Prishtina, 1 June 2023
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, participated today in celebration marking the National Day of Italy.
Prime Minister Kurti said that they had gathered to celebrate the national holiday of a friend and ally of Kosovo, where tomorrow, on 2 June, in Rome and throughout Italy, the Republic Day will be celebrated in memory of the referendum held in 1946, when the Italian people, exercising their sovereignty, decided on the form of government and state.
Kosovo regards Italy as a friend and ally, the Prime Minister emphasized, and that Italy is the second largest trading partner of Kosovo, after Germany, in terms of exports and imports between the two countries, and our trade has been constantly growing, especially in the recent years.
In addition to our economic partnership, Prime Minister Kurti made sure to mention another very important dimension of Kosovo’s relations with Italy, and that is the area of defense and security. Italy, as he highlighted, was a country of particular importance during NATO’s intervention in Kosovo, which saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of Albanians who were the target of Serbia’s genocidal enterprise during Milosevic’s regime.
Since then, Italian soldiers have been engaged as peacekeepers in Kosovo and in most cases have held chief positions in NATO’s KFOR. Throughout this time the Italian soldiers of the Carabinieri Army have distinguished themselves in two aspects: in their bravery and their humanitarianism.
He said nn Monday, 29 May, the value of the Italian soldiers was demonstrated in Zveçan, where the KFOR forces faced a crowd that had been infiltrated by violent elements, partly from outside Kosovo, with criminal intentions. I hope that these individuals are quickly brought to account by the law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Kosovo.
“11 brave Italian soldiers were injured, three of them seriously, but fortunately out of danger
Today is not the day to talk about who attacked the peacekeepers, however
one thing we can say always and everywhere: those who attack peacekeepers, attack peace.
I know that there is an attempt to put the blame on the forces of KFOR or those of the Kosovo Police, but neither KFOR nor the Kosovo Police have attacked or touched anyone, they have simply performed their duty by preventing disturbances ordered from abroad and which are of no interest to any citizen of Kosovo, whatever the ethnicity,” said the Prime Minister.
He added that Kosovo thanks these young men and sends heartfelt greetings to their families, wishing them a speedy recovery.
The Prime Minister wished all the Italians in Kosovo the Republic Day, also wishing that this common love that every people have for their country, serves to further strengthen our friendship and partnership.
Prime Minister Kurti’s full speech in English:
Your Excellency, Ambassador Antonello De Riu, ambassador of Republic of Italy
Honorable KFOR Commander, major general, Angelo Michele Ristuccia,
Honorable ministers of the Government and members of Parliament
Dear ambassadors,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentleman,
Dear friends,
We are gathered here for the national day of a friend and ally country of Kosova. Tomorrow, on June 2nd, in Rome and all over Italy, Republic Day will be celebrated in commemoration of the referendum held in 1946, when the Italian people, exercising its sovereignty, decided on its form of government and state. It is a day on which the fundamental element of democracy — that is, sovereignty — is celebrated. Without sovereignty, the word democracy is somewhat devoid of meaning. Of course, I do not speak of an isolationist sovereignty, that is neither possible nor desirable.
The world today is where interconnections and interdependencies are becoming increasingly frequent, which are in large part beneficial and supportive of the welfare of nations. But tonight I am speaking of that normal sovereignty of which people are the source to develop it’s own culture and economy, and that has the last word on its own affairs. The Italian people have this, and have demonstrated continuously throughout its history, building a state that today is the eighth most powerful economy in the world, one of the major powers, and an important member of NATO and the EU: a democracy and a positive model of progress.
Kosova sees Italy as a good friend and ally. Italy is Kosova’s second largest trade partner, after Germany, in terms of exports and imports between the two countries, and our trade has been constantly increasing, especially in the past few years. Among the Western Balkan countries, Kosova is the only country that uses the same currency as Italy, the Euro, and besides this, we offer an auspicious investment climate, as well as an increasingly more qualified workforce and a young population. If we add to this our geographical proximity, along with Kosova’s infrastructural development, I believe that what we are doing to make our country an inviting investment destination comes clearer into focus. Especially in the important sectors of energy, mining and processing of minerals, food and textile industries, but also in the development of new information technology, there is a place for Italian capital and know-how.
Besides our economic partnership, I cannot help but mention another very important dimension of Kosova’s relationship with Italy, and that is the dimension of defense and security. Italy was a country of particular importance during the NATO intervention in Kosova, which saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of Albanians who were the target of Serbia’s genocidal enterprise during the Milosevic regime. Everyone in Kosova knows that the airbase from which NATO jets took off was Aviano in Italy.
Since that time, Italian soldiers have been engaged as peacekeepers in Kosova, and in most cases have held leadership positions in NATO’s KFOR. During this entire time Italian soldiers from the Army of the Carabinieri have distinguished themselves in two aspects: in their bravery and their humanity.
The value of Italian soldiers was on full display on Monday, May 29, in Zveçan, where KFOR units were confronted with a mob infiltrated by violent extremist elements, partly from outside Kosova, with criminal aims, who I hope will be held responsible by the institutions of law and order of the Republic of Kosova.
Eleven brave Italian soldiers were injured, three of them seriously, but fortunately the injuries are not fatal. Today is not the day to speak about who attacked the peacekeepers, but we must be clear about one thing, always and everywhere: those who attack peacekeepers, attack peace. I know that there is an effort to blame the KFOR units themselves, or those of the Kosova Police, but neither KFOR nor the Police attacked or touched anyone. They merely did their duty in confronting the unrest that was ordered from abroad and that is not in the interest of any Kosova citizen, of any ethnicity. That unrest is in the interest only of those who ordered it — Putin’s allies in our region.
The bravery of Italian soldiers, but also that of their Hungarian colleagues, will remain in the hearts of the citizens of Kosova, who will always be grateful for these young men who left their families to serve peace and democracy here with us. Honorable Ambassador De Riu these young men also are ambassadors of the Italian people, of the peaceful and courageous spirit of that friendly country that loves and supports democracy. We Albanians have a proverb that says: A friend in need is a friend indeed. I’m sure the Italians have a similar proverb as well. Kosova thanks those young men and sends warm greetings to their families, while wishing them the quickest possible recovery. The young men and women of Kosova’s army will increasingly take part in joint missions with NATO allied forces, where, of course, they will find in Italian soldiers a source of fraternal support.
Contribution of Rome and Italy for science and arts, culture and history, politics and sports, is so vast that is unimaginable but Europe today, a not only Europe, each one of us here, not only us, we enjoy the life and the world as we know it thanks to so many authors of Italian descent that mentioning any of them would do so much injustice to everyone else.
I do not want to take up too much of your time. Happy Republic Day, my dear Ambassador De Riu, and to all Italians in Kosova. You love your country, your Republic, as we do as well. May this common love ever strengthen our friendship and partnership.
Buena Festa la Repubblica. Saluti!
Last modified: June 6, 2023