The Minister of the Ministry of Labor, Family and Values of the Liberation War, Mr. Andin Hoti, was part of the memorial academy dedicated to the heroines of Kosovo and their spouses, who fell heroically on the altar of freedom, organized by the Municipality of Shtime, headed by the Mayor Mr. Qemajl Aliu, in cooperation with the Association of Martyrs’ Families in Shtime.
The Minister’s full speech:
“Memorial academy dedicated to the heroines of Kosovo and their spouses, who fell heroically on the altar of freedom.”
When I read this sentence, I started thinking about which names from the last war and throughout history I would mention as men and women who fought and sacrificed themselves for the most precious freedom.
I began to travel through history and come to the glorious war of the Kosovo Liberation Army.
So many names and examples came to mind, that I wondered how it is possible that such a small people find itself in every value. In such a small people, you find names and deeds that are difficult to find even in the largest peoples throughout the world.
If I mention King Agron, Queen Teuta inevitably comes to mind.
Many families in Kosovo today have sons and daughters with both names at home.
When we mention Azem Galica, in the background in our minds appears Qerime Radisheva, the wife of the Drenica patriot, Shote Galica.
That iconic photo appears to us where Azem, with a mustache and a scythe on his head, with a holster on his belt, stands proudly next to his wife Shota, who holds his hand on his left shoulder, while he wears a scythe on his head, and proudly holds his weapon in his belt.
Who knows how many hundreds of times the two have looked into each other’s eyes, man and woman, thinking that those are the last moments of their lives, because of the unprecedented war against each invader, against the Serbs most of all, of course.
We travel through history, almost a century later, the Albanian people will bring out Azem and Shote Galica again.
As a crown above all the stories and sacrifices stands the story of Zahide and Shaban Jashari.
Zahide Geci from the village of Llaushë married Shaban Jashari from Prekazi, two villages known for their resistance to the invaders.
The two created the great Jashari family.
The KLA, the ideal for war, an example of sacrifice, the inspiration for war and resistance, everything, every word that can be said about the virtues that brought freedom, was brought to us by the Jashari family.
Shaban Murat Jashari, together with Zahide Jashari, fell as martyrs on March 5, 6 and 7, among a total of 59 martyrs who fell that day.
Together with them was Zarife Jashari, the wife of Rifat, who is alive today, but who had been part of the armed resistance in previous sieges by Serbian forces.
In Prekaz, in the epic resistance of 98, Hamëz Shaban Jashari fell together with his wife, Feride Jashari, as well as the Commander-in-Chief Adem Jashari with his wife Adile.
Në shtator të 98-s, ranë heroikisht komandanti i Ushtrisë Çlirimtare të Kosovës, Fehmi Lladrovci, bashkë me bashkëshorten, Xhevë Krasniqi-Lladrovci, po ashtu njëra ndër luftëtaret e para të UÇK-së.
The two were inseparable in their personal lives, as well as in their activities for organization and the liberation war with weapons in their hands in the mountains of Drenica.
In December 1998, along with Commander “Kapuçin”, Mujë Krasniqi, among the 40 soldiers who fell for freedom were Luljeta Shala, a KLA soldier, who was only 21 years old, and her lover, Hysen Bujupaj-Luani.
We have hundreds of similar stories, including that of Hanumshahe and Tefik Zymer, who fell heroically together with weapons in their hands in the Zhegoc district of Gjilan.
E kemi edhe familjen heroike Haradinaj nga Gllogjani dhe shembullin e pashoq të Hilmi dhe Rukë Haradinajt, të cilët i dhanë UÇK-së djemtë dhe vajzat dhe, bashkë me ta, luftuan e rezistuan me armë në dorë.
Our history, our tradition as a Nation is very rich, so rich that even the largest and most advanced peoples covet us.
It remains for us not to forget our history, to cultivate the good values that we have as a society, as a traditional Albanian family.
Hundreds and thousands of examples throughout our existence remind us of the heroines of Kosovo, who fought, sacrificed and were sacrificed together with their spouses for our freedom.
Our mothers and fathers have passed on to us the best and most precious values from their ancestors, who did not allow us to perish as a nation in the face of bloodthirsty neighbors thirsting for the blood of our land.
Glory to the martyrs and martyrs at every stage of our history!
Thank you!
