On Tuesday, Haxhi Thaçi was given his final farewell. His son, former president Hashim Thaçi, did not attend, but a wreath of flowers from The Hague was the only sign of his “presence” at the funeral ceremony in Burojë, Skenderaj.
"I said goodbye to you in the hospital, dad! From The Hague I say goodbye to you in heaven," wrote former President Thaçi in his message.
The funeral was attended by hundreds of thousands of citizens, but no senior state officials were seen. President Vjosa Osmani, who is in Berlin, had sent a wreath and two of her advisors.
Previously, tributes and a memorial academy were held at the Skenderaj sports gym where the Thaçi family received condolences for the loss of their family member.
"Unfortunately, they did not allow my father to say his last goodbye with us today, they did not allow him to throw a handful of Drenica soil on his grave, but instead of my father, today Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia and the Valley have come. Great and eternal will be our memory of you, grandfather," said Hashim Thaçi's son, Endriti.
The academy was attended by a delegation from the Albanian state as well as political representatives from North Macedonia.
“Parental care, patriotic upbringing, the devotion of this old man who led his entire life by the spirit of justice and inspiration from freedom, gave Kosovo a commander and a warrior, a visionary leader, the first prime minister and independent president of Kosovo,” said the speaker of the Albanian parliament, Elisa Spiropali.
Haxhi Thaçi’s suffering was said to have become greater in recent years when his son was accused of alleged war crimes.
"Baca Haxhi was not just a father, but a symbol of dedication, an unbreakable pillar of the Thaçi family. He was the man who experienced the greatest injustice," said Bedri Hamza from the PDK.
Former President Hashim Thaçi met his father for the last time during a hospital visit last Thursday. (A2 Televizion)
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