Thousands of citizens gathered yesterday in Preshevo to protest against the removal of the memorial stone to UCPMB fallen martyrs. Protesters demanded the Serb state respect rights of Albanians in Preshevo Valley just as Kosovo respects rights of Kosovo Serbs. They also demanded the issue of the Albanian community in Preshevo be addressed in an internationally-mediated dialogue.
Preshevo Mayor Ragmi Mustafa said the protest is a way of showing the citizens’ outrage at the removal of the monument which also ignored the political will of Albanians to find an acceptable solution.
In Kosovo, Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi noted that the situation between Kosovo and Serbia has changed following the removal of the monument and that Kosovo will continue to support demands of the Albanian community in Preshevo which, he said, should be articulated in a clearer way.
