Prishtina, 8 February, 2023
The first Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Development and Dialogue of the Republic of Kosovo, Besnik Bislimi, together with the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Hajrullah Çeku, presented at a media conference, the State Agenda for marking the 15th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Kosovo and the Manifestation of the 25th anniversary of the Epic of the Liberation Army of Kosovo.
In his introductory speech, Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi said that the 25th anniversary of the Epic and the 15th anniversary of Independence are holidays not only for Kosovo but for all of Albania. “Jashars laid the foundation stones, the signers raised the pillars with Independence, and we who come after have the duty to raise the walls of Kosovo as a civilized, democratic, hard-working country, where culture and economy advance,” said the Deputy Prime Minister. Bislimi.
The Government of the Republic of Kosovo is making sure that we have a prosperous and worthy program for these dates.
Below, the complete speech of Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi:
Hello everyone and thanks for taking the time to be here,
Dear Minister Çeku,
25 years ago, the cornerstone of our Kosovo was placed in Prekaz, with the fiery hearts of the Jashars who sacrificed themselves for freedom. There was no other option. Decades of oppression were also decades of resistance, washed with the blood of our martyrs. Therefore, the Jashars who started the epic were neither unexpected nor strange. But they were the logical conclusion of the resistance’s confrontation with the occupation, they were the beginning of victory.
15 years ago in Pristina, the pillars of our Kosovo were raised, with independence and the republican and parliamentary constitution. The deputies of that legislature and the signatories of independence will remain in history, because independent Kosovo is an irreversible reality.
This year, we have a jubilee year. It is the 25th anniversary of the Epic and the 15th anniversary of Independence. These holidays are not only for Kosovo, but for all of Albania. Young people laid the foundation stones, the signers raised the pillars with Independence, and we who come after have the duty to raise the walls of Kosovo as a civilized, democratic, working country, where culture and economy advance. The revivalist Sami Frashëri once said “Freedom is the essence of the soul and the mind”.
Since this year we will mark the jubilee anniversary of February 17 and March 5, 6 and 7, the Government of the Republic of Kosovo is making sure that we have a prosperous and worthy program for these dates. By the decision of Prime Minister Kurti, on December 13, the Organizational Council was appointed to mark these two dates and I was entrusted with its chairmanship. While co-chairman and responsible for the main burden of work was appointed Minister Çeku.
Deputy Prime Minister Gërvalla, Ministers Mehaj, Nagavci, Murati, Deputy Speaker of the Assembly Saranda Bogujevci, representative from the Presidency of the Republic of Kosovo, Mrs. Donjeta Miftari, the commander of the KSF, General Bashkim Jashari and the director of Radio Television of Kosovo, Mr. Shkumbin Ahmetxhekaj.
Later, Minister Sveçla and the representative of the associations that emerged from the war, Mr. Muhamet Bilalli. Since the month of December, the Council has held meetings and appointed the working group of the technical level where the 30-day plan was worked on, filled with all kinds of activities that will take place not only in Kosovo, but also all over the world.
Now I pass the floor to Minister Çeku, to present to us in more detail the state program for the manifestation of these two dates.
Last modified: February 9, 2023