On the 36th anniversary of the heroic deaths of Afrim Zhitia and Fahri Fazliu, acting Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti, together with Parliament Speaker Dimal Basha and acting Foreign Minister Donika Gërvalla, paid tribute to their legacy on Sunday.
Kurti Honors Zhitia and Fazliu
In his speech, Kurti recalled that on November 2, 1989, Zhitia and Fazliu fell heroically after a six-hour battle with Yugoslav forces, awakening national consciousness and proving that the people of Kosovo would not submit.
“Thirty-six years ago, Fahri Fazliu and Afrim Zhitia, both very young — Fahri 26 and Afrim 24 — confronted Yugoslav forces heroically. Their deaths awakened the people’s conscience and raised public awareness that Kosovo has a population that will not submit and will resist for its freedom. On November 2, 1989, Fahri and Afrim fought for over six hours, showing the courage and dedication of true heroes. Their lives, deeds, and the political context of their heroic sacrifice should be studied more by historians and scholars, as the freedom of future generations depends on understanding their struggle for the country’s liberty,” Kurti stated.
Basha Highlights Their Sacrifice as Inspiration
Parliament Speaker Dimal Basha emphasized that their sacrifice inspired thousands who later joined the path to freedom.
“Both fell confronting the regime of their time, but after their deaths, we awoke and were inspired along with thousands of others. I believe this ultimately led to the formation of the Kosovo Liberation Army. Thirty-six years later, we honor their lives and deeds — glory to their memory and to all other martyrs,” Basha said.
Gërvalla Stresses the Importance of Preserving Freedom
Acting Foreign Minister Donika Gërvalla said that by honoring Zhitia and Fazliu, Kosovo also pays tribute to all generations who preceded the independent state with the ideal of freedom. She underlined the importance of protecting and strengthening this freedom daily.
“By honoring Afrim Zhitia and Fahri Fazliu today, we honor all generations who, with the ideal of freedom, paved the way for our independent Kosovo. The message today and for the future is that we must protect, cherish, and build our society strong, as an unbreakable debt to those who sacrificed for this country,” Gërvalla said.
