Prishtina, 17 November, 2023
At the invitation of the Embassy of Belgium in Kosovo, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, participated last night in marking the 157th anniversary of the Belgian King’s Day.
This holiday has been celebrated since 1866 and is a day that honors the King of the Belgians and the history of the Kingdom of Belgium and its people.
In his address to the audience, Prime Minister Kurti said that Belgium holds a special place and role for our people, being the home of hundreds and thousands of patriots, who have worked continuously for the freedom and independence of the country.
And in this effort for freedom, Belgium appeared as a steadfast ally. It was one of the first countries to recognize Kosovo’s independence and its support continues to this day, as we work together to fulfill our country’s goals for membership in the European Union and NATO, the Prime Minister highlighted.
15 years after the establishment of diplomatic relations, the Prime Minister said that we are witnessing the deepening of political, cultural, economic and security ties, as he underlined that Belgium has been a crucial supporter of Kosovo in economic integration, contributing to the successful finalization of the liberalization process of visas and provided valuable assistance for the process of membership in the Council of Europe.
As an example of the strengthening of bilateral relations between Kosovo and Belgium, the Prime Minister took the advancement of its diplomatic presence in Kosovo. In September of this year, Belgium opened its full embassy in Kosovo and appointed Gregoire Cuvelier as its first ambassador to the Republic of Kosovo.
In addition to diplomatic relations, Prime Minister Kurti also spoke about the economic cooperation and partnership between Belgian and Kosovo businesses, which are yielding promising results.
Finally, on this day marked for the Kingdom of Belgium, he expressed his congratulations to King Philippe, Queen Mathilde, Princess Elisabeth, Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel and Princess Eleonore.
Prime Minister Kurti’s complete speech:
Your excellency, Ambassador Gregoire Cuvelier, Ambassador of Belgium,
Honourable madam Cuvelier,
Your excellency, Deputy Prime Minister and minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, madam Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz,
Dear present ambassadors,
Dear ministers of the Government and members of Parliament,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is an honor, and at the same time, a great pleasure, to speak here today on the occasion of King’s Feast, the day we celebrate the King of the Belgians and the Belgian people—one of Kosova’s close and long-time friends and allies.
The King’s Feast, celebrated in Belgium since 1866, is a day honoring the King of Belgians, as well as the history of the Kingdom of Belgium, and, through this, inevitably, the history of the Belgian people.
Kosova and its people can relate to this tradition, as we understand all too well how important it is to remember and cultivate the past and cherish the institutions that help build society and the state, aiding in its growth and development to achieve its highest ambition.
Our Belgian friends can rightfully take pride in their country’s distinguished position as a founding member of the European Union and NATO. The city of Brussels stands as a symbol of Europe and the Euro-Atlantic alliance, bearing witness to centuries of Belgium’s central role in European politics, economics, and culture. Belgium serves not only as a historical anchor but also as a visionary guide for the European future that Kosova ardently pursues.
Belgium holds a special place in our hearts also because it offered a home to hundreds and thousands of patriots who worked tirelessly for our liberty and independence during times of exile.
In our quest for freedom, Belgium emerged as a steadfast ally—a nation championing freedom and democratic values that stood by us during the struggles of liberation, war, and the subsequent years of rebuilding. Belgium was among the first to recognize Kosova’s independence, displaying unwavering support that continues to this day as we work towards fulfilling our aspirations for EU and NATO membership. While we have a journey ahead of us, we are confident that, united with Belgium and our Western allies, we will attain our goals.
I am pleased to report that the diplomatic relations between our two nations are flourishing. As we celebrate the 15th anniversary of our diplomatic ties, we witness a deepening connection in politics, culture, economy, security, and various other fields. Belgium has been a crucial supporter of our European integration process, contributing to the completion of our visa liberalization process and providing invaluable assistance for our Council of Europe membership and our strategic goals of EU and NATO memberships.
Bilaterally, our collaboration is expanding, with several significant bilateral agreements already in place and more in progress. The integrated diaspora in Belgium, contributing positively to all aspects of Belgian life, further strengthens the bond between our nations. Additionally, economic cooperation and partnerships between Belgian and Kosovar businesses are yielding promising results.
Looking towards the future, I am delighted to announce that Belgium has demonstrated its commitment by upgrading its diplomatic presence in Kosova. Since September, we have welcomed the opening of a fully-fledged Embassy, and His Excellency Gregoire Cuvelier has been appointed as the first ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to the Republic of Kosova. This noteworthy development instills confidence that our relationship will continue to thrive in the coming years.
And from my experience and other politician’s experience here in Kosova, we feel of Brussels as a triple capital town: as capital of Kindom of Belgium, but also capital of NATO and European Union. Every time I go to Brussels for the high level meetings of Dialogue of Normalization, I make sure that beforehand I try some Belgian chocolates, and afterwards some Belgian.
In conclusion, as we extend our warmest wishes to King Philippe, Queen Mathilde, Princess Elisabeth, Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel, and Princess Eleonore, let us raise a glass in their honor.
May their health and prosperity be steadfast, and may the bonds of friendship between Kosova and Belgium continue to flourish!
Cheers.
Last modified: November 20, 2023