A special ceremony marked the retirement of Xajë Mustafa, one of the most recognizable figures associated with the history of the Kosovo War.
Xajë Mustafa became a symbol of the pain and hope experienced by thousands of Albanian families during the war, having personally endured the suffering caused by the Serbian regime.
During the conflict, he was imprisoned and separated from his family, spending a long period without any information about the fate of his loved ones.
His story became known around the world through a photograph taken in 1999 by renowned photojournalist Peter Turnley. In the powerful image, Xajë Mustafa is seen holding photographs of his two missing children, hoping that someone would recognize them and help him find them.
However, his story eventually took a hopeful turn after the war ended. Following months of anxiety and uncertainty, Xajë Mustafa was reunited with his family and learned that his children were alive.
This reunion came to be regarded as one of the most moving and inspiring post-war stories in Kosovo.
Despite the deep scars left by the war, he continued his life with dignity, working honestly and with dedication until the day of his retirement.
