Zyra e Kryeministrit

Prime Minister Kurti at the solemn session: The act of declaring Kosovo’s independence and declaring it a state marks the opening of an irreversible chapter in the modern history of Kosovo

February 17, 2023

Pristina, February 17, 2023

The full speech of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti at the solemn session of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo for the 15th anniversary of Independence

Honorable President of the Republic of Kosovo, Mrs. Vjosa Osmani Sadriu,
The honorable President of the Republic of Albania, Mr. Bajram Begaj,
Honorable Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Glauk Konjufca,
Dear Members of Parliament, Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers,
Distinguished ambassadors and international friends who have come from European countries, the United States of America,
Dear Mr. George Robertson, NATO’s tenth Secretary General,
Dear families of martyrs, veterans and invalids of the liberation war,
Honorable leaders and representatives of state institutions,
Honorable religious leaders,
Dear guests from Presheva, Medveja and Bujanovac, Sanjak, North Macedonia and Montenegro,
Dear citizens of Kosovo,
Ladies and gentleman,

It is true that February is the month with the fewest days, but among them, there is a day that, due to the density of national and historical weight, has a prolonging effect on our experience of this period of the year. It is the 17th day of February, the birthday of Kosovo’s Independence!

Anniversaries of key events like this are stopping stations for reflection, between two kinds of time-flows: the daily times of that continuous and everyday time on the one hand, and the historical times on the other, of those times that were once today and today are yesterday, past days but which are not separated from any day, present or future, whether they are. It is these types of days whose dates are recorded as historical dates.
Such is the date of February 17, because as if today, 15 years ago, on February 17, 2008, in this same Assembly hall, 109 representatives elected by the people of Kosovo put their signatures on the parchment where the text of the Declaration of Independence of Kosovo.

On the afternoon of that special and unrepeatable Sunday, February 17, 2008, a new country was added to the continent of Europe, and a country was added to the Western world where democratic values are the essence of every political and social course. In a politically difficult time, when not only politicians and diplomats, but also political theorists believed that the era of state-building, state formations in Europe had passed, a true parliamentary republic was created in the Balkans. This is thanks to the millions of political wills that over the years called “Republic of Kosovo”, until this political slogan was turned into an official state name.

The act of declaring Kosovo’s independence and declaring it a state in 2008 marks the opening of an irreversible chapter in the modern history of Kosovo. The document of this chapter is the political will of its people, for Kosovo to be an independent and sovereign, democratic and indivisible state. This chapter must remain so, being politically protected and continuously strengthened, by everyone, in every case, before every challenge!

The declaration of Kosovo’s independence here 15 years ago was the result of many extreme efforts and sacrifices of our Albanian people, as well as the much needed help and support of our international partners and allies. The creation of the Republic of Kosovo came after a total of 666 centuries spent in prisons by thousands of political prisoners, as it came from whole generations of teachers who educated and educated whole generations in the spirit of patriotism and patriotism. The Republic of Kosovo came from the blood of fallen heroes and martyrs and from every life given for the freedom of this country, as it also came from the contribution of those who led and developed the political processes of building the state until this day. Our Republic came from the glorious war of the soldiers of the Liberation Army of Kosovo, who with their just war managed to include the international allies who in 1999, helped us to be freed from the invading Serbia.

It was these same international allies who, in 2008, supported the same local factors, in the coordination of all those necessary political actions and necessary diplomatic processes, which culminated in the declaration of Kosovo’s independence in 2008.

Since then, just like before, our partners and allies have been inseparable in our common journey of consolidating the state and completing the international subjectivity of our republic.

Remembering that cold day of February 17, 2008, as we mark this year’s birthday of the state of Kosovo, 15 years later, we continue to feel the beating of the hearts of all those who fought and worked for that day, as we feel the beating of our hearts each day after, from their feeling of pride and togetherness that our country, the Republic of Kosovo, gives us. How can we mention today all those whose names we do not know. It is the word people that marks and shows all of them, all of us together, that is, the people as our source of each one, as our goal of all.

Glory to all the nation’s martyrs and civilian victims who fell for the freedom of Kosovo. Recognition and commemoration of all those who in countless ways contributed to the state of Kosovo until this day and beyond. Deep gratitude and respect for our partners and allies who, at every stage of our country’s history, helped our people from oppression to liberation to freedom and from independence to empowerment and development.

Happy February 17 and congratulations on the 15th anniversary of Kosovo’s Independence!

Thank you.

Last modified: February 22, 2023

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