Prizren, 10 June, 2023
On this important date and day, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, together with the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani Sadriu and the President of the Republic of Albania, Bajram Begaj, as well as the Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo, Glauk Konjufca, participated in the central manifestation of the 145th anniversary of the Albanian League of Prizren.
The Prime Minister said that June 10, 1878 is considered the beginning of a structured political journey of Albanians, which continues today.
“Therefore, every June 10, we come to Prizren to remember the Albanian League from the place where it was conceived and then came to life, to extend to the entire Albanian space and further forward in time until today. Therefore, today we also have here the Presidents of both our republican states, Albania and Kosovo, to maintain the institutional leadership line of cultivating the ideals and political interests of the Albanian nation. That is why I am here myself, as the Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, to commemorate the political roots of the governance of the Albanians and to strengthen the ties of our government with the political philosophy of the Albanian League of Prizren”, were the words of Prime Minister Kurti.
He said that we still have something to learn from Sami Frashëri’s political theories and Abdyl Frashëri’s diplomatic practice; from the assemblies of Ilaz Pasha Dibra and Ymer Prizren as well as from the military organization of Sulejman Vokshi and Ali Pasha Gucia. Because our path today is their past path.
Further, Prime Minister Kurti added that by staying connected between us and maintaining our ties with the political ideals of the Albanian League of Prizren, we maintain the sound political tradition of our daily engagement, to advance our political interests always as a nation European.
“Only bound together and faithfully around the League, as a mindset and political consciousness, can we advance on our way to the political strengthening of our states, together with our European and American allies and strategic partners”, and that for this, the League unites us today and will unite us in any weather, he said at the end of his speech.
The complete speech of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti:
Your Excellency, Vjosa Osmani Sadriu, President of the Republic of Kosovo,
Your Excellency, Bajram Begaj, President of the Republic of Albania, and the first lady, Armanda Begaj,
Dear Mr. Glauk Konjufca, Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo,
The honorable Mr. Hajrulla Çeku, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports,
Honorable Minister of Economy, Mrs. Artane Rizvanolli,
Honorable Minister of the Interior, Mr. Xhelal Sveçla,
Honorable Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, Mrs. Emilija Rexhepi,
Dear representatives of the government cabinet,
Dear members of the Assembly of the Republic,
Dear attendees,
Ladies and gentleman,
The date of June 10 is a day that brings us back here to Prizren every year, to remember the Albanian League, which was founded in Prizren on June 10, 1878, exactly 145 years ago. From that day until today, going through different stages of their political history, Albanians have continuously returned and returned in body and mind to Prizren and to the League, to renew their political ties between themselves and with others.
But what was this relationship then when it started and what is it today that we are remembering?
A century and a half ago, Europe faced a new phase of what was called the Eastern Crisis, which generally involved wars and rivalries between the Ottoman Empire and the Great Powers of Europe. Among them, just like today, the Russian Empire was particularly problematic, which, after having managed to defeat the Ottoman Empire militarily, in 1878 imposed on it the Treaty of St. Stephen, through which large Pan-Slavic and pro-Russian states were foreseen in the Balkans. Alarmed by this great extent of direct Russian influence on the peninsula, Britain, Germany, Austria-Hungary, France and Italy organized a diplomatic congress in Berlin, where together with the Russians and the Ottomans they would revise their treaty.
On June 10, 1878, three days before the work of this international congress began in Berlin, wanting to precede it, about 300 representatives from all over Albania gathered in Prizren, at the Baraklije mosque, very close from here, to articulate their political will in the international sphere of time, regardless of province or religion. From that day on, they were gradually organized into a political organization known as the Albanian League, which also set up its own commissions for internal and external affairs, as well as for finance, before making its own troops armed and up to an executive body.
During the following four years, the Albanian League was very active on the one hand in protecting the Albanian territories from their surrender and occupation by the Balkan states, as well as on the other hand in engaging and advancing the rights and political positions of the Albanians in the Ottoman Empire with requests and goals for independence. The battles of the League with the Great Powers, with the Balkan states and with the Ottoman Empire, continued to be the same battles of the Albanians in the next three decades until 1912, when the Albanian state was proclaimed. Therefore, June 10 is in the same register of important dates as November 28 and February 17.
Therefore, June 10, 1878, is considered the beginning of a structured political journey of Albanians, which continues today. Therefore, every June 10, we come to Prizren to remember our League from the place where it was conceived and then came to life, to extend to the entire Albanian space and further forward in time until today.
Therefore, today we also have here the Presidents of our two republican states, Albania and Kosovo, to maintain the institutional leadership line of cultivating the ideals and political interests of the Albanian nation. Therefore, I am here myself, as the Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, to commemorate the political roots of the governance of the Albanians and to strengthen the ties of our government with the political philosophy of the Albanian League of Prizren.
Because we still have something to learn from Sami Frashëri’s political theories and Abdyl Frashëri’s diplomatic practice; from the assemblies of Ilaz Pashë Dibra and Ymer Prizren, as well as from the military organization of Sulejman Vokshi and Ali Pasha Gucia. Because our road today is their old road. At the time of the Albanian League of Prizren, Albanians aimed at joining forces and political advancement then, as we Albanians want today. We want rational management of economic resources, as well as capacity building today, as the Albanians of the time of the League wanted then. With Balkan neighbors around, the Ottoman Empire on top and the Great Powers in between, the political leaders and the Albanian people themselves at the time of the League defended their territories and political interests then, as we must do today.
With its historical and political importance, the League of Prizren has united us here as heads of institutions today, as the League had united the Albanians and their leadership then, right here.
By staying connected to each other and maintaining our ties to the political ideals of the Albanian League of Prizren, we maintain the sound political tradition of our daily engagement, to advance our political interests always as a European nation. Only bound together and faithfully around the League, as a mindset and political consciousness, can we advance on our way to the political strengthening of our states, together with our European and American allies and strategic partners.
For this, the League unites us today and will unite us every time!
Thank you!
