Prishtina, 18 May 2009
The Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, Ramë Manaj, today met with a group of students from Germany, the Czech Republic and Kosovo. The group of students were organized by the “Youth Initiative for Human Rights”, led by Professor Marie–Louise Lange.
The students were particularly interested in memorial sites and how victims of the war are commemorated by society and the state.
Deputy Prime Minister Manaj emphasized that between 12 to 15,000 people of all ages, the majority of whom were civilians; were victims of the recent war in Kosovo.
“In the village of Meje in Gjakova, 377 civilians were killed by Serbia’s armed forces and paramilitaries in the largest massacre inflicted on our people. This day is now observed as the Day of the Missing in Kosovo,” said Deputy Prime Minister Ramë Manaj.
Deputy Prime Minister Manaj added that the Government of Kosovo is dedicated to supporting and giving social assistance to the families of martyrs, and civilian victims, etc. 7,632 families currently receive this social assistance in Kosovo.
In the future, an attempt will be made to rationalize commemorative and memorial dates. In this manner, more qualitative commemorations and academies, at a higher cultural level, may be organized and therefore; important dates and events will be able to be marked with the highest level of piety, as they deserve.
Deputy Prime Minister Ramë Manaj answered the students’ questions on how the institutions and the country commemorate war victims.
Last modified: July 31, 2022