Pristina, February 18, 2025
As part of the state agenda for the 17th anniversary of Kosovo’s Independence, a state reception organized by the President, Speaker of Parliament and Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo was held last night. Below you will find the full address of Prime Minister Kurti:
Honorable Mrs. Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, President of the Republic of Kosovo,
Honorable Mr. Bajram Begaj, President of the Republic of Albania,
Honorable Mr. Fatmir Sejdiu, former President of the Republic of Kosovo,
Honorable Deputy Prime Ministers of North Macedonia, Izet Mexhiti and Arben Fetai,
Honorable Ministers of North Macedonia, of Health and Social Policies, Arben Taravari and Fatmir Limani,
Honorable Mayors of Tetovo, Preshevo, Bujanovac and Ulqin, Ardita Sinani, Arbër Pajaziti, Bilall Kasëmi and Genc Nimanbegu,
Honorable Deputy Prime Ministers of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz and Emilija Rexhepi,
Honorable Ministers and Deputy Ministers of our Government,
Honorable Mr. Samir Šibonjić, Minister of Economy of the Zedice-Doboj Canton of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Honorable Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia, Mr. Afrim Gashi,
Honorable members of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo and the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, who are present tonight at this celebration,
Honorable Bashkim Jashari, Lieutenant General, Commander of the Kosovo Security Force,
Honorable ambassadors and other diplomats of friendly countries accredited to our country,
Honorable leaders and representatives of state institutions,
Honorable religious leaders, Mufti Naim Tërnava and Bishop Dodë Gjergji,
And, also, honorable entrepreneurs from Kosovo and the diaspora who have honored us with your presence here tonight,
Honorable friends from abroad, such as Lukas Mandl, Member of the European Parliament, a great supporter of the truth and justice of Kosovo, every time, everywhere,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Honorable guests and participants,
Sisters and brothers,
The independence of our Republic was declared 17 years ago. Its birth was the result of almost a century of unyielding resistance by our people to foreign rule, violence and almost daily injustices, and genocidal actions to undo it. When the Republic was declared by the Kaçanik Assembly in 1990, it was not only legitimate, but also constituted a just and reasonable formula towards the resolution of the Albanian question under Yugoslavia. However, our people had to make other sacrifices during the 1990s, to bring the Republic to life and international recognition. The nationwide movement led by President Rugova, Fehmi Agani, Adem Demaçi, Rexhep Qosja, Ukshin Hoti, Ejup Statovci and many, many others, was followed by the epic of the Jashari family, of Commander-in-Chief Adem Jashari, and the liberation war of the KLA. Today, we bow with the deepest respect to all the martyrs, the missing, the political prisoners, the wounded, the mistreated, and all the men and women who served with their lives, their labor, and their property for the realization of the Republic of Kosovo. We, as government officials and politicians, have the duty to represent not only the will of the voters, but also the aspiration of all those who have strived for the creation of a sovereign and democratic state, which enables all its citizens to live safely and with dignity at all times, everywhere, without distinction.
Today, the Republic of Kosovo is an independent, sovereign, democratic state with territorial integrity. It seeks to live in peace with its neighboring states and to build a European future together with them. Kosovo is a partner of the democratic states of the world that helped declare its independence: the United States of America, the member states of the European Union, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Japan, Canada, etc. The Republic of Kosovo has submitted its application to join the European Union, even though five member states do not yet recognize us. Kosovo is committed to collective defense and the Kosovo Security Forces participate in NATO military exercises, this year we are also the host of Defender Europe 2025, even though we are not yet members of the alliance. Kosovo supports Ukraine’s just and defensive war, regardless of the fact that we do not yet have recognition from it. The Republic of Kosovo guarantees and implements minority rights even higher than international standards, especially for the Serbian minority, as eminent lawyers of the Council of Europe have also concluded. Meanwhile, Albanians in the Presevo Valley are under constant pressure from discrimination in the economy and culture, in education and health, while the passivization of addresses is nothing but ethnic cleansing there, by administrative and bureaucratic means. The Republic of Kosovo is making maximum efforts to respect human rights, to fight corruption and to achieve economic development and reduce inequalities for all citizens regardless of age, religion, origin or ethnicity. Compared to the year of the declaration of Independence in 2008, Gross Domestic Product, annual state budget and average salary are approximately three times higher. Women’s rights, the rights of ethnic minorities, other social categories, independence of powers and freedom of the media are respected and implemented in Kosovo, even more and better than in other countries of the Western Balkans, and in some cases even wider than that.
All these achievements have not been easy and are nevertheless common. Even after the declaration of independence, Kosovo has faced many difficulties and obstacles created by Serbia’s systematic, hybrid and recently kinetic war to make sovereignty and the rule of law impossible throughout the territory of our country. Aggression and chauvinism are both actions and behaviors, not just Serbia’s stance and decision against Kosovo, as they include terrorist attacks, campaigns of international non-recognition, financing of criminal gangs and parallel structures, media attacks, etc. Meanwhile, the Kosovo Security Force is located in barracks, Serbia has 48 forward offensive bases of the army and gendarmerie near and along the border with us.
We have successfully coped with every time they have tried, they have failed, and the Republic of Kosovo has won, but also with new sacrifices, such as the martyred police officers Enver Zymeri and Afrim Bunjaku. They will always be remembered, along with other martyrs of the nation who preceded the declaration of Kosovo’s Independence.
Dear guests,
As we celebrate together, we will undoubtedly preserve, protect and elevate progress to new, other levels, always working to the best of our ability and knowledge, relentlessly, without rest, without hesitation, together.
Wishing you a happy celebration of the 17th anniversary of Independence, I also wish each and every one of you good health and success in your efforts for our Republic!
Thank you and best wishes!
Last modified: February 19, 2025