Confession of Albanian Belgrade Battle reporter (VIDEO)

April 9th 1999, the Kosovo Liberation Army marked a major victory against Milosevic's army. This is one of the fightings that were documented at the time against the Serbian Army, in what is known as the Kosovo Battle.

Immediately after the departure of Serbian military from the border with Albania, a group of journalists went to the freed area, among them was LSA photoreporter Gent Shkullaku, who tells of Top Channel emotions and first emotions.

It was a special emotion. In that first freed area that can also be called the first island to be handed over by the KLA, you could feel the true smell of war. No further than 7-8 km from Kostunica, he fought in the trench, where Serbian forces were constantly trying to retake control of the” area, he recalls.

He recorded photos from the Kostare battlefield, pictures that already document one of the historical events marked in the Kosovo liberation fight.

Today, 19 years after that battle, Shkullaku continues to be convinced that the success of Kostare's battle, more than by preparing KLA members, came because of their desire to see their country free.

I had the chance to meet the KLA fighters since they came to Rinas and saw them being young, unknown to the war and living abroad. But their desire to see their country free led to these results”, says Gent Shkullaku.

Kostunica's battle opened the way later to the rapid addition of KLA ranks, boosting confidence in Kosovo's liberation, as well as creating a secure area for external aid.

The battle of Kostunica of April 9th 1999, also known as the battle that split the Albanian-Albanian border, marked a significant turning point in the KLA's fight against the Serbian regime. / TCH/