Walker from a distance commemorates Recak's Massacre, grieving why Kosovo does not have electricity

William Walker has been able to travel towards Kosovo to attend the commemoration ceremony of the 23rd anniversary of Recak's Massacre. Walker through a video message said he was very sorry that as a result of the pandemic, and because of a little operation he had he couldn't have attended today's ceremony.

“My frustration is that I am among the people who commemorate the tragic events in the village of Recak. That's an expression of disappointment that I'm not there. I further apologize for the known reasons that it's Pandemia and COVID and because of my age, and because of an operation I did a few weeks ago, I had to overcome my wishes, and to speak to you because of the help of Prime Minister”'s office, Walker said.

Walker says the importance of Recak's Massacre as a unique case has risen year-on-year.

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Walker says that the whole world already has attention when it comes to Recak's Massacre and stresses that this is what it was hoping for.

As long as you recall how in the past there was reluctance by some foreign ambassadors to attend this massacre's memorial ceremony.

Each year the January 15th ceremony has been attended with great attention, by Kosovo, diaspora and the whole world. This is what I hoped would happen and happened. In the past, what was commemorated on January 15th was avoided by others, for example by the international community, some of the embassies refused to participate, but this has changed”, Walker said.

Walker has claimed that he will never forget all his visits to Recak over the past 22 years and will never forget 1999 and how damaged Recak was by the events of the time.

However, he says he feels very happy as he sees things change for the better and not just there, but throughout Kosovo. But he adds that he does not like the fact that there is still a lack of electricity in Kosovo or that Kosovo does not control the virus.

“Recak has now changed. And that applies to Kosovo. When I come back and see the progress that has been made and the things that are happening.

I am sad to hear about the lack of electricity and that Kosovo does not fully control the virus. These things bother me”, added away from the former American diplomat.

He said he would never forget Recak and promised that in 2023 he would attend the Recak Massacre memorial ceremony.

When I see people on the streets of Recak, Shtime, Malisheva, Pristina. When I see smiles that you rarely have in 1999 on those bad days before the 1999 events that brought about Kosovo's liberation. When he won't forget what Recak means to me. I hope that the year 2022 will bring release from the Coronavirus. Recak is unique to me.

So all in Kosovo and Recak wish them all the best for the new year and I'll be there in 2023. Thank you for listening to me, Walker said at the end.