Prime Minister Albin Kurti underlined that documenting war crimes and creating an accurate database are essential. According to him, this carries weight both for justice and for preserving the country’s historical memory.

However, at the center of the discussion remains the fact that such a list is only now being compiled. Debate also continues over whether this delay came as a result of negligence or political calculations over the years.

“Negligence and uncertainty have hindered a credible list”

On this issue, legal and political affairs expert Blerim Burjani told “Bota sot” that the absence of a credible list of victims, together with institutional negligence, has created major uncertainty in the handling of war crimes.

He assessed that the accurate recording of victims is especially important for creating the legal basis for possible lawsuits against the Serbian state in the future.

“Negligence, not the certainty that a credible list could provide, is of great importance in order to file a lawsuit against the Serbian state at any time,” Burjani said.

According to him, a more advanced legal step should now be taken, one that would include a comprehensive lawsuit over the mass killings of Albanians during the war.

Burjani also stressed that in the past there were major political calculations regarding the drafting of the lists of victims and the damages caused by Serbia.

“There were many political calculations over whether this list should be compiled, because it was believed that a Kosovo–Serbia agreement could be reached through dialogue, which failed long ago,” he said.

According to Burjani, for future legal processes, both the lists of victims and those of damages remain essential, including looting and the destruction of family economies and private property.

“Documenting the victims is a moral and institutional obligation”

On the other hand, Professor Dr. Muhamet Racaj said in a conversation with “Bota sot” that drafting a state list of war victims in Kosovo, 27 years after its end, constitutes a necessary step for the state of Kosovo.

He said that every state that has gone through war has a moral, institutional and legal obligation to accurately document the victims of aggression, both to honor their dignity and to preserve the historical truth.

“Compiling a state list of war victims is a necessary step for the Republic of Kosovo,” Racaj stressed.

According to him, although this process is being finalized now, institutional efforts over the years to document the victims, the missing and those affected by the war have not been lacking.

Racaj said that various databases have been built and verification processes have been carried out, but without achieving a single comprehensive register at the state level.

He stressed that it is not fair to say this issue was deliberately neglected by post-war governments, but neither should its finalization be attributed to just one executive.

According to the professor, the process has lacked full inter-institutional coordination, a unified methodology and sustained continuity.

Racaj underlined that a verified and reliable list is of strategic importance for Kosovo, as it strengthens its international position and helps in the prosecution of war crimes.

He added that it also serves to prevent the denial of crimes and to preserve the historical memory of the victims.

In the end, Racaj called for this process to be treated as a state project, beyond political and party divisions, and to be completed in a transparent and professional manner.

He also stressed that state institutions, experts, associations of victims’ family members and international partners should be involved in this process, so that Kosovo has a reliable and sustainable record.

The post 27 years after the war in Kosovo, preliminary list of victims released: reasons for the delay remain under debate appeared first on Albeu.com.

In a statement to “Bota sot,” Major General Prof. Dr. Muhamet Racaj assessed that the choice of this date for holding the exercise cannot be seen as an ordinary military action.

According to him, this choice carries a clear political and strategic weight.

“Serbia’s decision to organize a major military exercise precisely on June 28, on Vidovdan, cannot be seen merely as a routine military activity. The choice of this date carries a powerful historical and political symbolism, aimed at sending multiple messages, both domestically and regionally,” he said.

Racaj stressed that this exercise constitutes a display of Serbia’s military capabilities and a direct signal to the countries of the region.

“First, this exercise represents a demonstration of Serbia’s military capabilities and state power. The presentation of the newest weaponry on a date of particular historical significance aims to project the image of a state with high defensive-offensive military capabilities, while also sending signals to neighboring countries, especially the Republic of Kosovo, Albania, and Croatia.

Second, the holding of this exercise should also be seen in the context of the domestic political situation in Serbia. In a period marked by protests and public dissatisfaction, including student demonstrations, the display of military force can be interpreted as an attempt to strengthen the authority of state institutions, to mobilize public opinion around the patriotic narrative, and to divert attention from internal challenges,” he assessed.

In the end, he underlined that this military activity also sends a message to the international community, while warning that the use of historical symbolism in a sensitive region could have consequences for regional security.

“At the same time, this exercise also conveys a strategic message to international actors that Serbia aims to remain a militarily significant player in the Balkans and to preserve its capacities to defend national interests according to its political vision.

