Prishtina, 5 March 2026
Honourable Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Dear citizens,
Honourable members of the media,
Today we mark the anniversary of the most important event in our contemporary history, the Epic of the Kosovo Liberation Army. It represents a decisive turning point in our national consciousness and our people’s unity towards freedom and independence.
The history of states is built upon events that open the path to the future. March of 1998 is such an event. In Prekaz, on 5, 6 and 7 March 1998, a confrontation took place that was so unequal, yet of such extraordinary significance.
In the annals of European history, not a single case can be found where for three days and three consecutive nights an indigenous freedom-loving family resisted a police and occupying state.
Although the Jashari family was surrounded many times over by thousands of armed forces, equipped with heavy machinery and modern military equipment of the time, they fought and stood their ground until the end, giving their lives for the freedom of all of us.
For this family, only one thing had meaning: freedom. Because nothing is more valuable than it.
What makes this event immortal is the family’s conscious decision to stand firm and not surrender.
Men, women and children decided not to separate from the Commander-in-Chief, Adem Jashari. They stood together, united by the conviction that freedom requires sacrifice, which begins with oneself.
On 5 March 1998, the young members of the family took their positions with courage. Women and girls supplied ammunition without interruption. It was an organized, conscious and collective resistance. Their towers were turned into a fortress, the family into a symbol of Albanian unity and determination, while Prekaz became the center of the popular uprising.
After those three days, the war in Kosovo took on a different turn. Human mobilization increased, the legitimacy of the resistance strengthened, and the issue of Kosovo gained significant international attention.
As uncle Rifat Jashari had said after this battle: “I lost 56 members of my family, but I won the hearts of 7 million Albanians.”
As we commemorate the Epic, we reflect on the responsibility we bear toward their sacrifice. The freedom we enjoy today has been built upon the resistance of those who did not retreat or surrender.
Therefore, the history of the Jashari family should be treated not only from a historical perspective, but also from a multidisciplinary one, in order to conduct in-depth studies, draw accurate assessments and ensure that we educate future generations about how this national treasure of ours was created.
As the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, we are working to ensure that this history, heritage and national value of ours is documented, preserved and passed on to future generations, both in Kosovo and in the diaspora.
Eternal glory to the Commander-in-Chief Adem Jashari, the Jashari family and all the martyrs of freedom!
May the memory of the KLA Epic serve as a lasting inspiration for us to continue building and developing the Republic of Kosovo with responsibility, justice and sovereignty!
Thank you.
