Celinë, Rahovec, March 25, 2025
From the village of Fortesë, The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, continued to the village of Celinë of the Municipality of Rahovec, where he participated in the commemorative gathering for the 26th anniversary of the Celina massacre and paid homage with honors and tributes near the village cemetery.
“On this 26th anniversary, and every day of the year, we honor the martyrs and the fallen who are no longer with us physically, but with whom we are and must always be spiritually. We also honor you who are here strong despite the pain and sorrow. Alongside the sacrifice of the fallen, we appreciate and must always appreciate the resistance of the people”, the Prime Minister said in his special speech at this memorial gathering.
26 years ago, at around nine thirty in the morning, about 500 Serbian soldiers entered Celina from four directions. In this massacre, they killed 82 civilians of different ages. 18 of the bodies were burned, and 13 of the dead were children. We remember them with pain: Alban, Bledar, Besart, Altin, Albulena, Suzana, Burbuqa, Ramazan, Mejreme, Gëzim, Bedrush, Alban, as well as Alma, who was only 18 months old.
“The terrible massacre of Celina was not the only massacre that was committed. The entire spring season is filled with anniversaries of the massacres that the state of Serbia has committed against Albanians in Kosovo. Especially since March 24, 1999, when NATO’s bombing of Milosevic’s Yugoslavia began, precisely to stop Serbia’s genocide, it had intensified and brutalized all its cruel actions, to accelerate the ethnic cleansing that aimed at our extermination”, said Prime Minister Kurti.
He added that under the weight of heavy memories, as a people,we have chosen to be united in pain, but also in hope. We have survived and built a new life in a free Kosovo. And yet, he said that we are a state and society that neither forgets nor forgives the crimes committed by Serbia in Kosovo and that the Republic, which is completing its institutional and legal infrastructure day by day, is increasing its capacities to address the crimes committed during the war.
“We are determined on the path of justice, because the state of Serbia and the war criminals will not be able to escape institutional and individual responsibilities for the crimes and genocide committed against us, the Albanians of Kosovo”, the Prime Minister said.
Bowing with great pain, love and pride before the memory of all those killed, at the end of his speech, the Prime Minister said that their fall, through martyrdom and sacrifice, serves as our guidance on how to move forward.
After the tributes and the memorial gathering, the Prime Minister visited the Celina massacre museum, where he wrote in the book of impressions.
The Prime Minister’s full tribute message:
Celina massacre is evidence of Serbia’s genocide against Albanians in Kosovo. As we stand here with the residents of Celina, filled with pain and pride, we are witnesses that freedom and the people, independence and the Republic have triumphed. Strengthening the state is an obligation to the martyrs and the fallen and a duty today for the future of citizens, the current generation and those to come. Glory!
Albin Kurti
Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo
Celina, Rahovec
March 25, 2025
Full speech of Prime Minister Kurti:
Dear residents of Celina,
Honored representatives and leaders of central and local institutions,
Honored Mayor of Rahovec, Smajl Latifi,
Honored invalids and veterans of the Kosovo Liberation Army,
Honored Chairman of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj,
Honored members of the Assembly of the Republic, AlbenaReshitaj, Haxhi Avdyli, Ariana Musliu-Shoshi, Ganimete Musliu,
Honored former Governor of the Central Bank of Kosovo, Hashim Rexhepi,
Honored former Mayor and former Minister of Agriculture, Professor Idriz Vehapi,
Dear family members of the martyrs and the fallen of the nation,
Dear sisters and brothers,
Ladies and gentlemen,
On this 26th anniversary, and every day of the year, we honor the martyrs and the fallen who are no longer with us physically, but with whom we are and must always be spiritually. We also honor you who are here strong despite the pain and sorrow. Alongside the sacrifice of the fallen, we appreciate and must always appreciate the resistance of the people.
26 years ago, at around half past nine in the morning, about 500 Serbian soldiers entered Celina from four directions. In this massacre, they killed 82 civilians of different ages. 18 of the bodies were burned, and 13 of the killed were children. We remember them with pain: Alban, Bledar, Besart, Altin, Albulena, Suzana, Burbuqa, Ramazan, Mejrema, Gëzim, Bedrush, Alban, as well as Alma, who was only 18 months old.
The terrible Celina massacre did not happen alone. The entire spring season is filled with anniversaries of the massacres that the Serbian state has committed against Albanians in Kosovo. Especially since March 24, 1999, when NATO began bombing Milosevic’s Yugoslavia, precisely to stop Serbia’s genocide, it had intensified and brutalized all its cruel actions, to accelerate the ethnic cleansing that aimed at our extermination.
During this period, the Serbian armed military and police forces killed thousands of innocent and defenseless people, while torturing, looting and raping thousands of others, and burning and destroying property and wealth of incalculable value everywhere in Kosovo.
We are coming here from the tributes on the 26th anniversary of the massacres in Tërnje, Brestoc and Fortesë. And from here we will pay homage in Goden in Gjakova, on the anniversary of the massacre there.
We are a state and society that neither forgets nor forgives the crimes committed by Serbia in Kosovo. We are a Republic that is day by day completing the institutional and legal infrastructure, and increasing the capacities to address the crimes committed during the war.
We are determined on the path of justice, because the state of Serbia and the war criminals will not be able to escape institutional and individual responsibilities for the crimes and genocide committed against us, the Albanians of Kosovo.
Dear sisters and brothers,
Under the weight of heavy memories, as a people, we have chosen to be united in pain, but also in hope. We have survived and built a new life, in a free Kosovo.
We are continuing to build and strengthen the Republic of Kosovo together, ensuring that no other generation experiences even a passing resemblance to the terror we have gone through.
The security and democracy, the development and reputation of our country have been elevated, expanded and deepened and are proof that both liberation and independence have been worth it.
We know where we are going, because we know where we come from. We bow with great pain, love and pride before the memory of all those who were killed. Their fall throughmartyrdom and sacrifice is our guide on how to move forward.
Those who fell for freedom will never be forgotten. May their memory be eternal!
Long live our freedom-loving nation and our progressive Republic! Glory!
Last modified: March 26, 2025