Pristina, 28November, 2022
From Madrid to Tirana, from Tirana to Kukës, from Kukës to Vlora, from Vlora to Pristina, these were my last three days. Yesterday and today in Albania, and tonight in Kosovo, we are celebrating November 28, this multifaceted holiday with multiple meanings of the Albanian nation.
November 28 is the date of Skanderbeg’s arrival in Kruja, with the red flag and the two-headed black vulture in the middle. November 28, is the date of Ismail Qemali in Vlora, the declaration of Albania’s independence on the eve of the Balkan wars and November 28, is the date of Adem Jashari in Prekaz, the uprising of the Kosovo Liberation Army, for freedom, independence and unification.
So, dear participants, Mrs. President Osmani, ministers and deputies, distinguished ambassadors, leaders of institutions, professors and intellectuals, artists and activists, journalists and sportsmen, ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you for sharing your time, someone from work and someone from vacation, to bring us together on such a special and important day for us.
Today we remember the achievements and successes, but today we also remember the price paid and the sacrifice made. The list of historical figures and personalities associated with November 28 is countless. The list of those women and men who sacrificed themselves contributed to us being and living, being free and living better.
The Republic of Albania and the Republic of Kosovo have a lot of history behind them, and many challenges ahead. But with unstoppable work and unyielding commitment, with unwavering European and Euro-Atlantic orientation, of course we will win together.
Albanians are a freedom-loving nation and a democratic people, they are a factor of peace, development and security in the Balkans and in Europe. We love our nation and hate no other nation. We guarantee the rights of national minorities, listen to their requests, respect their differences and address their needs.
We love our Albanian language very much, because we are a nation of languages and because Albanian is beautiful, but we also learn the languages of others, because we want cooperation with other nations and interaction with other cultures.
Our history is not one of conquests and domination of foreign lands, but of defense and resistance in our lands.
Our power has always stemmed from the right and justice.
We have never fought to conquer others, but only to free ourselves. Likewise, we will never work to exclude others, but only to advance ourselves.
We have greater opportunities than reality, so let’s improve reality by making good use of opportunities.
We love and defend the freedom we fought for with democracy and unity, with welfare and equality.
This year we celebrate the 110th anniversary of Albania’s independence, while next year we celebrate the 15th anniversary of the declaration of independence, the 25th anniversary of the Epic of the Kosovo Liberation Army, the 150th anniversary of the birth of Hasan Prishtina and the 80th anniversary of the Bujan Conference.
Happy November 28, forever! Meanwhile, tonight I wish you a pleasant evening with the magical voice of the “Zanat (Fairies)” quartet, to whom I thank sincerely.
Congratulations.
Last modified: November 29, 2022