In Pristina, specifically at the large parking area behind the Palace of Youth, dozens of buses from different cities across Kosovo have arrived to transport citizens taking part in the “Kosovo Is Waiting” march, which is being held today at 2:00 p.m.
Citizens have arrived from Podujeva, Kaçanik, Lipjan, Drenas, Tetova and various other cities.
Xhevdet Xhemajli, a member of the Kosovo diaspora living in Switzerland, said he would take part in the march because, in his view, the trial of the KLA leaders represents an injustice unlike anything that has happened before.
“I am taking part because an injustice has been done to us that has never happened anywhere. We were defending our families. They called us a criminal organization. We did not go anywhere to commit crimes. Serbia and its army were the criminal organization. This injustice has become political, carried out by Russian and Serbian intelligence services, as well as by our own UDBA agents,” Xhemajli said.
Remzi Dema from Kaçanik, a former freedom fighter, said they must support their comrades, who he said had defended their homes.
“Yes, we must support our comrades. We are not people who committed crimes. The KLA was a liberation army formed by the will of the people to defend our homes. We did not go to Serbia to take the place of the Serbs there; we defended our own country, our homes, and we had no other way out. We did not want the war, but it was imposed on us… I firmly believe that the liberators will return to us, and that we will see them happier than ever, for Kosovo and for all Albanians,” Dema said.
Xhelal Limani said the march was a historic event for the Albanian people and expressed hope that Kosovo would be “liberated” once again on September 16.
“Today, this march is an important historic event for the entire Albanian people because we are awaiting the release of the liberators. I do not believe there could be greater joy for this people… We expect Kosovo to be liberated once again from the Specialist Chambers, in the best possible way. Our liberators are being unjustly held in prison,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kastriot Krasniqi from Prizren added that they are expecting the liberators to return to Kosovo on September 16.
“We are expecting their release on the 16th, and we are waiting for them in Kosovo… A great injustice has been done over the past five years there… I hope and believe that they will be released,” Krasniqi said.
The official ceremony of the march has now begun, with thousands of citizens gathering at Skanderbeg Square in Pristina in support of the former KLA leaders currently on trial in The Hague.
