24 years from Kosovo's Kosovo Albanian escort

Today it is marked by the 24th anniversary of the Kosovo Albanian exhibition, when, during the 1998-1999 war, about one million Albanians were forced by Serb paramilitary forces to move to Albania and Northern Macedonia.

In addition to the displaced in Albania and Northern Macedonia, thousands of Albanians crossed the border with Montenegro, while hundreds of thousands had moved from their homes to find refuge in the Kosovo mountains.

They were children, women and older, raped, tortured, and massacred. On every anniversary of the 1999 Bible - based exhibition in Kukes, this drama of suffering is commemorated by the most terrible people on earth.

Exodus, or expulsion of Albanians with violence from their centres, culminated after the start of NATO bombings against the former Yugoslavia's military and police points (Serbia and Montenegro), Kosovo Presses broadcast.

On March 27, at 1:20 p.m., at the Vremica/Morina customs crossing, the first 187 refugees from Kosovo, where most were children and women, who were in miserable physical and mental condition and injured with strong tools such as rifle jars, batons, and so on. Prompt measures were made to transport them by means of civilian transport and military transport by the Kukes Prefectal Leaders. They were mostly residents of Prizren villages, the Great Krusha and Zym. To begin with, these refugees were sheltered in the cultural palace “Hasan Pristina”.

By 4: 00 p.m., 27.03, 1999 in Kukes arrived 12,721 Kosovars. The first food aid came from Albania's Ministry of Agriculture, where, on March 27th in Kukes, containers of food were sent (vea, flour, sugar, pasta, rice, soap etc) to 2,500 people per month.

On March 28th, the influx of Kosovars towards Kukes, forcibly expelled from the lands of Serb invaders, continued. Their number was 13,000. Kosovar refugees entered Kukes from the Vremica/Morin crossing, where they were violated, tortured, massacred and stripped of Serbian police, taking money, jewelry and everything they had.

Their temporary destination was the Palace of Culture “Hasan Pristina”. Then local government in Kukes opened the doors of several school facilities, nests, gardens, warehouses, and shelters for the outcasts. Other refugees took refuge in the Kukesian family, where they were welcomed. On average, every family in the city of Kukes had about 14 Kosovars. They slept in every part of the house.

Early in the week, the second convoy of outcasts arrived in Kukes with about 70,000 Kosovars. Of these 40,000 were accommodated near civic families, 10,000 in different public areas of the city, 6,000 in the municipalities of Bicaj, Kolsh, Torth, and Stilch, 12,000 in the city of Kruma, and 300 in the municipality of Golaj. 16 vehicles arrived in Kukes to evacuate a portion of Kosovars to other cities. Day-day the number of outcasts increased. Despite housing in the homes of Cuban residents, a large number of Kosovars were accommodated in camps

April 16th is the date when Exodus Day is marked in Kukes as a sign of thanks and respect for all who open their doors to receive their Albanian brothers from Kosovo.

One of the main symbols of April 16 is Obeliscu. The tower was built as a sign of thanks to the Albanian people. It is built at the site where the tents were housed by the Kosovo population. The tower is 23.5m long and it's filled with pictures that present the events of that time. The tower is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Kukes. During April 16, the tower is the often visited item.

To remind of the days of the most violent displacement of Albanians from their homes and their suffering from the Serbian regime at the “Blaca 99” in Han, Elesi, stands the monument “The Memory Tree” and the “Hasan Pristina” park.

The “Memorial Map” is a mosaic that symbolizes the sacrifice of the Albanian mother, along with the names of some of the world's prominent personalities that contributed to Kosovo's liberation -- a work this artistic-monumental one that best expresses memory and respect for all those who brought the long-awaited freedom and independence. /Kosovo pres/