Haradinaj: Adrian Krasniqi, set stage for Kosovo freedom

Adrian Krasniqi was among the founders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UÇK), which laid the foundation of the road to freedom. While on his shoulders, apart from the weight of weapons, he held the heavy weight of the country's history and freedom

So said at the memorial Academy, which was held in Pristina on the 20th anniversary of the fall of the nation's hero, who has been held under the auspices of Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj.

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said Adrian was one who laid the way for freedom. While he said Kosovo and Albanians have the obligation to assess his contribution to Kosovo's freedom.

Many of us in this room have experience of interacting with Adrian, and each of us can bring in aspects that have made Adrian special. It's good to say those words today on this 20th anniversary. He looked far into freedom. Until today. He was one of those warriors, who except for the road to freedom, he had vision and beyond. It was formed so much not only for the importance of freedom, but for the importance of freedom what happens next to his people... . He was also willing that in addition to organizing, spreading the ideology of freedom, he had the capacity that the seed of freedom planted in me as full of peers but not just of our age at that time. Full fellow workers, who would later follow the course of freedom and his way to sacrifice you heroicly. Not only Kosovo, but Albania. Being «so Kosovo, Albanians, are tasked with value and respect towards contributing to our path to freedom, the nation's hero Adrian Krasniqi, the Krasniqi family, fellow fighters who are alive and to have guides in our perspective like Kosovo and as Albanian”, Haradinaj said.

Former KLA member General Staff, MP Rexhep Selimi said Adrian Krasniqi, who was an honour to the KLA founders, would remember him as providing the KLA units with weapons brought from the depth of the homeland and like Adrian, who migrated and carried out actions everywhere in Kosovo, in Dukagji, Llap or Drenica.

Kosovo's freedom burden is already resting almost exclusively on the shoulders of martyrs. Because only there is Kosovo freedom. Those who never took bullets in their breasts as the martyrs did. I, as his co-worker, cannot be today analtic, historian and scientific scholar for Adrian Krasniqi's work. That's not what his friends can do. Neither Ilir nor Zahir could make it as if they were alive. Neither the Mujah nor the Lion could. Neither can his family. We can't do this because we feel Adrian. We still remember his things. We still feel the color of his voice. There's no room for cold analytics here, because there's emotion here. We can't write his story. But that would have to be Kosovo, for which he fell. This Kosovo, which never did. Not why Kosovo did not, but that it did not want those who were in charge of this Kosovo. But we will always remember Adrian. We will preserve Adrian in our memories, as was the founder of Kosovo's freedom”, Selimi said.

Even former Albanian Foreign Minister Pascal Milo, who attended this academy, said it is difficult to speak among heroes, of a hero like Adrian Krasniqi.

“It's a special pleasure to be here today, not just to talk about Adrian's heroic work, as you know better than I do. But it's hard to talk about heroes and heroes. There are many heroes of war among you, many fellow warriors of those glorious years. As many as I and others like me are minorities, we should listen respectfully to those who fought. While all others must humble ourselves in honor of the memory of the martyrs and heroes... why did we become more courageous in Tirana. Why we were so encouraged by your weapons, moving around Kosovo. I'm following you here what I felt. You braved us. You made us famous diplomats. Because you were right. And we had that morality based on your cause and our”, he said.

And the brother of the legendary commander Adam Jashar, Rift Jashar, said that the living are under a moral obligation to work toward the land where the fallen martyrs loved.

“Glory and honour Adrian Krasniqi. Everyone who fell for freedom and independence. We the living have a moral and necessary obligation to work to make their deeds and war advance to where they have wanted”, he said.

And on behalf of Adrian's fellow fighters, Guzim Sejdiu spoke, who recalled the moments he spent with Adrian. While he said that along with the guns, they carried the heavy weight of history and freedom on their shoulders.

“Today 20 years ago, a rainy night, at a low temperature, was being launched by the KLA column led by Adrian Krasniqi, along with Muja Krasniqi, Ilir Konushevci. They carry a huge burden and history. Weapons weight and freedom, weapons that changed people's history. Rain and hail could not stop their way. Just as the ambushes organised by the Serbian Army and its collaborators could not stop the road. Ardian was bringing to Kosovo the rifle, the Zahir and the Lion, Edmond. He was entering Kosovo convinced of victory and ready for sacrifice”, he said.

Adrian Krasniqi was the first soldier of the Kosovo Liberation Army, who fell in UCK's uniform. Adrian Krasniqi was killed on October 16th 1997 in Klicina, Pec, during the attack at the Serbian police station. /S. Bird/