The “Freedom Has a Name” platform has presented the civic initiative “Kosovo Is Waiting,” as part of which a “March for Freedom” will be held in Pristina on September 12, ahead of the verdict by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague concerning former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA).
At a press conference, Eliza Hoxha sai the initiative aims to convey the voice of citizens calling for justice, dignity and respect for Kosovo’s history.
“Kosovo is waiting for an important moment. It is waiting for the day when the Specialist Chambers in The Hague will deliver their decision concerning the founders and leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army. For the past six years, through various activities, we have tried to stand by them, to raise our concerns and our demand for a fair trial… For this reason, we have decided to organize the ‘March for Freedom’ on Saturday, September 12,” she said.
According to Hoxha, the march aims to unite citizens beyond political, geographical, cultural and social differences and to express the position that the struggle for freedom and independence was just.
“This march aims to unite citizens beyond political, geographical, cultural and social differences, to demonstrate on behalf of the people of Kosovo that the struggle for freedom and independence was just and that our history cannot be rewritten,” Hoxha said.
As part of the initiative, activities will begin tomorrow, August 22, with the installation of an LED screen in Pristina displaying a countdown to September 16, the date when the closing session of the proceedings in The Hague is expected to take place.
“The first activity begins tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. in Pristina. We will install an LED countdown, which will count down the time until September 16 at 10:00 a.m., when the closing session of the proceedings in The Hague is expected to take place. The same activity will be extended to all municipalities across Kosovo. Every passing hour will remind us all that Kosovo is waiting. It will also remind those outside Kosovo. It is waiting for justice, it is waiting for dignity, it is waiting for the liberators to return to their homes,” Hoxha said.
The initiative will also include “Nights of Freedom,” which will take place across the KLA’s seven operational zones and will be dedicated to remembrance, storytelling and bringing generations together.
Meanwhile, Ismail Tasholli called on all political parties and the leaders of Kosovo’s four largest parties to join the “March for Freedom.”
“We invite all Albanian political parties and the leaders of the four largest parties in the country — Mr. Kurti, Mr. Hamza, Mr. Abdixhiku and Mr. Haradinaj — to take part in the March for Freedom. This invitation is addressed to everyone, without exception. We invite them to be present on this day and to make a public address at the March for Freedom. Not for campaigning, not to raise party flags, but for Kosovo, for freedom, for the future,” Tasholli said.
Tasholli announced that the activities will also extend beyond Kosovo. On September 16, when attention is expected to be focused on The Hague, the “Freedom Has a Name” platform will organize an event there as well, in cooperation with the Albanian diaspora.
“And our campaign does not end on September 17. On September 16, when attention will be focused on The Hague, ‘Freedom Has a Name’ will also organize an event in The Hague, together with the Albanian diaspora.
From Kosovo to The Hague, our message will be the same: Kosovo is waiting. Therefore, starting tomorrow, the countdown begins in Pristina’s main square. From September 16 onward, Kosovo will no longer be the same,” he said.
The verdict of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague concerning the former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army is expected to be delivered on September 16.
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