The role of heroes and martyrs in the construction of Kosovo’s freedom, the preservation of collective memory, and the need for a rigorous scientific approach to the history of Albanian resistance were highlighted at the scientific conference titled “The Eternalization of National Heroes and Martyrs for the Kosovo Cause.”
The conference was organized to mark the 27th anniversary of Kosovo’s liberation by the Institute of History “Ali Hadri” in cooperation with the State University of Tetova.
He stressed that collective memory is preserved through knowledge and academic research.
Ceku assessed that the struggle for Kosovo’s freedom was multidimensional, including military, political, civic, diplomatic, intellectual, and cultural engagement.She emphasized that the eternalization of their work remains both an institutional and moral obligation.
In the opening session of the conference, the secretary of the Institute of History “Ali Hadri,” Arbër Hadri, spoke about Kosovo’s historical path toward freedom, highlighting the sacrifices of generations of Albanian activists and fighters.
Hadri stressed that with the emergence of the KLA, the Kosovo issue gained greater international attention, while the sacrifice of the Jashari family in March 1998 became a symbol of freedom and resistance.
He said that Kosovo Albanians, despite political differences at the time, aimed at unification with the Albanian state, while after the war their efforts were directed toward advancing Kosovo’s political status and preserving national identity within Yugoslavia.
According to Verli, Tito’s death marked a new period of challenges for Albanians, as demands for advancing Kosovo’s status were met with rising Serbian nationalism and policies that culminated in Slobodan Milosevic coming to power.
