Prishtina, May 29, 2026
The acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, participated in the commemorative meeting in honor of the prominent activist of the Albanian national cause, Hafiz Gagica, organized under the patronage of the acting Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Donika Gërvalla.
In his opening remarks, the acting Prime Minister Kurti defined the life and work of Hafiz Gagica as an unsparing commitment and unconditional dedication to the freedom and independence of the Republic of Kosovo.
“His role in uniting and keeping our diaspora active, generations of Albanians persecuted by the Serbian regime, who turned into an entire generation of resistance, was key in bringing to life and keeping alive as well as organizing and strengthening the system of the Republic of Kosovo that was under occupation during the 1990s,” emphasized Acting Prime Minister Kurti.
Full speech of the Acting Prime Minister Kurti:
Honorable Gagica family, Honorable Mrs. Emine, Honorable Zarife and Dardane, wife and daughter of the deceased,
Honorable Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, Mrs. Donika Gërvalla,
Honorable friends and associates of all times of Mr. Gagica,
Honored colleagues, ministers and deputy ministers and members of parliament,
Honored academics and professors,
Honored guests, who have joined today in honoring and remembering Hafiz Gagica
Ladies and gentlemen,
Unsparing commitment and unconditional devotion to the freedom and independence of the Republic of Kosovo. This is perhaps how we can define the life and work of Hafiz Gagica, the intellectual and tireless activist of the national cause.
With the death of Hafiz Gagica, our country lost a good man and an excellent patriot.
He was and will remain in the history of our Republic, as the bearer of the organization of the Albanian diaspora in Germany, with special emphasis, but also in Switzerland and throughout Europe.
His role in uniting and keeping our diaspora active, generations of Albanians persecuted by the Serbian regime, who turned into an entire generation of resistance, was key in bringing to life and keeping alive, as well as organizing and strengthening the system of the Republic of Kosovo, which was under occupation during the 1990s.
Hafiz Gagica was one of the close and trusted associates of the historic president Ibrahim Rugova, and is rightly considered his right-hand man. In difficult and dangerous times, he shouldered great responsibility. By putting his goal first and undisputed: the freedom and independence of Kosovo; he managed to overcome political differences and cooperate with everyone, becoming the voice of our country in the diaspora.
Hafiz was able to do this because he knew and understood the sufferings of the Albanian people, both the current ones and the historical ones: the beatings, imprisonments and murders, deportation as a result of oppression and persecution by the Serbian regime. Likewise, the forced heavy labor in exile to help families in their homeland, who survived, the institutional system of the Republic of Kosovo under occupation to keep it alive, as well as the organization of the liberation war.
In addition to his highly important role in organizing institutional life under occupation, Hafiz Gagica, under the leadership of Sali Çekaj, organized the first military groups that were trained in Albania in the early 1990s, part of which, as we know, was also the Chief Commander, the Legendary Commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army, Adem Jashari.
Our diaspora and its prominent personalities, such as Hafiz Gagica, constitute a unique example in the world, of resistance, of preserving economic existence and institutions, as well as of helping to organize the liberation war.
He was also a lobbyist in important meetings in difficult times. Meanwhile, the rally in Bonn in 1998, for which he worked hard, will never be forgotten, and which was attended by more than 100 thousand Albanians, who demanded freedom for Kosovo.
Connection of Hafiz Gagica with Kosovo, like the one of the diaspora with their homeland, is inseparable. Without the diaspora, without its financial and diplomatic contribution, but also without the fighters from the diaspora, we would not have been able to win the war.
The memory of Hafiz Gagica, also as a friend, pupil and collaborator of Jusuf Gërvalla, is not only a tribute to a person with great merits for the freedom and independence of the Republic of Kosovo, but to an entire generation of intellectuals and activists in exile, who gave everything of their being.
During the 1990s, I did not have the luck and opportunity to meet Hafiz Gagica, but after my liberation and release from prison, I have met him many times and we have parted with the best impressions of our conversation.
Hafiz Gagica is an example of an activist who worked hard, was constantly committed to Kosovo and Albanianness in the last century, and took nothing for himself in this century.
Tributes to the life and work of Hafiz Gagica. Sincere condolences to his family, friends and colleagues!
