19 June 2008
Dear President of the Albanian Parliament;
Dear President of the Republic of Albania;
Dear Prime Minister;
Dear Deputies of the Republic of Albania;
Ambassadors and dear guests;
I feel honoured that today, as Prime Minister of the youngest state in the world, the Republic of Kosovo, I have the chance to address the highest representative institutions of the Republic of Albania.
I would like, from this arena of Albanian democracy, to bring you the greetings and heartfelt thanks of the institutions and people of the Republic of Kosovo, ever warmer thanks from the citizens of Kosovo, for the unstinting aid that Albania and her people have given during the historic process through which Kosovo has passed.
Kosovo endured a dark century of history, with a great deal of pain and sacrifice. The whole history of Kosovo is linked with the struggle for freedom and western civilisation. Our whole politics was shaped by this civilisation. And in the end it was surmounted by that most sacred of values: freedom.
The struggles of generation upon generation of Kosovo citizens were focused on only one aim: the re-establishment of the will of the people of Kosovo as the source of political authority. Throughout the whole of the past century, this will was down-trodden, reviled and oppressed.
The three Yugoslavias, which one after the other came violently into Kosovo, shared one idea: they wanted Kosovo under control, because they hated and struggled with her native people.
And when Communism fell, Kosovo endured her next tragedy. Instead of the start of democratic transition, she was subjected to a classic Serb coup. Once again Albanians were persecuted and cast out from all state and public institutions. A whole people was excluded. This exclusion prefigured the expulsion of Kosovo’s Albanians from their own homeland.
Kosovo did not succumb: everyone, a whole people, came out against this, to prevent this evil. Our perseverance was further strengthened by the expectation that the democratic world would understand our just struggle.
The civilised world, led by the United States of America and the European Union, supported us. Kosovo’s goal of liberation and freedom was fully consistent with the historical pattern of global democratisation.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear friends,
Through a century of struggle, Kosovo had the support of Albania’s institutions and of all the people of Albania. Thousands upon thousands of Kosovo citizens, when ejected from their homes, found shelter and fraternal warmth in towns and villages across Albania. Nothing was more important for a people with survival at stake than the hand and spirit of solidarity. From Albania came such brotherly solidarity. The institutions and people of Kosovo will forever be grateful for it. The Albanian tradition of hospitality was displayed once again in its whole civilising might. Without the support of Albania the liberation of Kosovo would not have happened. When Kosovo was at war, Albania too was in a kind of war; your country gave martyrs for the freedom of Kosovo, just as Kosovo gave heroes for the independence of Albania. Every Albanian citizen had a part in this contribution to the liberation of Kosovo. Every citizen should feel proud of this contribution. So, congratulations and thanks to the whole population of Albania!
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear friends,
I was brought up loving Albania, like every Kosovar. It’s a love that is passed down from generation to generation, from my grandparents and my parents to me, and today from me to my own son, who’s always insisting that we spend our summer holidays on the beautiful Albanian coast.
In the early nineties I lived for a time in Tirana, together with the father of Kosovo independence, legendary Kosovo Liberation Army commander Adem Jashari, all around Ali Demi, the 21st, Oxhaku, Blloku. Today Tirana has changed, Albania has changed, and I too have changed, as you have.
Once, coming to Albania, I spent hours trekking the mountains of Pashtrik and Luboten. In that way I entered Albania, unnoticed, and in that way I came to Tirana. Whereas today everything has changed, and were I to try to repeat such an experience it would be hard to manage. Thus, the muddy boots and uniform are now just a proud and unforgettable memory not only for myself, but for thousands and thousands of my comrades.
But something has preserved its identity, something has stayed the same, however much the barriers have come down. Our love for Albania, your love for Kosovo, the brotherly love for one another. Kosovo is proud of Albania. Kosovo and Albania are proud of one another.
Dear President of the Albanian Parliament;
Dear President of the Republic of Albania;
Dear Prime Minister;
Dear Albanian Deputies;
Dear Ambassadors;
Dear guests;
Representatives of the media;
Dear Albanian people,
I have had the luck, the pleasure and the responsibility of working together with all of the Presidents and Prime Ministers of Albania from the nineties onwards. I am proudly obliged to thank them all for their role in supporting the liberation and state of Kosovo.
In June of 1999 evil was confounded, and good triumphed. Thus began a new phase of the final determination of the Kosovo question. We were convinced that there was only one way forward: the transformation and liberation of Kosovo into an independent and sovereign state. Together with the international community we began the task of establishing the institutional basis for the moment when this would happen. Great work was done in enshrining the practices of democratic governance and the rule of law. Elections were held, which stood as an example of democratic development to the region. Today, this is once again part of Kosovo’s political tradition. This makes us proud, as well as responsible for establishing democracy ever more deeply.
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Dear friends;
The creation of the state is the natural act of a free people.
On 17 February this year the institutions of Kosovo once again displayed their determination before their citizens and the world. Kosovo was declared an independent state, sovereign, democratic, one and indivisible, by the legitimate representatives of the people. Pristina celebrated, Tirana celebrated, and the whole democratic world supported us. The democratic world recognised and welcomed the will of the people of Kosovo. Today we are recognised by 43 states. Kosovo will be a part and a member of the United Nations. An immediate and vital part of this powerful process of recognition came from the worthy Parliament of the Republic of Albania.
The independent and sovereign state of Kosovo was born in a great partnership with her allies and friends. Very soon, such steps will be taken by other neighbouring states: Macedonia, Montenegro and, we must hope in some democratic future, Serbia too.
The Constitution of the State of Kosovo entered into force just recently, and it clearly defines Kosovo as a state of Albanians and others, a multi-ethnic society. There will be tolerance and positive respect for minorities. All communities that live in Kosovo have security of outlook and equality of opportunity.
In particular, we will ensure that Serb citizens of Kosovo feel that they are safe in our shared state.
The independence of Kosovo was a necessary step in the democratisation and Europeanisation of the whole region. Kosovo and Albania are two states with independent state identities, but as Albanians we are one race, with one language and one culture.
Kosovo and Albania, as two independent states, have one goal and one vision: integration with NATO and the European Union.
I congratulate Albania and the Albanian people for their invitation to join NATO. This is a great year for the region: Kosovo independent and Albania invited into NATO.
Congratulations to all!
One year ago President Bush sent out from Tirana a message about the freedom and independence of Kosovo that was clear, welcome, just, strong and determined. I want now, from this arena of Albanian democracy, to thank the USA, the EU and NATO for their support!
Dear President of the Albanian Parliament;
Dear President of the Republic of Albania;
Dear Prime Minister;
Dear Deputies of the Republic of Albania;
Ladies and Gentlemen;
In our region the values of the future have triumphed.
Independent, sovereign and democratic Kosovo will show the way in foreign affairs, grounded in the principles of good neighbourliness and Euro-Atlantic integration.
Regional co-operation is a part of the process of Euro-Atlantic integration.
Thank you, Mr Prime Minister, for the strong support which comes from your Government and from all of Albania’s poets whenever they speak of Kosovo!
Between our two Governments, Pristina and Tirana, there is complete institutional commitment to establish co-operation in all areas. This is the conclusion of today’s meeting between me and Prime Minister Berisha.
We have much to share and much to give one another.
The dark times of barred and obstructed borders have ended. We have pledged that there will be no change in borders. We are building a new European reality, a region without borders; we are building a road of integration that will bring Pristina and Tirana closer together.
The natural conclusion of our long, laborious and historic road is the freedom that we celebrate today, and our secure future under the twin rooves of the European Union and NATO.
Thank you very much!
Last modified: July 31, 2022