On January 15, 1999, the village of Reçak/Račak/Racak in Kosovo was the site of a brutal massacre in which approximately 45 Albanian civilians were killed by Serbian police and paramilitaries. The victims, mostly men and boys, were rounded up and executed in what was clearly a premeditated and coordinated attack.
This horrific event marked a turning point in the Kosovo War, which had been raging for over a year. The international community, which had previously been hesitant to intervene in the conflict, was horrified by the scale and brutality of the Racak massacre. The United Nations Security Council condemned the killings, and NATO began preparing for a military intervention in Kosovo.
The memory of the victims of Racak must never be forgotten. We honor their memory by reaffirming our commitment to the principles of human rights and the rule of law, and by working to prevent such atrocities from occurring in the future. We must also remember the lessons of Racak, and remain vigilant against the forces of hatred and violence that seek to tear our world apart. May the victims of Racak rest in peace, and may their families find comfort in the knowledge that their loved ones did not die in vain.