25.10.2018.

Promotion of the Book “Battle of Košare – memories of the participants in 1999” at the Book Fair

Today, at the stand of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces at the Book Fair, a book was presented titled the “Battle of Košare – memories of the participants in 1999” which is the sixth volume of the edition “Ratnik” and where the memories are collected of the participants in the combat actions in Košare in Kosovo and Metohija in 1999.

The book pays the debt to the heroes who, during NATO Aggression in 1999 defended and succeeded in defending the state border between the FR Yugoslavia and Albania, and the participants of the battle spoke about those glorious days of defence of the fatherland, in honour and glory of their 108 killed fellow-warriors, for the history and new generations.

Among them, there are those who spoke at today’s promotion, Colonel Duško Šljivančanin, then Commander of the 53rd Border Battalion in Košare, retired Major general Dragan Živanović, Commander of the 125th Motorised Brigade, retired Colonel Vidoje Kovačević, Chief of Staff of the 63rd Parachute Brigade and Commander of a Combat Group in Košare and retired Colonel Ljubinko Đurković Commander of the 2nd Motorised Battalion of the 125th Motorised Brigade.

Colonel Duško Šljivančanin pointed out that it was highly important that the topic of Košare was spoken about, especially because of the future generations, since in Kosovo and Metohija they fought honourably and died honourably.

- All those who say otherwise are just as much hypocritical and malevolent, like those who named the aggression the “Merciful Angel” – stressed Colonel Šljivančanin. He particularly looked back on the events of 1997 and 1998, which as he highlighted had been very significant years for the understanding of the circumstances in the area of the watch post Košare in 1999.

Speaking about the role of the members of border units, he underlined that the 53rd Border Battalion was one of three Priština corps border battalions which secured the state border in the length of 68 kilometres. That is the cruellest and harshest part of our state border, where, since it was established, our members of border units treacherously died and were killed.

From the viewpoint of the border battalion, the importance of the battle of Košare, as Colonel Šljivančanin pointed out, is reflected in the fact that the members of the 53rd Border Battalion received the first and the hardest blow and stop the aggressor at the state border, which was not easy.

Colonel Šljivančanin paid particular tribute to the conscripts, who according to him, are the true heroes of the battle of Košare.
Retired Major General Dragan Živanović believes that this is but the first edition of the book “the Battle of Košare – the memories of the participants in 1999” since there is still a lot to be told.

- Rest assured that these are original testimonies, that there are no fabrications and it must not be allowed that others rewrite it at some later point in time – stressed General Živanović.

Speaking about the combat activities in Košare, he said that it was a decisive defence that had claimed some losses as well.

- I am sorry for that, we had 108 killed, and that hand-to-hand combat also led to greater losses. Those were daily fights, from 9th April to 10th June, when we, following the Kumanovo Treaty, withdrew from those positions and from the territory of Kosovo and Metohija – General Živanović explained.

A special importance of the testimonies of the fights in Košare, as General Živanovivić underscored “lies in the fact that they could serve as a one of a kind direction for young generations as to the kind of patriotism, courage and self-sacrifice it was” and he stressed that many of those young men who had been wounded, after administered medical aid, had returned to the combat because they had not wanted to leave their friends, knowing how difficult it had been, in those circumstances, to replace a man who had been thrown out from the line.

Retired Colonel Vidoje Kovačević spoke about the heroism and self-sacrifice of the members of the 63rd Parachute Brigade in those days, underlining that one of the proofs of that was they had been decorated by the Order of the National Hero for the military skills which the Brigade had displayed in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, together with the 125th and 549th Motorised Brigade.

Colonel Kovačević particularly praised the initiative of the minister of defence to launch such a topic and that the people who had participated in those fights could give their testimony of the difficult memories that must not be forgotten.

- There is nothing more sacred than defending one owns people and one owns state, and the people who were there deserve every respect – Colonel Kovačević stressed.

- This is an opportunity to hear the truth about Košare and the importance of that heroic battle – emphasised retired Colonel Ljubinko Đurković at the beginning of his address.

- Košare are a synonym for the victory over NATO alliance. The heroic battles in Košare came public first after 2000, painstakingly clawing its way, since we had a decade during which someone wanted to belittle and degrade the fight for the fatherland – Colonel Đurković pointed out, stressing that they had failed to do it owing to many who had fought for the truth, so that Serbian and world public know what had really happened in the defence of the fatherland in Košare and other places.
The idea for the entire project “Ratnik” came from Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin, and it was developed in three phases, which encompassed recording the testimonies of a large number of participants in combat actions in Kosovo and Metohija in 1999, followed by the publishing of the seven volumes of the edition “Ratnik”, which were promoted at this year’s Book Fair and the production of a documentary-feature film coproduced by the RTS and MFC “Zastava Film” whose showing is planned in March next year to mark the twentieth anniversary of NATO Aggression.

On 26th October, at 16.00 hours, at the stand of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces another volume of the edition “Ratnik” – “The Battle for Paštrik - the memories of the participants in 1999” is going to take place. The key speakers about the book will be retired Major General Božidar Delić, retired Brigadier General Stojan Konjikovac and editor Radenko Mutavdžić PhD.

The announcement of the activities at the stand of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces can be found here.