web counter
LEXO PA REKLAMA!

SHKARKO APP

App Store
Google Play

27 years since June 12, 1999/ The day Kosovo gained freedom

2026-06-12 12:49:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

27 years since June 12, 1999/ The day Kosovo gained freedom

This June 12th marks the 27th anniversary of the liberation of Kosovo, a historic date that ended the devastating war and marked the beginning of an era of peace and international administration in the country.

On June 12, 1999, NATO peacekeeping troops, known as KFOR, set foot on Kosovo soil after 78 days of a US-led air campaign against Serb forces. This moment was not just a military victory, but a critical turning point for global security.

Liberation Day remains in the memory of world diplomats and military personnel as a "stab in the back" moment for world peace.

Just one day before Western troops entered the territory, Russian forces had unexpectedly taken control of Pristina Airport, with the aim of dividing Kosovo.

This maneuver created an extremely tense situation, where Norwegian and British special forces found themselves face to face with Russian soldiers, causing fears of a clash that many described at the time as the possible spark of a Third World War.

Following American and British pressure, Moscow described the movement of its forces as a "mistake", paving the way for the consolidation of NATO's mission.

The entry of KFOR enabled the return to their homes of over a million Albanians who had experienced the horror of expulsion and refugee status in the four corners of the world.

During these almost three decades, around 500,000 soldiers from various Western countries have served in the ranks of the peacekeeping mission, contributing to the security and reconstruction of Kosovo.

June 12 remains the symbol of sacrifice for freedom and the day that transformed Kosovo from a conflict zone into a state that today builds its future towards Euro-Atlantic integration./ CNA





Lajmet e fundit nga