The President of the Republic of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani handed over the “Hero of Kosovo Order” to the family of the nation's hero Sali Çekaj, awarded to him by the historical president of Kosovo Dr. Ibrahim Rugova in 2005.
In a ceremony with family members of the hero Sali Çekaj, President Osmani emphasized that his contribution was extraordinary and spanned many time periods and directions.
“A whole life in the service of the nation and the homeland. We find Sali Çekaj at the forefront of the battles for the organization of institutional life and resistance to the invasion of Kosovo during the early 1990s. After leaving Kosovo to escape arrest by the occupying regime of Serbia, Sali Çekaj made an unparalleled contribution to the organization of the Albanian diaspora and to raising awareness of the Kosovo issue in Western Europe,” said President Osmani.
According to her, he had a central role in the organization of the armed resistance for freedom and independence of Kosovo, from the very beginning of the institutional organization of the armed formations of the Republic of Kosovo and in the organization and expansion of the Kosovo Liberation Army.
“Sali Çekaj has skilfully and courageously organized and directed some of the most glorious battles of the Kosovo Liberation Army until his heroic fall in the battle of Koshare,” emphasized President Osmani.
Meanwhile, family members of the hero Sali Çekaj thanked President Osmani for respecting not only the hero but also the liberation war.