Prishtina, 10 July 2026
Dear members of the Bytyqi family,
Honourable Members of Parliament, ministers, deputy ministers, and representatives of our institutions,
Dear families of the martyrs of the nation, disabled veterans and veterans of the Kosovo Liberation Army,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
We have gathered here on the balcony of the Prime Minister’s Office to remember three brothers, three sons of Kosovo, three American citizens, three fighters for freedom: Yll, Agron, and Mehmet.
Whenever the names of the Bytyqi brothers are spoken, they remind us of the path toward truth and justice, but also of our obligation to pursue both, for such is our responsibility in the time in which we live and toward the generations that will come after us.
Their story is a story of patriotism. Born in the United States of America, they chose to come from New York to Kosovo during one of the most difficult periods in our recent history. They joined the Atlantiku volunteer unit of the Kosovo Liberation Army and dedicated themselves to the freedom of a people facing violence, killings, massacres, the concealment of bodies, and other grave crimes against humanity.
Their story also reveals a profoundly human dimension. Just days after the liberation of Kosovo, on 23 June 1999, Yll, Agron, and Mehmet were helping a Roma family travel from Prizren to the border with Serbia. At a time when the wounds of war were still open and fear and uncertainty were everywhere, they chose to help people in need.
This fact must be stated, remembered, and repeated, because it tells us who the Bytyqi brothers truly were.
They were fighters for freedom and fighters for justice, who understood freedom as responsibility toward others, who understood that justice implies the other, and who fought for human dignity, inseparable from one another and from others. They understood that after war, peace is built through humanity.
During that journey, they were arrested by Serbian police. After serving a sentence of 15 days in prison, instead of being released, they were killed by the Serbian genocidal state apparatus. Their bodies were discovered in 2001 in the mass grave at Petrovo Selo in Serbia, together with the bodies of Albanians killed by Serbian forces during the war in Kosovo.
The Bytyqi brothers are clear evidence of Serbia’s crimes against Albanians and, at the same time, of Serbia’s complete lack of willingness to assume responsibility for those crimes.
The passage of time does not diminish the obligation to achieve justice. On the contrary, every passing year makes the burden of impunity even heavier.
Our calls, together with those of the United States, have remained unwavering and vocal in demanding justice and the full clarification of this crime.
The Republic of Kosovo believes that lasting peace and relations between the states and peoples of the region can only be built upon truth, accountability, and justice.
Distinguished guests,
When we remember Yll, Agron, and Mehmet, we remember the high price of the freedom we enjoy today. At the same time, we remind ourselves that freedom must be built every day: through democratic institutions, the rule of law, equality before the law, a strong military, respect for every citizen, and the protection of the dignity of every person, enabling each individual to flourish and improve their own well-being and that of their family.
This is the most dignified way to honor them and to uphold the ideals of the martyrs.
The Bytyqi brothers uniquely connected the Republic of Kosovo and the Albanian nation with the United States of America. They were both Albanian and American; sons of Kosovo and citizens of America. Their lives and sacrifice united two countries bound by historical friendship and a shared commitment to freedom.
The Republic of Kosovo is grateful to the United States of America for its continued efforts in seeking justice for the Bytyqi brothers. In October 2019 and July 2022, the United States House of Representatives adopted two resolutions calling upon Serbia to take concrete action and cooperate with international justice mechanisms in bringing those responsible for this crime to justice. This commitment is important not only for their family but also for the fundamental principle that grave crimes must not go unpunished.
Therefore, tonight, as always, we express our deepest respect to the Bytyqi family for their resilience, dignity, and perseverance in the pursuit of truth and justice.
For the Republic of Kosovo, the memory of Yll, Agron, and Mehmet Bytyqi is part of our state and national memory.
Therefore, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, during these days when we mark the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America, within our special relationship of friendship as allies and partners, we reaffirm our commitment to continue seeking the truth, accountability, and justice that will punish both those who ordered and those who carried out this heinous crime. Just as we preserve with honor and glory the memory of freedom fighters Yll, Agron, and Mehmet Bytyqi, we will continue striving to achieve justice for them, to the very end.
In addition to ensuring the continued progress of our nation and our Republic, justice for them must also be fully achieved.
Glory to the Bytyqi brothers and to all martyrs and fallen heroes of the Albanian nation!
Thank you for your participation and attention.