Honourable Prime Minister Kurti,
Honourable Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers, Members of the Kosovo Assembly, Chairmen of Political Parties,
Excellencies, Ambassadors, Mayors, Representatives of the Diplomatic Corps,
Honourable Fighters of the 138th Brigade Agim Ramadani of the Glorious Battle of Koshare,
Honourable Commander of this Brigade, Mr. Rrustem Berisha,
Dear Families of the Heroes of the 138th Brigade,
Dear War Veterans and Invalids and All of You Present,
Today we are here to honour the 25th Anniversary of the Battle of Koshare and the 114 Heroes of our Liberation Army, who in this battle made the most sublime sacrifice, sacrificing themselves for our precious freedom.
The Battle of Koshare is monumental in our recent history, so today we pay homage to the bravery, courage and sacrifice of those who fought and fell 25 years ago.
On this day of April 9, we bow before heroes like Agim Ramadani, Sali Çekaj and many, many others, who, united in the Battle of Koshara, from different parts of the Albanian space, but also of the globe, became victims for our freedom. As I mentioned, soldiers from other countries of the world also fell in this battle, including Francesco Bider, Pajllard Arnaut Pjer, Murat Muhamed Ali and many others. They were united by the cause of freedom and justice against tyranny, genocide and oppression. They did not fight for their personal glory, but they won eternal glory, because they defended our human dignity and fulfilled the legacy of generations for a free Kosovo.
In this sacred place rest our heroes, who with their selfless struggle fell to give full meaning to the freedom we enjoy today.
25 years ago, the people of Kosovo were threatened with extermination by the genocidal regime of Milosevic. It was precisely these heroes and the living braves of the Battle of Koshare, who lit the spark of hope, restored dignity and demolished the border that divided Albanians among themselves.
The Operational Group led by Rrustem Berisha, Agim Ramadani, Sali Çekaj, Anton Quni and many other heroes in the fierce frontal battle finally triumphed, eliminating the centuries-old inter-Albanian obstacle. They wrote our newest history chapter, which will be passed on to generations as a memory of the difficult path we have gone through as nation to be free among other free nations.
After two days of fierce fighting, Agim Ramadani, the hero of Koshare, fell at the head of the battle, who defended his homeland Kosovo, just like Commander Adem Jashari and his family, who started the fight for freedom from the doorstep of his house. This armed resistance was preceded by peaceful resistance under the leadership of the historic president, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, which resistance challenged the tyranny and injustice of the centuries-old criminal Serbian regime. He was rightly recognized by the heroes of Koshare, and everywhere as the Supreme Commander of our armed forces. This resistance became an inspiration for the democratic world and, at the same time, became an inspiration with extraordinary effect in our modern history, which we will tell our children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all others who will come after them.
The peaceful resistance followed by the armed one, not only united the Albanians, but also played a crucial role in building strong alliances with our international allies led by the United States of America, who stopped the extermination of Albanians, this was the goal of the Serbian regime.
Thanks to them and the thousands of KLA martyrs, Kosovo today is an independent state, an irreversible and permanent reality, to which we will always be masters.
Honourable guests, dear family members,
In our history, the name of 138th Brigade will forever remain engraved in golden letters. The Battle of Koshare was not simply an arena of war, but was proof of the resilience of our liberation soldiers who fought side by side for a common cause. They remind us even today that only united can we defend the values of freedom for which they gave their lives.
And as we reflect on our past, in this jubilee year of the Battle of Koshare, the importance of our alliances and unity grows ever greater. It remains the duty of each of us to continue our commitment and dedication to keeping Kosovo strong, stable, developed, democratic, within its current borders, sovereign, and together with our friends and allies. The legacy of the heroes of the 138th Brigade will live forever as long as our Kosovo lives.
Honourable soldiers of this brigade, thank you for your service, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication to freedom. Your courage will continue to inspire and guide us, as we move forward together, towards our future for a Kosovo like this, what our heroes wanted, what we all want together today and what we fought for!
The most powerful proof of this triumph of our unity is the young Agim Ramadani and the young Sali Çekaj and many, many little brave men who are proof of our renewal as a nation and as a people, as a sovereign and free Kosovo.
May God bless the heroes of Koshare and all the heroes of Kosovo!
May God bless our Republic!
Thank you!
