Kosovo Commemorates ‘Beginning of End’ of Serbian Rule

Officials held a series of events to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the killing of Kosovo Liberation Army commander Adem Jashari, saying that it marked “the beginning of the end” of Serbia’s rule.

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Kosovo leaders on Monday held a series of events to mark the 20th anniversary of the killing of Adem Jashari and 59 members of his extended family in Prekaz in 1998 – an incident that officials said was a turning point in the former Serbian province’s struggle for independence.

“History changed that day in Prekaz… The uprising era started, the most glorious movement that our people and the KLA [Kosovo Liberation Army] created, the era of an uprising for freedom,” speaker of parliament Kadri Veseli said at a ceremonial session of the Kosovo Assembly.

Veseli argued that this was “the beginning of the end” of Serbia’s rule over Kosovo.

Jashari was a KLA commander who took part in a number of attacks on Yugoslav forces before he was killed in a three-day siege of his family home.

The Kosovo Assembly marks the 20th anniversary of the killing of Adem Jashari. Photo: PM’s office.

President Hashim Thaci, Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj and other political leaders also paid tribute to Jashari at a memorial ceremony.

Thaci said that Kosovo as a state was built on the sacrifices of the Jashari family.

“The resistance of Commander Adem Jashari and his family, two decades ago, turned into a massive and extraordinary expansion for the KLA,” Thaci said.

To commemorate Jashari and the KLA, the Kosovo Security Force held a parade at its main base in Pristina, which is also named after Jashari.

Thaci vowed that the Kosovo Security Force will be transformed into a regular army.

“As president, I express my greatest respect for your devotion and work as the KSF [Kosovo Security Force]. I am convinced that the step of creating the Armed Forces is in the interest of all the citizens of Kosovo,” he said.