Twenty-five years since Tony Blair's leadership role during the 1998-99 Kosovo war, the former British prime minister still finds fans in Kosovo, where a life-size statue in his likeness is being created.

Tony Blair, the former British Prime Minister, is being commemorated in Kosovo with a life-size statue. This gesture comes 25 years after Blair played a significant leadership role during the Kosovo war of 1998-99. The recognition highlights Blair's lasting popularity in the region, where he is still celebrated for his contributions.



Tony Blair getting a statue in Kosovo

Sculptor Egon Csosa is putting the finishing touches on a statue of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Here in Kosovo, Csosa and other ethnic Albanians idolized 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 US-led invasion of Iraq, many here remain enthusiastic. National records indicate more than 10 people are named Tony Blair, Tony or Blair, the spellings altered to fit local pronunciations. Tony Blair Gashi was born two years after the war, his name chosen by his father. He wanted to pay a tribute of our people, of our 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's 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's no word yet on whether he will attend.

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London

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Buenos Aires

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Odesa

Ukraine Invasion

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Edinburgh

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Sunshine Coast

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Bondi

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New York

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Riyadh

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Turin

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Sulphur

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Pescara

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Oklahoma

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Wakeley

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Canberra

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Tel Aviv-Yafo

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Donetsk

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Shanghai

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Rafah

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Lviv

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Canton

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Sderot

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