Honourable participants,
Honourable activists,
Families of the heroes of the Kosovo Liberation Army,
Associations emerging from the war,
Honourable mayors, MP’s, representatives of institutions, personalities who have contributed to the freedom and independence of Kosovo,
The homeland is not only the place where we are born, but it is a calling that follows us throughout our lives, a responsibility that requires dedication, sacrifice and willingness to give the best of ourselves each and every day.
The Republic of Kosovo is an unbroken stream of generations, of those who gave everything without sparing and those who, even today, shoulder the task of moving our country forward, keeping it alive and making it even stronger.
At the heart of this effort lies our freedom itself, not only as an acquired right, but as a deep feeling, immanent to the human being.
Here the state takes on meaning, as the highest expression of our common will to live freely, not simply as an institution, but as a common responsibility to live freely. Not simply as an institution but also as a commitment to strengthen it, to make it more just, more sustainable and more worthy of the sacrifice on which it was built.
The month of March, in which this ceremony of bestowing of awards is being held, is a heavy bearing month in our history. It is a month of remembrance and reflection, where almost every day brings us back to painful events, to the massacres committed by the Serbian genocidal regime against our people. But at the same time, it is also a month that proves the resilience, resistance and determination to never surrender. It is a month of pride for the bravery and heroism shown by entire generations, so that we today are free, in our independent and democratic state.
The awards that are bestowed are, in addition to gratitude, also a testament to sacrifice and courage, a testament to our people, who never bowed, surrendered or gave up on freedom, a testament to the toil, sweat and commitment of entire generations, who gave everything for our beloved state.
Therefore, our honor will begin with the heroes of the Kosovo Liberation Army, those who made the highest sacrifice, giving their lives for freedom. They fought for our dignity and for the right to live freely, they are the foundation of our state, so eternal honor belongs to them.
But, our freedom was not built only on the battlefield, despite the fact that it was the battlefield that built its foundations. It was also built by many sons and daughters of this country, who worked with knowledge, civic courage and professional dedication, establishing strong pillars on which the progress of our state rests today. Therefore, some of the decorations are dedicated to the contribution to freedom and independence and will be given to those who committed themselves to this state in the most crucial times.
Today we will also honor the doyen doctors, who at impossible circumstances saved lives and preserved humanity in inhumane times. We will honour the women leaders, who kept society alive and became the pillar of our resistance by breaking barriers in areas where in the past only men dominated. We will also honor journalists and photojournalists, who documented the truth and showed the world the reality of Kosovo, making our voice heard beyond borders.
We honour the activists, at home and abroad, who raised their voices for freedom and justice. In particular, we must appreciate the extraordinary role of our diaspora in the United States of America, in European countries and as far away as Australia, who, with their political, financial and social commitment, kept our cause alive and strongly helped on the path towards freedom and state-building.
Today we also honor those who contributed to state-building, professionals, intellectuals and public servants, champions of human rights and fundamental freedoms, who even after the war worked with dedication to building institutions and consolidating our state and making this state a state where everyone feels valued and equal. Their contribution continues today, in strengthening democracy and developing our country.
However, we must be clear that there are still many people whose contribution has not been sufficiently recognized. Over the past five years, I have had the honour of bestowing awards to many personalities who were wronged in the past, honouring many sacrifices that were previously forgotten, and bringing attention to many categories of our citizens who have contributed immensely to our country. It was a great honor that I awarded the first medal to Uncle Rifat Jashari, precisely on November 28th 2020, and that we conclude with all of you today, based on the proposals that have come from many of you, including deputies and mayors, as well as based on the assessment by the professional commission. We understand that there are many more personalities who deserve the decoration and who from now on, after April 4, will be reviewed by the next Presidency.
Our history is built from many sacrifices, so our duty is to recognize and appreciate them all, because only in this way can we build a just and honest society.
And since, so far, I have spoken about many of the personalities who have given their lives, but also their contribution to the freedom and independence of Kosovo, to state-building and to the strengthening of institutions, we must also appreciate those who are giving hope to the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo today.
So, regardless of the result of tomorrow’s Kosovo-Turkey match, the national team of the Republic of Kosovo has already made history. Therefore, I have the honor to announce to you that precisely for this immeasurable contribution, for the pride they have given to the country at every moment and for the hope they are giving to this people in the steps forward,
The Presidential Medal of Merit immediately after tomorrow’s victory, but as I said, regardless of that result, will also be awarded to the national team of our Republic.
These awards are not the end of a story, but its continuation, they are a reminder that freedom requires vigilance, that the state requires incessant work, and that the homeland requires dedication each and every day. We have no right to tire, we have no right to forget and above all, we have no right to stop! Because, those before us worked, did not stop and did not give up in circumstances much more difficult than those in which we work today.
And our history, no matter how painful, is also proof of the strength of our people and nation to move forward.
We must always keep in mind that the homeland is not built only by those who gave everything yesterday, but also by those who give every day today and never stop for its future, so that we can make this country worthy of the sacrifice of our fallen, martyrs and heroes.
Thank you very much to everyone!
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