Why Tony Blair is getting a statue in Kosovo
STORY: Sculptor Agon Qosa is putting the finishing touches on a statue of former British prime minister Tony Blair.
Here in Kosovo, Qosa and other ethnic Albanians idolize the British politician.
During the 1998-99 Kosovo war he had a leading role during a NATO bombing campaign that halted the advance of Serb forces... and ultimately helped the small Balkan nation win independence.
More than 13,000 people, mainly local Albanians, were killed in the conflict.
And while some supporters later became disillusioned with Blair over his role in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, many here remain enthusiastic.
National records indicate more than 10 people are named Tonibler, Toni, or Bler - the spellings altered to fit local pronunciations.
Tonibler Gashi was born two years after the war, his name chosen by his father.
“He wanted to pay a tribute to our people, a gratitude of Kosovo people toward Tony Blair and he always wanted to have a boy so he can name him after Tony Blair and pretty much that is what happened in 2001 when they had me.”
Now 22, Gashi met the real Blair when he visited Pristina in 2010.
Blair was greeted by several boys, all named after the politician.
The moment stuck with the young Gashi.
“It was like meeting pretty much a prophet for our people.”
The life-size clay statue of Blair will be cast in bronze and placed on Blair Boulevard in the eastern town of Ferizaj.
The ceremony will take place on June 12, which marks the end of the 1998-99 Kosovo war.
It was commissioned by the ‘We Remember Tony Blair’ foundation.
The former British prime minister has been invited to the statue’s inauguration, but there is no word yet on whether he will attend.
