Statement of Prime Minister Rama and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi after meeting the family of the national hero Isa Boletini and of his fellow combatants:

Prime Minister Edi Rama:

“We just had a fraternal meeting with the family of our national hero, Isa Boletini and with relatives of his fellow combatants who fought and gave their lives together. I am pleased to inform the Albanians, wherever they are, that our proposal to put Isa Boletini close to Ismail Qemali was welcomed by the family of the hero and the Government of Kosovo. Our governments will hold a well-deserved ceremony that has been missing for many years.

I am very grateful to the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kosovo for his readiness in mediating this proposal with the families of the heroes. I am very grateful to these families for their understanding, and I am also very happy to hear from them that this proposal has made them very happy.

The date set for the national ritual to accompany our hero has not changed. It will be June 10. The route will cross every territory of Kosovo and Albania, and the ceremony will end in the square of Independence where Isa Boletini will rest next to his brother, friend and fellow combatant, Ismail Qemali.

We believe that together we are not only doing the right thing to honor this great figure, to honor this great history, but also to convey to future generations the loud and clear message of the dream and the battle that united these two fathers of the nation and, certainly, our state as well.

Let me thank the families once again, and to conclude I want to note that in addition to Isa Boletini, the remains of his fellow combatants, who were killed with him at the same time, will be brought to Vlora to rest in the cemetery of the martyrs.

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi:

Thank you very much dear Prime Minister Rama! Dear family Boletini!

This is a special day for the Albanian nation, because we confirm the decision of both governments, which started from an idea of Prime Minister Rama, to rebury the national hero Isa Boletini in Vlore, in the city of Independence, in the city that conveys the message of integration and national unity.

That’s why we are here today, together as two governments, because we have decided to do the itinerary that was planned for the reburial of Isa Boletini. It is the same itinerary he followed in his journey for the independence of Albania, in order to join the ideal and the objective of the Independence of the Albanian land, to join his brother Ismail Qemali with whom he shared the same objective and vision. Finally, these two heroes will rest side by side and, as they did on the day of Albania’s Independence, they will send the best message for the future of the Albanian nation.

On June 10 we will be altogether, Albania, Kosovo, Albanians of Macedonia, Preshevo, Ulcinj and Montenegro in Vlore, because Isamil Qemali and Isa Boletini have united with their message the Albanian nation once and for all. I believe that June 10 will also send the message of a surer integrating and unifying perspective for the Albanian nation.

Let me once again, dear Prime Minister, thank you very much for your proposal and idea, and for your perseverance to make this happen.

I remain confident that it will be a magnificent organization. Let me also thank the family of Isa Boletini for their very appropriate and visionary decision.