INDEPENDENCE OF KOSOVA

May 23rd, 2008

INDEPENDENCE OF KOSOVA (part 1.)

Saturday afternoon - less than 24 hours left until the Declaration of the Independence of Kosova. Everything was covered in red&black (the national flag - Albanian Flag). This little kid was trying to warm his little hand, it was -11 C, but nothing could stop us from going out to celebrate!

INDEPENDENCE OF KOSOVA (part 2.)

Saturday night, -15 C. After leaving The Gallery of Arts, where me and my friends were working on the Painting of Independence, by surprise we saw all the city was crowded!! There was albanian music, people in traditional costumes, and so many flags!! Everything seemed to bring joy. As for me, I never remember being more emotional in my life than in those moments, I had a feeling that I wanted to cry and to laugh at the same time, I was so happy, We ALL were happy!!

INDEPENDENCE OF KOSOVA (part 3.)

Saturday night, still -15 C, less than 24h from declaring Independence. These young guys held albanian and american flags each, and they were wearing proudly traditional costumes hats called “PLIS”!! On the other side, my fingers were freezing, but how on earth would I leave this historical moment for anything in the world?! I am still happy that I was alive to witness those grand moments. God bless all the war victims and our soldiers who gave their lives for this!!

INDEPENDENCE OF KOSOVA (part 4.)

Sunday 14:34 - 1 hour before the Declaration of Independence of Kosova. Although it looks sunny and warm, we were freezing, it was -16 C and I was trying to capture every emotion!! People were walking towards the Prishtina’s boulevard, where everybody was going to celebrate!

These were the last non-independent steps I guess

INDEPENDENCE OF KOSOVA (part 5.)

Sunday 14:52 - less than 1 hour before the Declaration of Independence. We were still freezing (-16 C). On the way to the boulevard, I saw this little patriot, his face was painted as the national flag - Albanian flag!! He seemed to be 4 years old, and everyone was photographing and filming him, but he never got distracted and had a somehow proud little face!! A really cute child, freezing along with the other soon to be independent citizens

INDEPENDENCE OF KOSOVA (part 6.)

Sunday 15:05 - it’s getting very close to the time of the Declaration of Independence. I could only see red and black in those moments. Still -16 C, my hands, my head, my fingers, my whole being was freezing, and NO, I am not regretful at all (even though I am dying of this flu right now), because I wouldn’t want to be nowhere else than where I was in those moments. I have to repeat it again, it feels so wonderful to be alive to witness such a historical moment. I was thrilled, and I still am when I remember that day…

INDEPENDENCE OF KOSOVA (part 7.)

Sunday 15:24 - just few more minutes and we’ll be INDEPENDENT, once and for all . We could hardly remember that it was still -16 C and we’re still freezing, but who cares anyway!! Last moments, even more thrilled than we were minutes before, red&black flags all around…waiting, with pride!!

INDEPENDENCE OF KOSOVA (part 8.)

February 17th 2008, at 15:49 CET, Republic of Kosova declares Independence. After 3 minutes, some guys there on the 4th floor of a building, had this most simple and most wonderful idea I’d ever seen - one of them is holding a paper, written with a marker on it “U SHPALL” meaning DECLARED!! They were watching the TV inside, and wanted to tell to the hundreds of people that were on the boulevard, that The Independence is Declared!! :joy:… all the cameras and all the people were looking at them!!
We are INDEPENDENT finally!!
‘In the memory of those who gave their lives’

INDEPENDENCE OF KOSOVA (part 9.)

If you look carefully, you can see some unfocused little white dots in the sky there, those are the Pigeons of Freedom, flying in the free sky of Republic of Kosova!!

INDEPENDENCE OF KOSOVA (part 10. - The End)

The Black Eagle in the red blood!! Hard to forget the national flag, that was in our souls ever since we were born, even though now we have an official country flag!! I am still amazed from what I lived those two days, and I am happy to be alive to witness all that!! Once again “Happy Independence” fellow albanians.In the great memory of our soldiers, old men, women and children that were killed, and gave their lives for this day!!
BAC, U KRY!!

PHOTOGRAPHS and STORY : BLERTA. Z

about Blerta. Z ; http://deathly-stillness.deviantart.com/

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