However, in a region that still faces security challenges, the use of historical symbolism and demonstrations of military power require particular caution. Stability in the Western Balkans is built on dialogue, regional cooperation, and respect for international law, while rhetoric and symbolism that may be interpreted as threatening risk increasing mistrust and tensions in the region,” Racaj concluded for “Bota sot.”

The post Racaj: Serbia’s military exercise on Vidovdan sends political and strategic messages appeared first on Albeu.com.

Më 28 qershor, në ditën e Vidovdanit që lidhet me Betejën e Kosovës, Ushtria e Serbisë pritet të mbajë një stërvitje ushtarake në poligonin “Pasuljanske Livade”. Gjatë këtij aktiviteti do të prezantohet edhe armatimi më i ri i forcave të armatosura serbe.

Në një prononcim për “Bota sot”, Gjeneral Major Prof. Dr. Muhamet Racaj ka vlerësuar se përzgjedhja e kësaj date për zhvillimin e stërvitjes nuk mund të shihet si një veprim i zakonshëm ushtarak.

Sipas tij, kjo zgjedhje mbart një ngarkesë të qartë politike dhe strategjike.

“Vendimi i Serbisë për të organizuar një stërvitje të madhe ushtarake pikërisht më 28 qershor, në ditën e Vidovdanit, nuk mund të shihet vetëm si një aktivitet rutinë ushtarak. Përzgjedhja e kësaj date bart një simbolikë të fuqishme historike dhe politike, e cila synon të dërgojë mesazhe të shumëfishta, si në planin e brendshëm, ashtu edhe në atë rajonal”, ka thënë ai.

Racaj ka theksuar se kjo stërvitje përbën një shfaqje të kapaciteteve ushtarake të Serbisë dhe një sinjal të drejtpërdrejtë për vendet e rajonit.

“Së pari, kjo stërvitje paraqet një demonstrim të kapaciteteve ushtarake dhe të fuqisë shtetërore të Serbisë. Prezantimi i armatimit më të ri në një datë me peshë të veçantë historike synon të projektojë imazhin e një shteti me aftësi të larta mbrojtëse – sulmuese ushtarake, duke dërguar sinjale edhe ndaj vendeve fqinje, veçanërisht Republikës së Kosovës, Shqipërisë dhe Kroacisë.

Së dyti, zhvillimi i kësaj stërvitjeje duhet parë edhe në kontekstin e situatës së brendshme politike në Serbi. Në një periudhë të shoqëruar me protesta dhe pakënaqësi të qytetarëve, përfshirë demonstratat e studentëve, demonstrimi i forcës ushtarake mund të interpretohet si një përpjekje për të forcuar autoritetin e institucioneve shtetërore, për të mobilizuar opinionin publik rreth narrativës patriotike dhe për ta zhvendosur vëmendjen nga sfidat e brendshme”, ka vlerësuar ai.

Në fund, ai ka nënvizuar se ky aktivitet ushtarak përcjell një mesazh edhe për bashkësinë ndërkombëtare, ndërsa ka tërhequr vëmendjen se përdorimi i simbolikës historike në një rajon të ndjeshëm mund të ketë pasoja për sigurinë rajonale.

“Njëkohësisht, kjo stërvitje përçon edhe një mesazh strategjik ndaj faktorëve ndërkombëtarë se Serbia synon të mbetet një aktor me peshë ushtarake në Ballkan dhe të ruajë kapacitetet e saj për të mbrojtur interesat kombëtare sipas vizionit të saj politik.

Megjithatë, në kushtet e një rajoni që ende përballet me sfida të sigurisë, përdorimi i simbolikës historike dhe demonstrimet e fuqisë ushtarake kërkojnë kujdes të veçantë. Stabiliteti në Ballkanin Perëndimor ndërtohet mbi dialogun, bashkëpunimin rajonal dhe respektimin e së drejtës ndërkombëtare, ndërsa retorika dhe simbolika që mund të interpretohen si kërcënuese rrezikojnë të rrisin mosbesimin dhe tensionet në rajon”, ka përfunduar Racaj për “Bota sot”.

The post Racaj: Stërvitja ushtarake e Serbisë në Vidovdan përcjell mesazhe politike dhe strategjike appeared first on Albeu.com.