Kurti highlights media freedom with 1999 footage of KLA members at the microphone

Izvor
KoSSev
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Kurti highlights media freedom with 1999 footage of KLA members at the microphone"

On the anniversary of the deployment of NATO troops in Kosovo, the Prime Minister of Kosovo spoke about media freedom using footage of KLA members taken in 1999 in a „bunker studio“ of the then-formed radio station „Free Kosovo,“ alleging that they „fought for freedom.“

Earlier this week, Pristina officials and Kosovan citizens marked the 25th anniversary of what they see as liberation from the Milošević regime, and the entry of NATO troops into Kosovo.

Kosovo PM participated in numerous activities organized on this occasion and visited the Drenica region, namely the „bunker studio“ situated there where Radio „Free Kosovo“ broadcasted the program during the war in Kosovo.

Press workers in uniform

„Radio ‘Free Kosovo’ is the radio of Kosovo that fought for freedom. Without the fight for freedom, we would not be able to enjoy the freedom of the media today,“ Kurti said in a post on Facebook.

He emphasized that he is glad that „this special value of war – studio-bunker“ is under the protection of Kosovo.

„Special thanks and congratulations go to the messenger liberators. Congratulations on the 25th anniversary of the liberation of the country,” Kurti concluded.

The Kosovo Prime Minister also shared a video clip on his Facebook profile.

The video shows pictures of the former bunker with the statement that a radio program was broadcast there from January to June 1999.

„We are at the place from where the truth about the war, the suffering of the people, about the famous battles was broadcast in the period from January 4 to June 21, 1999,“ said Kurti.

The clip also included shots of a large antenna on top of which stands the coat of arms of the KLA and the inscription „Radio free Kosovo“, accompanied by Albanian music. It also shows archive footage of an individual clad in a KLA uniform at a microphone broadcasting ‘news’, as well as of other members of the KLA pulling cables.

Kurti is then seen entering the „studio bunker“ and speaking with the person who welcomed him.

His host then explains to him where the members of the KLA installed the generator in 1999 and where they sent the information from, stating that the studio is located in „the center of Drenica“.

„Two Medias of the KLA“

The radio called „Radio Free Kosovo“ has its own website today and logo in red, and black color modeled on the logo of the KLA.

In the „history“ section of this radio, it is stated that on January 4, 1999, „the main headquarters announced the formation of the KLA news agency ‘Kosova Press’ and Radio ‘Free Kosovo’, and that a day later Albanians in certain regions had the opportunity to listen broadcast of radio programs“.

It also states that the creation of these media allegedly caused dissatisfaction among the Serbs from Kosovo, as well as the general Serbian media and the authorities in Belgrade.

The then Minister of Information, and now the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, is quoted – „if these media exist, we will stop them immediately“. The former head of the OSCE Verification Mission, William Walker, is also quoted, who said that the creation of these media „can be useful, if they serve their citizens and if they behave in the spirit of finding a peaceful solution to the crisis in Kosovo“.

In the history section of this radio, claims are made that Vučić allegedly „was afraid that the establishment of the media would lead to the loss of the propaganda war.“

Moreover, it is stated that the „spokesman of the KLA, Jakup Krasniqi“ welcomed the „two media outlets of the KLA“, stating that they will be „a strong voice of the honest and unscrupulous struggle for liberation“.

The media are also celebrating the 25th anniversary

In addition to the Pristina authorities, the Albanian-language media in Kosovo also marked the 25th anniversary of the liberation through several activities this year.

This week, the Association of Kosovo Journalists gathered Albanian journalists and international colleagues and media houses that reported from the pre-war and war period.

Previously, Kallxo opened the Reporting House exhibition, which presented around 150 television stories from world networks, filmed from 1992 to 1999 in Kosovo.

Individual journalists also reminded of that date via social networks.


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