The Acting President of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu, and the Acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, today held tributes in honor of the martyrs on the 27th anniversary of the massacre in Shtutica.
In her speech to the media, Haxhiu accused Serbia of genocide against the innocent civilian population in Kosovo.
“The murders of babies, children, girls, women and the elderly are evidence of Serbia’s genocide in Kosovo. On April 30, 1999, in defense of unarmed and innocent civilians, 42 KLA soldiers fell, now martyrs of the nation. Among them was the hero Ilaz Kodra, who led Brigade 114. They are the ones who made it possible for us to have the state of Kosovo today. freedom and independence“, she said.
For his part, Kurti demanded justice for this massacre and the punishment of those responsible for the crimes committed during the war.
He stated that even after 27 years, progress is being made in the arrest and trial of those he described as Serbian criminals, including trials in absentia.
“There is progress regarding the fate of the missing, the forcibly disappeared, but also regarding the punishment of the criminals of Serbia. More must be done and must be acted more quickly by the Prosecutor’s Office and the Judiciary. The evidence is here, but the witnesses are getting old, and many of them are dying. Therefore, we must hurry to bring justice to the country as soon as possible.“, Kurti said.
He further added that the genocide of Serbia in the years 1998-1999 was the fourth and the last, but according to him, three more have happened to the Albanian people over the generations.
“As it is also said in this memorial, their blood has been transformed into the light of freedom that illuminates the way forward, reminds us where we come from and makes it clear where we are going. The Republic of Kosovo, democratic and independent, a state oriented towards the EU and NATO, has the roots of freedom and the foundations of institutions in the blood of these martyrs and martyrs”he emphasized.
