Gjakovë, 2 April 2024
After the tributes in Kralan, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, continued towards the city of Gjakova, to pay tributes at the cemeteries of those murdered by the Vejsa, Hoxha, Haxhiavdija, Caka, Gashi and Nuçi families, in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the massacre from the Serbian armed forces.
On this date of historical pain for the family members of the Vejsa family, Prime Minister Kurti stated that the killing of children, babies, old men and women, women and defenseless civilians is evidence of genocide by Serbia, which tried to exterminate the people of Kosovo.
While expressing his gratitude for the strength of families, Prime Minister Kurti emphasized that the crimes committed during the war must be urgently addressed while the evidence and witnesses are still alive. He said that the wounds are still bleeding as long as there is no justice.
“The executors are dozens, there are hundreds, and they would have to answer to justice. First in 2019, and then in 2022 with the Criminal Procedure Code and the amendment-supplementing, we have made it possible for criminals to be prosecuted, tried, and punished even in absentia,” said Prime Minister Kurti.
Furthermore, he emphasized that they were there today to show the institutional and national, civic and human solidarity with the families, and to honor the sacrifice of the fallen and martyrs of the nation of Kosovo.
Together with Prime Minister Kurti were the Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Arbërie Nagavci, Minister of Internal Affairs, Xelal Sveçla, Minister of Defense, Ejup Maqedonci, Deputy Minister of Finance, Labor and Transfers, Agon Dobruna, Deputy Minister of Regional Development , Ali Tafarshiku, the Deputy Minister of Health, Dafina Gexha Bunjaku, and the deputies of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, Mimoza Kusari Lila and Agon Batusha, as well as central and local level officials, and family members of the murdered.
Prime Minister Kurti paid tribute and placed flowers at the graves of those murdered by the Bardoniqi, Dulatahu and Gerqari families.
The full statement of Prime Minister Kurti:
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being so strong and encouraging all the people to endure, but at the same time to testify, to speak, tell, confess about the cruel crimes committed by the forces of Serbia in in the spring of 1999 in the context of the genocide that they perpetrated against the Albanian people.
The killing of children and babies, old men and women, women and defenseless civilians in their homes, and then burning the corpses is evidence of the genocide of Serbia that tried to exterminate our people.
For this case, the head of Public Security of Serbia, General Vllastimir Gjorgjevic, was sentenced once to 27 years in prison, and then he was reduced to 18 years in prison at the Hague Tribunal, but he was an order giver, who was the hand of Milosevic’s right-hand side in this “Patkoi” operation. However, there are dozens, hundreds of other executors and they would have to answer to justice. First in 2019, and then in 2022 with the Code of Criminal Procedure and with the amendment-supplementing, we have made it possible for criminals to be prosecuted, tried, and punished even in absentia.
Therefore, it is vital that as long as we have the testimonies and witnesses alive, the crimes committed during the war in Kosovo should be urgently addressed so that the wounds can be closed with justice. As long as there is no justice, the wounds continue to bleed. From us you have all the institutional, human, civic, and national solidarity, and we thank you. We express our deep gratitude and bow before the sacrifice of the nation’s fallen and martyrs. Glory be to all of them!
Last modified: April 2, 2024