Prishtina, 16 March, 2024
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, and last night took part in marking the National Day of Ireland organized by the Embassy of Ireland in Kosovo. On the same day, Ireland also celebrates the feast of Saint Patrick, otherwise known as the patron saint of the state of Ireland.
In this double celebration, calling it a great honor to be there to celebrate, Prime Minister Kurti said that Kosovo and Ireland have always had friendly relations since the declaration of independence of the Republic of Kosovo. He underlined the fact that Ireland was among the first countries to recognize our state and citizenship, as early as twelve days after independence.
Prime Minister Kurti described the strengthening of bilateral relations between Kosovo and Ireland as one of the blessings of 2024. In less than two months, two bilateral state visits were made. First, the visit of the Prime Minister of Ireland, Leo Varadkar to Pristina on January 10, and the visit of Prime Minister Kurti to Dublin on February 29 and March 1. In these meetings, the Prime Minister highlighted that they have agreed to intensify cooperation in a number of fields, especially in the technology sector, for the benefit of the citizens of both countries.
“We in Kosovo appreciate and value our partnership with Ireland”, said the prime minister. He added that at a time when threats of terrorism and aggression in the region are increasing, Kosovo’s integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions is more important than ever before for peace, security and human rights in the Western Balkans. In this regard, the Prime Minister was particularly grateful to the Irish Prime Minister, Varadkar, for his strong support for our application for membership in the Council of Europe and the European Union.
In his speech to the audience, he also spoke about the important history of St. Patrick’s Day.
Prime Minister Kurti’s complete speech:
Your excellence, Ragnar Almqvist, ambassador of Ireland to Kosova,
Honorable ladies and gentleman,
Excellency ambassadors of the representatives of diplomatic missions in Kosova,
Dear members of the Irish community,
Distinguish guest,
It is an honor for me to join you tonight in celebrating this dual holiday: the National Day of Ireland and Saint. Patrick’s Day.
Kosova and Ireland have enjoyed friendly relations since the founding of our Republic. On February 29, 2008 — just twelve days after our Declaration of Independence — Ireland became part of the first group of countries to recognize our statehood. Since then, our bond has only grown stronger. Indeed, one of the true blessings of 2024 has been our increasingly close relationship. This culminated in two state visits in a span of less than two months earlier this year: Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s visit to Prishtina on January 10th and 11th, and my subsequent visit to Dublin on February 29th and March 1st. It was such a pleasure to return to Dublin twenty years after my first visit in 2004, when I came in June for Bloomsday and then again in November that year. Used to be exactly 100 years from June 16 (Bloomsday) and second time in November, I was meeting our diaspora in Dublin.
We in Kosova value and cherish our partnership with Ireland. At a time when the threats of terrorism and aggression in the region are on the rise, Kosova’s integration in Euro-Atlantic institutions is more important than ever for the prospects of peace, security, and human rights in the Western Balkans and beyond. I am therefore especially grateful to the Taoiseach for his vocal support of our bids to join both the Council of Europe and the European Union.
We have also agreed to intensify cooperation in a number of areas — especially tech sector — for the benefit of the citizens of both our countries.
Besides Prime Minister Varadkar, I’ve had wonderful conversations with the former Irish Ambassador, Ronan Gargan, every time we’ve met, and it was great to see him again in Dublin. This green tie is his present in one of his fours visits in Prishtina. It is likewise always a pleasure to meet with the current Ambassador, Mr. Ragnar Almqvist.
In addition to celebrating the National Day of Ireland, we are gathered here to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. The Feast of Saint Patrick has evolved over the centuries from a national holiday to a global celebration of staggering proportions — especially in the United States, where it competes in the same league as Christmas, Thanksgiving, and of course, Black Friday.
Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, and he has since become a potent symbol of good luck everywhere. It is precisely for this reason that I have brought with me today another great man, whom most of you already know: my official photographer, Patrik Domi. Patrik exemplifies this holiday in at least two out of three ways: His name is Patrick, and I’ve noticed that he brings much good luck to everyone in his life.
Nevertheless, on the question of whether he is a saint, I have to say: It is too early to tell. But if I had to choose one member of my staff to serve as the patron saint of the Office of the Prime Minister, surely it would be him.
According to tradition, St. Patrick died on March 17. It is therefore his passing, rather than his birth, that we mark today. This makes him special among historical figures: There are many those whose birth we commemorate, but relatively few who achieve immortality in death. Today, for example, March 15, is the infamous Ides of March, marking the betrayal and assassination of Julius Caesar, whereas Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, commemorated every year on Good Friday, represented his ultimate sacrifice for the sins of humankind. For this reason, the date on which the American president Abraham Lincoln was shot, April 14, 1865 has also entered the annals of history, rife with symbolism, as it was Good Friday of that year. And earlier this month, we celebrated the brave resistance of Adem Jashari, surely one of Kosova’s patron saints, against Serbia’s genocidal regime of the ‘90s — a resistance that culminated in his heroic death on March 7, 1998.
A long time has passed since Saint Patrick walked the earth in the 4th and 5th centuries A.D. So we don’t know a lot about him. Much has come down to us by way of legend and apocrypha. My favorite is the allegory according to which St. Patrick drove out all the snakes of Ireland into the sea. This, I think, can serve as a powerful image summing up what every democratic government — including our Kosova’s — should ultimately aspire to do: to drive out all remaining forms of injustice and aggression, so that our citizens can live their lives in freedom, dignity, and the pursuit of happiness. That noble aspiration, if it could be achieved, would be something truly worth celebrating.
Thank you.
Last modified: March 18, 2024