President Milanović Receives Delegation of Association of Albanian Defenders of Croatia in the Homeland War
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović received today a delegation of the Association of Albanian defenders of Croatia in the Homeland War. The delegation was made up of president Esad Čolaku, military pilot and Association vice-president Milaim Šukaj, commander of the 1st Albanian volunteer brigade Tomorr Buza, and Association members Tom Kačinari, Gani Zahiti, Hajdar Dodaj and Martin Beriša.
Members of the Association informed President Milanović of the participation of Albanians in the Homeland War, noting that a large number of them answered President Franjo Tuđman’s call to abandon the Yugoslav Army and stand in defense of the Republic of Croatia. They estimated that nearly 600 Albanians, mostly originally from Kosovo, then joined the 1st Albanian volunteer brigade that was formed in September 1991, and was part of the 118th Croatian Army brigade. By order it was sent to the Lika battlefield where it defended Croatia since 13 October 1991.
Even though they fought for Croatia, the status of the Albanian volunteer brigade and its members has not been regulated to this day, therefore the Association members pointed out this problem to President Milanović. They presented many documents to President Milanović proving the participation of its brigade in the Homeland War yet, in spite of it, they cannot resolve the status of the Albanian volunteer brigade with the competent authorities. For this reason many Albanian defenders cannot enjoy the rights that belong to Croatian defenders.
In 1991 more than 3,000 Albanians defended Croatia; 88 were killed, and several hundred were wounded.
Alongside President Milanović was the Special Adviser to the President for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta