Vucevic: Heroes of Kosare an impenetrable rampart of our freedom

BELGRADE - Serbian Deputy PM and Defence Minister Milos Vucevic said on Tuesday the heroes of the 1999 Battle of Kosare in Kosovo-Metohija "were, and remained, an impenetrable rampart of our freedom."

On the 25th anniversary of the battle, Vucevic said the heroes of Kosare had risen to the "immortal ranks" of "our ancestors."

"Glory be to the immortal heroes of Serbia! Glory be to you who were, and remained, an impenetrable rampart of our freedom. Over there, on Mt Prokletije, on Serbia's summit, you rose to the immortal ranks of our ancestors and made it our duty to remember your sacrifice. Serbia, remember, respect and celebrate the immortal knights of your freedom - the heroes of the Battle of Kosare!" Vucevic wrote in an Instagram post.

Serbian Minister of Labour, Employment and Veteran and Social Affairs Nikola Selakovic attended in Krusevac, southern Serbia, a commemoration of the anniversary of the start of the Battle of Kosare.

He laid a wreath at a memorial to the fallen servicemen of the Yugoslav Army 125th Motorised Brigade and all those killed in Kosovo-Metohija and visited a memorial room in the Krusevac army barracks.

The Battle of Kosare began on April 9, 1999, when the so-called "Kosovo Liberation Army", supported by artillery units of the Albanian army and NATO air force and instructors, attacked the Kosare outpost on the Yugoslav-Albanian border.

The battle lasted for 67 days, claiming the lives of 108 soldiers of the then Yugoslav Army.

The border was successfully defended thanks to the heroism and superhuman efforts of the army troops.