Honorable Jashari family,
Honored Acting Prime Minister, Mr. Hoti,
Honored Acting Minister of Defense, Mr. Quni,
Honored Commander of the Force, General Rrahman Rama,
Honored Ambassadors and representatives of the diplomatic missions in our country,
Honored soldiers and officers of the Kosovo Security Force,
Honorable families of martyrs,
Honorable participants,
Twenty-three years ago, on March 5, 1998, the shells of the Serb forces falling on the houses of the Jasharaj family marked the culmination of the resistance to defend the doorstep, which turned into a liberation war.
The houses of the Jasharaj family were turned into fortresses of resistance from the first attack on December 30, 1991, as well as on January 22, 1998.
Throughout March 5, 6 and 7, 1998, the resistance of Commander Adem Jashari, the family and fellow villagers from Prekaz, conveyed the clear message that freedom has no compromise.
From this three-day battle, with their blood, the KLA commander, Adem Jashari, along with the members of the Jashari family and many fellow villagers, laid the foundations of freedom and the state of Kosovo.
In this battle, Besarta, the daughter of Commander Hamëz Jashari, survived, as a good omen that after all these heroic falls, life in the Jashari family, in Prekaz and in Kosovo is continuing together with the aim of making our country developed and prosperous for all.
In one of the few video recordings of Adem Jashari, the missionary of our freedom, he was clear about what he wanted then. The freedom of the country, without any conditions, bound by besa-besë (pledge of honor) with all those comrades who had the courage to become servants of freedom.
In that recording he said: “I am persistent in those principles we have agreed upon. Besa-besë (pledge of honor)… only a death, that is all we have in this life, and a good word. We have said that whatever will happen, we will give our lives together and only besa-besë (pledge of honor) and a death, there is nothing else in the muzzle of the rifle”.
This was one of the few recordings left to us from the most precious legacy, the icon of war and our freedom.
Thank you Commander!
Dear military,
On the 23rd anniversary of the KLA Epopee and the 13th anniversary of the country’s independence, present and future generations will live with the image of Commander Adem Jashari and his family, who put the fate of the nation before their own fate, by sacrificing themselves for freedom.
Today, 23 years ago, in Prekaz, the Jashari family fought to protect the doorstep, the family, Prekaz and entire Kosovo, setting a rare example in the history of a family that made the sublime sacrifice of self-sacrifice for the homeland, for us all to enjoy freedom and independence today.
They proved that people like ours can produce great heroes and great heroic families.
Therefore, Adem’s Prekaz has become a reference of freedom, a source of inspiration for love for the country and a unique case in the new history of mankind, when an entire family rises up against the oppressive regime and sacrifices itself for the common good, for the freedom of the country.
Now, we must every day give effort to keep fresh the memory of our children for our fight for freedom. To educate them in the spirit of freedom, reminding them of the difficult path to freedom and by making them proud of the country in which they live.
Today we are free, because Commander Adem Jashari together with Uncle Shaban, Hamza, his family and his comrades-in-arms sacrificed themselves. Today we are free because all the citizens of Kosovo wanted it this way, because this was the will of the people, all contributing in their own way.
Dear soldiers of the Force,
Today we are marking this anniversary of the Epopee, at the barrack that bears the name of Commander Adem Jashari. He is the breath, the idea and the spirit of the KSF.
You are his heirs, who will honor his name, the KSF and the state of Kosovo!
Today, on your shoulders, you carry the responsibility of the security for our citizens, of our state. You have proved that you have the capacity not only to transform the KSF into an army, but also to make the state of Kosovo proud domestically and abroad.
Like Adem Jashari once, today you have before you the noble mission to safeguard Kosovo, so that it remains one and whole. That it remains permanent, like your dedication and ours at the same time!
This week, we will escort our troops to the first peacekeeping mission together with Iowa Guard forces. You will brighten the name of the KSF, as well as the name of the state of Kosovo! Together with our American friends, you are making our new history of a state that contributes to global peace.
The KSF is further developing as a professional military force and interacting with NATO forces. Therefore, NATO membership remains a strategic objective of our state.
Our fight for freedom remains as sacred as the state, so both will live side by side making possible the fulfillment of the legacy of generations for our homeland, for our state, for our Republic! Throughout our commitment, let us never forget the messages of the legendary commander Adem Jashari: to remain persistent in principles, to keep the promise given, and that all of us to have our lives in the service of the homeland.
God bless our Forces and our Kosovo!
Honors to the homeland!