Pristina, February 17, 2024
Your Excellency, Mrs. Vjosa Osmani Sadriu, President of the Republic of Kosovo,
Honorable Mr Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo Mr. Glauk Konjufca,
Dear members of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo,
Deputy Prime Minister and Government Minister,
Excellency Ambassadors and and international friends,
Dear families of the martyrs,
Honorable leaders and representatives of state institutions,
Honorable religious leaders,
Dear citizens of Kosovo,
Ladies and gentleman,
Today yet again, like every year, we gather to celebrate Kosovo’s independence day. With its 16 years on its shoulders, the Republic of Kosovo is the youngest in the region, the youngest as a seven-year-old state, but with mature awareness, as much as the awareness of the states older than it.
Because the Republic of Kosovo was already matured in 2008, like the fulfillment of a popular aspiration rooted for many years and decades. Kosovo has been prematurely matured by rebellions for the unification of provinces and the independence of Albania; it has been matured by our people’s resistance to successive waves of invasions and genocides.
Her time had come in 1981, when the people of her state filled the squares and faced tanks shouting “Kosovo Republic!”. Kosovo became a republic with a Constitution at the Assembly of Kaçanik, to be fought for with peaceful demonstrations and protests, and with the freedom guns of the Kosovo Liberation Army. With the sacrifices made for the idea of the republic, our people in Kosovo won the sympathy of democratic and progressive states, who supported them in 1999. In 2008, there was no longer any doubt among the community of democratic countries that the Republic of Kosovo would come into existence, but it was being discussed that it would come in such a form that was also acceptable to its greatest enemy, the Serbian state which wanted to stifle also the idea of the Albanian state.
Dear citizens of the Republic!
It is clear to all of us that if Serbian state had felt even slightly responsible for the genocide in Kosovo, if reason had prevailed over chauvinistic revenge in its politics, it should have recognized Kosovo as early as 2008. The Republic of Kosovo guarantees the broadest rights for minorities in our region, particularly for the Serbs, who benefit and contribute to our shared state.
Meanwhile, Albanians in the Presheva Valley are the most discriminated minority in Europe, who are still being subjected to cleansing through so-called “passive address deactivation”. It is with regret and misfortune that our northern neighbor has chosen the path of confrontation and obstruction of the internal function of our republic and its recognition abroad.
It initially rejected the Franco-German proposal and continues to refuse to sign the Basic Agreement for the normalization of relations with Kosovo, which brings good European neighborliness.
Instead, it even embraced terrorism.
There too it failed shamefully, in the face of the heroism and professionalism of our police. However, for the protection of our republic from terrorists financed, trained and instructed by Serbia, we had to have martyrs fallen again. Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku is added to the constellation of our martyrs. Without their sublime sacrifice, we would not be commemorating the anniversary of the republic today. Glory to the martyrs! The Republic will never forget you!
Honoured members of the Assembly and other participants in this meeting on the marked day of February 17!
We all can manage our Republic, each and every one of us, together! The Republic, as conceived 125 years ago by patriot Sami Frashëri in his political manifesto, is necessary for protection and development. We do not negotiate our existence, our freedom, and our right to protection and development, so every day as the government of Kosovo we take measures to build a legal state, to strengthen democracy and accountability, to include and assist all citizens regardless of ethnicity or gender. Kosovo has recently made significant progress in defense and security, in respecting the law, and in strengthening a social state that addresses the needs of its citizens, so that they are given the opportunity to live with dignity. Since January 1 of this year, our citizens move visa-free in the Schengen zone, enhancing relations with our large diaspora that has contributed so much to our state.
Kosovo ranks among the successful democracies in the region, while other countries have regressed by restricting citizen freedoms and threatening other countries in the region. Kosovo remains committed to the Berlin Process, the Growth Plan, and will continue working with our Western allies and partners towards the goal of NATO and European Union membership. Particularly, Kosovo’s membership in NATO is imperative to ensure our state’s sovereignty and to prevent Russian influences in our region. Cooperation with Albania will increase, and the Government of Kosovo remains committed to implementing agreements between our two states. Kosovo stands with North Macedonia and Montenegro, neighboring countries with which we share the same values. We believe that Albanian citizens in these countries will be a factor for peace, justice, democracy, and alliance with the West.
According to World Bank forecasts, our Republic is expected to have the highest economic growth in the region in 2024. We will boost developmental projects and social support for a good life in a democratic Republic.
On the 16th anniversary of independence, we thank the United States of America, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Turkey and other member states of the European Union and NATO. We thank all 117 states that recognize our independence across the globe: from Canada to Australia and New Zealand, from Japan to Panama and Peru. We especially thank Albania, all its people, state authorities and party organizations, and political and social leaderships. We thank the political parties of Kosovo, here in parliament and those outside, national minorities (i.e., Serbs, Bosniaks, Turks, Ashkalis, Roma, Egyptians, and Gorani) and non-governmental organizations (i.e., civil society and the media), religious clergy, and all professionals in our country for their contribution to our Republic.
With its 16 years, the republic enjoys vitality and beauty, and we will do everything so that it thrives and beautifies further in the future, because all of us, as a people and as institutions, are determined to stand up for our Kosovo!
Congratulations!
Thank you!
Last modified: February 21, 2024