Ismail Kadare's daughter recalls her father's historic meeting with Hashim Thaci

Ismail Kadare's daughter, Besiana, has recalled her father's meeting with former President Hashim Thaci in March 1999.

Through a Facebook post, Besiana has separated fragments from her father's book, “Ra this mort and we looked at”, where the late man, Ismail Kadare, described the meeting with Thaci, broadcast Klankosova.tv.

Besiana says that she too was present on that historic evening.

Complete mailing of Besiana Kadare:

I was also present that historic evening when Thaci came to our house, on 63 Saint-Michelle boulevard (where the memorial plaque will be set), to consult Dad...

March 18

Late in the evening, Hashim Thaci expresses his desire to see me. He comes almost midnight with Rama Buya and the delegation translator, Beauty Johnbal. We talk head-to-face once. In the next room, people of my family, Thaci's two associates and Albanian ambassador to Paris drink coffee. French secret police guards are all over the stairs.

Thaci is peaceful. Of course, he has decided to sign, but there are many pressures. In Kosovo, A. Demach continues to stir up resentment against the delegation, even calling them traitors. Some of the KLA commanders can create trouble again.

Thaci mentions the letter I addressed to the delegation in Ramboullett, as well as the script “Albanian Captain”, which I published three days later. He says he tries to learn lessons from any criticism, but the situation is not that simple. He asks me a question that is, at the same time, a request: should tonight sign the agreement, I, as an Albanian writer, support that act publicly?

Without hesitation, I replied that I would support him. Even from then on.

He's done talking face-to-face. We invite everyone to the living room. I'm twice happy. One, this is done. Second, because in this consultation of Kosovo fighters with a man of culture, I see a good omen. What a slander that was! KLA. Exploration by Serbian propaganda, from Russian newspapers, from a part of the Western press, by Albanian ultraphysicists themselves.

They, with this gesture, show that despite the inevitable strains of a Balkan guerrilla, they have a strong dose of idealism, a measure that links them to the future, with European civilization.

Shortly ago, in the Albanian press, at “Kosovo Press”, I have expressed the opinion that the Kosovo liberation movement must be part of European emancipation. The family of the peoples of the continent must receive this message. And answer.

March 23

Javier Solana, face-to-face shaken and loud that I think is thin, announces he has ordered Yugoslavia to be bombed. Then he hugs in a strange way with a measure of sympathy with those next door.

I understand his shock. There's something about death from a church, a mortar bell on the scene we see on TV.

O'S Last Observers The SEU is leaving Kosovo. Those who protected him, who loved him, are leaving. William Walker. Hundreds of others, including our French friend Miriam Gaume. I try to guess what's going on. After every moving car, Kosovo must become even more deaf. Abandoned to the mercy of fate. No witnesses. We have been looking forward to this hour, and now it looks like baptism. Because I've been involved in this work, I feel it probably stronger. The anguish of the unknown dominates everything. The stage is empty.

We don't have to lie to ourselves. They leave because there can only be one calamity. Just be short. Kosovars feel it for sure. They always knew it since they went this way. This makes their sacrifice even greater. Among the silence, an entire people is willing to put their heads on a sater. To pay the price of freedom.

That's not what happens to everyone.

Word taken from the book “R Kadare.