Prishtina, 4 April 2013
The Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi, visited the Society of Political Prisoners, at the start of the application process for recognition of the status of those politically convicted, imprisoned and persecuted in Kosovo.
Prime Minister Thaçi said that he felt very emotional and very proud to be here today among the leaders of the movement in Kosovo for freedom and independence, together with the symbol of national resistance for Kosovo’s liberation, Mr. Adem Demaçi, and those who symbolize the years before the ‘80s and ’81, Mr. Hydajet Hyseni, Mr. Ilmi Ramadani, and Mr. Braha, as well as all those others who sacrificed their lives, their families and their health for Kosovo’s freedom and independence.
“It is a great reason for satisfaction and pride when the state takes care of those who sacrificed, and who struggled, the people who invested all their potential in their homeland, and the freedom of their country,” said Prime Minister Thaçi, adding that Kosovo’s freedom was everyone’s dream and this dream has become reality, based on the untiring sacrifice and struggle, starting after the Second World War, led by Baci Adem.
“So, I express my deep appreciation for the contribution, and sacrifice which was always a symbol of leadership, mobilization and inspiration and I personally feel proud that we had as a symbol of resistance Baci Adem and all the political prisoners, who were such a source of inspiration for our subsequent and final political and military struggle for Kosovo’s liberation and Serbia’s removal from Kosovo”, said the Prime Minister.
“I feel good that we have taken important decisions in recent days. The process of applying for verification as veterans in the Kosovo Liberation Army, as families of the martyrs and war invalids, and no moments of sacrifice will go unrecognized. As a state, we will respect each person and we will take responsibility for their institutional care”, said Prime Minister Thaçi.
“Today, while we are here today in the Society of Political Prisoners, following hard work done by Deputy Prime Minister Kuçi, and Mr. Hyseni, we are starting with the applications for verification of political prisoners in Kosovo, so that the state of Kosovo can begin to care institutionally for all political prisoners in Kosovo, for their families and children. Naturally, their sacrifice is greater than any material benefit, but this is an obligation that the state wants to respect and implement” – said Mr. Thaçi.
Prime Minister Thaçi said, in a way, I am a colleague of the political prisoners, being sentenced in absentia, and I was with you in the joint struggle and sacrifice for Kosovo’s freedom and independence.
Expressing his deep gratitude, Prime Minister Thaçi said that Kosovo’s citizens, and their institutions pay the deepest respects to you, your sacrifice, your struggle and your maximal efforts for Kosovo’s freedom and independence, and the western vision for Kosovo that you always upheld.
The signing of the first application for recognition of the status of the politically convicted, imprisoned and persecuted of Kosovo, was done by the symbol of national resistance, Mr. Adem Demaçi, who expressed thanks for the institutional care of the Kosovo Government for the former politically persecuted.
“I am here with you, but my mind is with them, our martyrs, and there is no money that can compensate for those who went consciously toward death so that we can live today free, to express freely and try to do everything possible for our people. If the people had not wanted to sacrifice for their freedom, I, Adem Demaçi, could not have done anything alone, so this is a victory of our heroic people, who passed through this always unequal war and finished it,“ said Mr. Adem Demaçi.
Meanwhile, on behalf of the Society of Political Prisoners, the head of this society, Hydajet Hyseni said that we are starting to regulate by law a long, broad, deep and very particular injustice – the realization of the rights of political prisoners.
“Today, the process of applying for this right begins, since all the necessary legal and institutional preparations have been done, and today is an opportunity to express our gratitude for all the sacrifice made, and especially for the martyrs of freedom, from all generations, and all manners of sacrifice, up to the glorious epopee of the Liberation Army, which included many former political prisoners.
Last modified: July 31, 2022