, with their work, have honoured the state and honoured the nation. “The memory of him will remain where he placed all his work: in Albanian culture, in critical thinking, in the Albanian language and in the political and spiritual history of Kosovo,” said Acting President Haxhiu.
Acting President Haxhiu expresses her solidarity with the American people following the attack in Washington
Acting President of the Republic of Kosovo, Ms. Albulena Haxhiu, has reacted to the attack at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington. In her reaction, Acting President Haxhiu expressed her solidarity with the American people and relief that President Donald Trump, the First Lady, and everyone present are out of danger. “Following the disturbing attack at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, we stand with the American people. Relieved that President Trump, the First Lady, and everyone present are safe. We wish the injured official a full recovery, and we stand with the United States in this difficult moment,” states the reaction of the Acting President. The Republic of Kosovo condemns every act of violence and stands with the United States of America, its strategic partner and ally.
Acting President Haxhiu participates in the 23rd Annual Assembly of the Kosovo Women’s Network Members
The Acting President of the Republic of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu, participated today at the 23rd Annual Assembly of the Kosovo Women’s Network Members, where she praised the long-standing role of this network in advancing women’s rights, strengthening democracy, and raising standards of equality in the country. In her address, Acting President Haxhiu emphasized that the contribution of Kosovo women is not measured only in great historical moments, but also in the daily work that has kept the family, the community, and society itself afloat. Recalling the “Bread for Drenica” march in the spring of 1998, she shared a personal memory from her childhood, when she saw her mother and the women of the neighborhood coming out with bread in hand in solidarity with the citizens of Drenica. “I realized that the pain of others is not foreign, that difficult times are faced, and that when women are involved, society progresses,” said Ms. Haxhiu. She praised the Kosovo Women’s Network as one of the clearest examples of civic organization that has turned the silent strength of women into public influence, being for decades, a clear voice for equality, protection from violence, women’s participation in decision-making, and fairer policies. Acting President Haxhiu emphasized that institutions benefit when they cooperate with civil society and with organizations that bring knowledge, serious research, and the real experience of citizens to decision-making processes. “Laws become better when they are based on knowledge. Policies become fairer when they are based on experience,” she said. Finally, Ms. Haxhiu thanked the network members for their work and perseverance over the years, emphasizing that every time a woman is represented and heard, Kosovo’s democracy becomes more complete.
Acting President Haxhiu: today the constitutional order of Kosovo spoke, which Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku defended to the end
The Acting President of the Republic of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu, said that with the verdict announced today by the Basic Court in Prishtina, Blagoje Spasojevic and Vladimir Tolic were sentenced to life imprisonment, while Dusan Maksimovic was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the terrorist attack in Banjskë. Acting President Haxhiu said that today the constitutional order of Kosovo spoke, which Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku defended to the end. “This decision is a demonstration that the attack on the Kosovo Police, on the constitutional order and on the security of our country will not remain unpunished,” emphasized Acting President Haxhiu. She further said that justice for the terrorist attack in Banjskë does not end here, adding that it will only be completed when all those responsible, including the terrorist Milan Radoicic, are brought to justice. Glory to the hero Afrim Bunjaku, said Acting President Haxhiu at the end.
Acting President Haxhiu: Eliot Engel loved Kosovo and as such, Kosovo shall never forget him
The Acting President of the Republic of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu, delivered a speech at the solemn session in honour of the US Congressman, Eliot Engel. On this occasion, Acting President Haxhiu said that today, at this solemn session, we remember and honour a man who left an indelible mark on the history of Kosovo, further adding that today, we honour and remember the loyal friend, but also the righteous US legislator, who, during the most difficult days of our recent history, together with many other US congressmen and senators, raised his voice powerfully against the violation of our rights, repression and persecution by the Serbian-Yugoslav regime. “For 32 years, 16 consecutive terms, he served with honesty and determination at the US Congress. He chaired the Foreign Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives. Throughout his entire political career, he never ceased seeking justice for the people of Kosovo, thus demonstrating the high human virtues of a rare politician and a great man,” emphasized Acting President Haxhiu. She further said that during the dark years, when the Albanians of Kosovo were suffering under the Milosevic regime and the world was still hesitant to act, Eliot Engel raised his voice. “Between Kosovo and the United States lie oceans and thousands of kilometres. On the map we are far apart, in size and power we are incomparable, but in the life of oppressed nations, the greatest distance is being far from attention and decision-making. Small countries often have to knock long on the doors of the world to be heard. In many cases those doors remain closed until it is too late. Our region knows this waiting well, but when you have friends like Congressman Eliot Engel, opening such doors is possible and is historic,” said Acting President Haxhiu. In her address at the Kosovo Assembly, Acting President Haxhiu said that on June 11, 1996, the Democrat Congressman managed to secure the support of both Democrats and Republicans on the issue of Kosovo. Acting President Haxhiu said that they sent President Bill Clinton a letter, which, among other things, stated: “We believe that the time has come for the situation in Kosovo to be given the attention it deserves. This means that the United States must pay the highest level of attention to Kosovo now, so that the situation there does not deteriorate further.” She further added that a few weeks later, on July 26, 1996, the US House of Representatives discussed Resolution 155 on Kosovo, a text that Engel himself had drafted and which condemned the repression in Kosovo, demanded the restoration of the civil and political rights of our people, and brought Kosovo back to Washington’s attention. “In relation to the Kosovo issue, Engel understood that just causes require unity and the agreement of both Republicans and Democrats. Therefore, he successfully managed to secure broad support in Congress. Two years after the resolution, on March 17, 1998, Engel