Prishtina, 13 October 2022
The Ministerial Commission held the first meeting on drafting, preparing and implementing the project “Memorial for children killed during the 1998-1999 war in Kosovo”.
We are gathered to promote a decision of a significant importance, about a very painful and sensitive issue for all of us, stated the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo Albin Kurti, at the opening of the meeting.
Our freedom stems from the fallen martyrs, and the way we remember them speaks about the future that we will build. Therefore, it is the duty of each of us for the freedom and peace that we enjoy, to always remember the sacrifice of our people, he stated.
Prime Minister Kurti emphasized that war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity are not past. Murdering children during the war are the most terrible crimes of Serbia, he said.
We are deeply honoured that the Deputy President of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, Ms. Saranda Bogujevci has agreed to chair this Working Group. She is in Strasbourg, where on Tuesday, 11 October 2022, she made us immensely proud. Through her, voice of the Republic of Kosovo was heard for the first time in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, stated the Prime Minister Kurti.
Survivor of the massacre of 28th of March 1999, when 7 children between ages 2 and 15 of Bogujevci, Duriqi and Llugaliu families were shot in Podujeva by Serbian reserve Police Unit “Scorpions”. In this massacre, Saranda has lost 16 family members and survived from 16 bullets. She will chair the working group that will implement project “Memorial for children killed during the 1998-1999 war in Kosovo”.
The Working Group, mandated for the drafting of Action Plan on the construction of the Memorial for Children Killed During the War in Kosovo, with representatives from the Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Ministry of Finance, Labour and Transfers and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports will be extended with representatives of the families of children killed during the war, experts, representatives of local and international organizations.
Prime Minister’s Kurti entire speech:
Dear members of Ministerial Commission,
I welcome you to the first meeting of Ministerial Commission on drafting, preparing and implementing the project “Memorial for children killed during the 1998-1999 war in Kosovo”. Today we are gathered to promote a decision of a significant importance, about a very painful and sensitive issue for all of us.
At the 81st meeting of the Government, held on International Children’s Day, in commemoration of the murdered children, we have established the Ministerial Commission for the Memorial of the children killed during the 1998-1999 war in Kosovo.
Today we are establishing the Working Group with representatives from institutions, which will then be extended with representatives of the families of children killed during the war, experts, representatives of local and international organizations, upon the request of the Chairperson.
We are deeply honoured that the Deputy President of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, Ms. Saranda Bogujevci has agreed to chair this Working Group. She is in Strasbourg, where on Tuesday, 11 October 2022, she made us immensely proud. Through her, voice of the Republic of Kosovo was heard for the first time in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Survivor of the massacre of 28th of March 1999, when 7 children between ages 2 and 15 of Bogujevci, Duriqi and Llugaliu families were shot in Podujeva by the Serbian reserve Police Unit “Scorpions”. In this massacre, Saranda has lost 16 family members and survived from 16 bullets. Today, she is being proposed to chair the working group that will implement the project “Memorial for children killed during the 1998-1999 war in Kosovo”.
Dear members of Ministerial Commission,
Our freedom stems from the fallen martyrs, and the way we remember them speaks about the future that we will build. Therefore, it is the duty of each of us for the freedom and peace that we enjoy, to always remember the sacrifice of our people.
War crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity are not past. Murdering of children during the war are the most terrible crimes of Serbia.
May the memory of all the killed children during the war in Kosovo be eternal!
Last modified: October 14, 2022