Over 1,600 Archival Files Secured by IKKL During Mission in Struga and Dibër

A delegation from the Institute of Crimes Committed During the War in Kosovo (IKKL) made an official visit to Struga and Dibër in North Macedonia, with the aim of collecting and recording evidence documenting the forced displacement of Kosovo residents during the 1998–1999 period.

According to official data, during the meeting in Struga with members of the “Mother Teresa” Association, they entrusted the Institute with a collection of 1,600 archival units of special historical importance. Additionally, digital files and other testimonies were received from individuals and collaborators who have preserved them since the time of the conflict.

The agenda also included a meeting with Mendi Çyra, Mayor of Struga, as well as other prominent local figures, who confirmed their willingness to assist in protecting and recording the facts of the war.

The IKKL mission then continued in Dibër, where additional archival materials were secured and eyewitness accounts from the war years were recorded. There, representatives of the Institute held discussions with the municipal authorities of Dibër, as well as with representatives of the “Mother Teresa” Association, the humanitarian organization “Hëna”, the NGO “El Hilal”, and citizens who played an active role in hosting and supporting the expelled Kosovars during 1998–1999.

Finally, IKKL emphasized that this trip has significantly expanded its archive, and expressed gratitude to all parties – institutions, associations, and individuals – who contributed with documents and support to shed light on the crimes and ethnic cleansing of the Kosovo population during that period.