spoke about the escalation of violence in Kosovo in the US Congress and demanded that the repression by the genocidal regime of Serbia against the Albanians of Kosovo should not be tolerated in any way. He put Kosovo on the agenda in Washington” said Acting President Haxhiu. She further added that in those difficult years, Kosovo did not benefit from late reactions, but from people who spoke in time and where their words mattered, and according to Acting President Haxhiu, Engel was one of those people. “During his visit to Kosovo, in September 1999, he clearly expressed his desire for our people to live free and independent. When we declared independence on February 17, 2008, he was among the most determined supporters of international recognition. But what made him special was not only that historic moment, but the fact that he did not leave after it. He knew and said it openly, that independence is not the end of a road, but the beginning of a difficult task. Thus, he continued to stand by Kosovo, supporting the strengthening of democratic institutions, the development of our security forces and the deepening of the strategic partnership with the United States of America. Even in periods when our path was difficult and the challenges were very great, his voice remained unchanged”, emphasized Acting President Haxhiu. According to her, this was not an ordinary diplomatic engagement, it was loyalty to a heartfelt friendship. “Eliot Engel did not love Kosovo from afar, with soft statements and ceremonial visits, he defended it with arguments, with votes, with presence and with unwavering faith in the justice of our cause. He was aware of the price of such positions and yet he stood by them,” said Acting President Haxhiu. She further added that today, when we remember him, we do not only remember Congressman Engel, we remember first and foremost the man who chose to be on the side of justice during very difficult times for our people, but also for our country. “Engel’s legacy will not remain solely in the archives of our history. It lives on in the strong and strategic friendship between Kosovo and the United States of America, a friendship that he cultivated with patience and conviction. He lives first and foremost in the memory of our citizens, who know that their freedom has had true defenders beyond our borders,” emphasized the Acting President. She further added that his life ended where it was shaped, in the Bronx, surrounded by his family and loved ones. But, according to the Acting President, his influence will be felt long in the heart of every Albanian and will always be remembered with deep respect and dignity, as a man who stood by Kosovo when it needed him most. Acting President Haxhiu said that Eliot Engel loved Kosovo, and as such, Kosovo will never forget him.
Acting President Haxhiu participated at the memorial tribute and signed the Condolence Book in honour of the life and work of academician Rexhep Qosja
The Acting President of the Republic of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu, today participated at the memorial tribute and signed the Condolence Book in honour of the life and work of academician Rexhep Qosja. In honour of the life and work of academic Rexhep Qosja, by decision of Acting President Haxhiu, Friday, April 24, 2026, has been declared a State Day of Mourning in the Republic of Kosovo. Acting President Haxhiu said that with this decision, our state expresses its respect and gratitude for a personality who gave to Albanian culture knowledge, body of work and authority
Acting President Haxhiu declares Friday a day of national mourning in Kosovo
The Acting President of the Republic of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu, pursuant to the Constitution of Kosovo, has decided that tomorrow, Friday, April 24, 2026, is declared a Day of National Mourning in the Republic of Kosovo. “In honour of the life and work of academician Rexhep Qosja, Friday, April 24, 2026, is declared a day of national mourning in the Republic of Kosovo. With this decision, our state expresses its respect and gratitude for a personality who gave Albanian culture wisdom, work and authority,” said Acting President Haxhiu.
Acting President Haxhiu: Kosovo lost academician Rexhep Qosja, while the Albanian world lost one of its greatest personalities of critical thought, literature and study
The Acting President of the Republic of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu, said that today, Kosovo lost academician Rexhep Qosja, while the Albanian world lost one of its greatest personalities of critical thought, literature and study. “We lost a personality who was present in our cultural, academic and political life for decades. For more than half a century, Academician Qosja was present in the Albanian space with books, studies, debate and stance,” said Acting President Haxhiu. She further said that the literary scholar, critic, novelist, essayist, professor, and public polemicist coexisted within his being. “In literary studies, he left behind a precious legacy for Albanian literature and its decisive periods. In prose, with the novel “Death Comes to Me Through Such Eyes”, he brought one of the works that expanded the boundaries of the Albanian novel, turning the experience of fear, power and oppression into literature with lasting value. In “Secrets Told”, Qosja proved that even at the end of his creative journey he remained acutely aware of time, society and the decline of values”, emphasized Acting President Haxhiu. According to Acting President Haxhiu, for many generations of students, readers and scholars, Rexhep Qosja was a school in itself, adding further that through his work, many learned to read literature as a reflection of society, history and language as the foundation of identity. “Rexhep Qosja, departed for eternity, precisely on International Book Day, reminding us that the creator is most honored by the work he leaves behind. As he said, heroes of the mind withstand time the longest. Academician Qosja was a hero of the mind, and as such he will be a guide for generations,” said Acting President Haxhiu. Acting President Haxhiu expressed her sincere condolences to the family, friends, collaborators, and to the great number of his readers.
Acting President Haxhiu received Deputy Prime Minister Fikrim Damka and a delegation representing the Turkish community, on the occasion of the Day of Turks, April 23rd
Acting President Albulena Haxhiu, on the occasion of the Day of Turks, April 23rd, a date that also coincides with the establishment of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and the journey of the modern Turkish state, received today Deputy Prime Minister Fikrim Damka and a delegation representing the Turkish community. “I expressed my gratitude for the valuable contribution that the Turkish community has made over the years in building democratic institutions, public life and social development of Kosovo”, said Acting President Haxhiu. Community’s role and involvement in education, culture and the country’s institutions, as well as the importance of preserving and promoting its identity were discussed at the meeting. “I reconfirmed the readiness to further expand the cooperation and emphasized the importance of strengthening the excellent relations between Kosovo and Türkiye,” emphasized Acting President Haxhiu.