Kosovars bid farewell to their dead President, Ibrahim Rugova
Today’s ceremony started at 8.00 until 9.00 where the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) Unit paid respect to the dead president in Kosovo Parliament. Around 10:30 President’s body was brought to the Sports Palace “1 Tetori” where the main mortal ceremony took place. Dozens of foreign diplomats from all the over the world took part in the funeral ceremony, many of them from neighbouring countries and others from over the world. In this occasion, speeches were pronounced by the United Nations Secretary General Special Representative for Kosovo, Soren Jessen Petersen, Kosovo Prime Minister, Bajram Kosumi, European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), Javier Solana, US President's envoy Alfonso Jackson, Deputy Chairman of the Kosova Democratic League, Kolë Berisha and Head of Kosovo Parliament, Nexhat Daci. All the speakers valued high the peaceful approach of Ibrahim Rugova to the problems and his virtues. His coffin was carried to the Martyr’s Graveyard by soldiers of the Kosovo Protection Corps, who were in charge for the overall funeral ceremony. Rugova headed a non-violent struggle for national liberation for Kosovo Albanians, and was the only national leader many young people had known. Kosovo's government has declared 15 days of national mourning for the dead President. |
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