14.06.2021.
President Vučić lays wreath at Monument to Heroes of Košare
The President of the Republic and the Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces, Aleksandar Vučić, laid a wreath at the Monument to the Heroes of Košare, who defended the state border 22 years ago and prevented the invasion of the terrorist KLA by land from Albania into Serbia.
After laying the wreath, Vučić talked to the veterans of the Battle of Košare, who also laid a wreath at the monument, and thanked them for everything they had done for the homeland.- If nothing else, at least we can talk today about those who died and about your role - Vučić told the veterans.
He added that he would like to see them again around Vidovdan and to discuss in detail what else could be done for them.
- But when I see you, I get additional energy to fight for Serbia even harder. Thank you very much for the honour you have given to Serbia and let's try not to forget it – Vučić said.
We must not allow that, the Košare fighters replied.
- A special thank you to all our fallen heroes. I wish you all the best, and now I am off to Brussels - Vučić said.
A monument to the heroes of Košare was erected last year in the park near the "Dr Dragiša Mišović" Clinical Hospital Centre.
On this day 22 years ago, the Battle of Košare ended. In the battle, members of the Yugoslav Armed Forces defended the state border for 67 days and prevented the terrorist KLA from invading the territory of Serbia by land.
The names of 108 soldiers, non-commissioned officers, officers, reservists and volunteers who died in 1999 at the Košare outpost are engraved on the pedestal.The author of the monument, sculptor Misa Rogan, depicted the act of heroism of officers and soldiers who gave their lives defending the homeland.
The Battle of Košare began on 9 April 1999, when members of the terrorist KLA, with the help of the NATO air force, tried to enter the Serbian territory through the outpost on the Yugoslav-Albanian border in the Junik Mountains and make a breakthrough towards Metohija.
The state border around the Košare outpost was defended by about 100 members of the 53rd Border Battalion, who opposed a ten times stronger enemy during the first two days of fighting.
A military police platoon soon arrived to help the frontier sentries, but the attack was violent and the KLA forces managed to take the positions of Rrasa e Koshares and Maja Glava, points from which every movement towards the border line was controlled, and they also occupied the outpost building.
With the arrival of members of the 125th Motorized Brigade, a line of defence was formed, which prevented the enemy from entering further.
In the following days, the army tried to regain Rrasa e Koshares and Maja Glava, and members of the 72nd Special and 63rd Parachute Brigades joined them.
The front line was stabilized, but the fighting did not abate.
The fighting in Košare lasted until 14 June 1999, when the Yugoslav Army withdrew from Kosovo and Metohija following the Kumanovo Agreement.
Tanjug
PHOTOGALLERY
