On the occasion of marking the 28th anniversary of the Epic of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), the Government of Kosovo on Friday approved the establishment of a State Council for this anniversary. However, war-derived categories of the KLA were not included in this council.

As a result, the Organization of KLA War Veterans (OVL-KLA), together with other war-related categories, has established an organizing council to coordinate commemorative and ceremonial activities within the framework of this historic event.

According to the OVL, even if they had received an invitation from the Government of Kosovo, they would not have participated due to what they describe as six consecutive years of insults and neglect toward them.

The Deputy Chairman of the Organization of KLA War Veterans, Gazmend Syla, told KosovaPress that they were obliged to create this council so as not to remain outside the organization of the events.

“Since we were not included in the state council created by the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, in a way we were obliged, as associations emerging from the war, to take special care during these historic days. Therefore, we decided to create our own council as well, in this case with several personalities who have contributed and are in fact founders of the Kosovo Liberation Army, as well as KLA fighters. Certainly, their names are perhaps more symbolic, for their activity and contribution to the liberation of the country,” Syla said.

He stated that it would have been important for the events to be organized together with the institutions, although it is unacceptable for them to participate in an event where a member such as Mimoza Kusari-Lila is present, referring to her previous stance on removing veterans from the minimum wage increase, as well as other insults from members of the Government, including Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

Syla said they must understand that the chairs they sit in today were built upon the sacrifices of the liberators.

He called for reflection from state institutions.

“It would be extremely important for these events to be organized together — associations emerging from the war, the government, and even the presidency. Unfortunately, for six years now we have had no communication at all with our institutions. It is quite unacceptable for us to participate in a state event where, for example, Mimoza Kusari-Lila might be present, one of those figures who at that time spoke with Radojičić and Simić and said ‘I need your votes to remove veterans from the minimum wage increase in Kosovo at that time’… The continuous insults we have faced — you know about Mr. Basha and that academic work — and Kurti has not behaved properly either regarding the issue of the Special Court, where our fellow fighters are being treated unjustly. Until there is reflection from the government so that they understand that this state, upon which they now sit in those chairs, was built upon the sacrifice of those men and women whom we will commemorate on the 5th, 6th and 7th and in the days to follow, it is very difficult for us to continue going just to take a photo while laying wreaths,” he said.

The OVL Deputy Chairman, Gazmend Syla, also mentioned their agenda for March 5, 6 and 7, which is expected to be proposed this week at the council meeting.

“We are thinking of holding tributes on the fifth; these will be proposals from the council, and the council will decide. On the sixth, to visit the families of martyrs, and also to receive visits at our offices here at the central level as well as in other centers, because we have visitors — we have already received confirmation that school students will come to visit us at our offices that day. Then on the seventh is the Night of Fires; we will organize the lighting of fires in the seven operational zones that at that time were war zones,” he said.

The State Council for marking the 28th anniversary of the KLA Epic will be headed by Minister of Defense Ejup Maqedonci, co-chaired by the Minister of Family and Protection of War Values, Andin Hoti, while the Mayor of Skenderaj, Sami Lushtaku, will serve as a member.

Meanwhile, the Organizing Council of war-derived categories will consist of OVL-KLA Chairman Hysni Gucati, Fadil Shurdhaj, Xhavit Jashari, Ali Ahmeti, Shefket Musliu, Sokol Poga, Agim Çeku, Lahi Brahimaj, Shukri Buja, Ahmet Isufi, Rahman Rama, Nuredin Lushtaku, Abdyl Mushkolaj, Latif Gashi and Rrustem Berisha.

The KLA Epic is marked on March 5, 6 and 7 — the days when members of the Jashari family were killed by Serbian forces in Prekaz.