Thank you very much!
Honourable President of the Republic of Albania, Mr. Bajram Begaj,
Speaker of the Parliament, Mr. Konjufca
Prime Minister of the Republic, Mr. Kurti
Honourable Madam Speaker of the Parliament, Mrs. Nikolla,
Honourable Former President of Switzerland, Mrs. Micheline Calmy-Rey
Former President of Croatia, Mr. Stipe Mesić,
Honourable Uncle Rifat Jashari, Jashari family, emblem of our freedom
Honourable Lord Robertson,
Honourable Ambassador Walker,
Honourable Former Croatian Minister,
Deputies and Ministers of the Republic of Kosovo,
Families of martyrs, veterans and invalids of the Kosovo Liberation Army,
Honourable families of martyrs and those who gave much for our freedom
Ambassadors of friendly countries,
Honourable participants,
Dear citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, congratulations, happy 25 years of freedom to all!
On June 12, 1999, when NATO forces stepped onto our soil, they were not just soldiers, they were saviours. They brought with them the promise of freedom, the assurance that the world had not forgotten the people of Kosovo, and the determination to end the atrocities committed against our people.
NATO’s entry into Kosovo in June 1999 was a testament to the power of international solidarity and the unwavering belief in the universal right of a people to be free.
Freedom is more than words, freedom is the very essence of our being. It is the air we breathe, it is the dream we dared to dream, it is the future we aspired to and for which our liberators fought and gave their lives.
The liberation of Kosovo in 1999 was not simply a military victory and a capitulation of Milosevic’s Serbia, it was above all a triumph of the human spirit over tyranny, a triumph of good over evil and a triumph of justice over oppression.
When the KFOR peacekeepers stepped onto the bloody, crushed, destroyed land of Kosovo, then the tears, screams and flowers turned into hugs that welcomed the NATO soldiers. They created a symphony of emotions of freedom.
The columns of military machinery, the noise of NATO helicopters, uniforms with many flags, flags that symbolized freedom and not hatred and violence. All of this became a symbol of the salvation of the people of Kosovo from the extermination aimed at by the genocidal regime of Serbia, removing once and for all the genocidal machinery of Milosevic, ashamed and capitulated. It remains so today.
NATO in Kosovo was a beacon of hope – it was a chance for justice, a chance for freedom!
The cries of our people, the relentless persecution and countless lives lost in horrific massacres, forced expulsions and ethnic cleansing were cries for justice that could no longer be ignored by the international conscience. Therefore, in June ’99, the walls of tyranny collapsed, paving the way not only for a free, but also an independent and democratic Kosovo.
On that day, nearly 38,000 soldiers from 36 countries communicated with the universal language of freedom.
On that day, as the French philosopher and writer, Glucksman said, “Europe was born in a free Prishtina”. And today we can say, Europe was born in a free Kosovo.
Therefore, on this day, we will always remember the tenacious resistance of the historic president, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova for freedom, independence and democracy as well as the powerful alliances he built together with many, many other activists which we still enjoy today.
We will remember every day of our lives, but also for the generations that come after us, the unrepeatable heroism of the legendary commander Adem Jashari and the entire Jashari family, who became the cornerstone of the freedom we enjoy today.
We will always live with the memory of all the martyrs of the Kosovo Liberation Army, and over 13 thousand killed during the war, among whom 1133 children killed in the last war in Kosovo alone.
We will never forget the pain caused by one of the most horrific crimes known to any war, the crime of rape, as well as the pain that still continues for thousands of families in Kosovo who still have nowhere to place flowers, because the graves are empty, in search of those who disappeared violently during the war.
Honourable guests,
Today we stand together on our land, on our free land, living with our glorious history, while the painful memories of the war, but also the feeling of the triumph of freedom are in the heart of every citizen of Kosovo.
The presence of the allies and peacekeepers was a testament to the world’s commitment to justice and human dignity. Each of them risked their lives, leaving behind their families and homes, to stand with us and with our liberators and with every citizen of Kosovo in our fight against extermination.
In Kosovo, the quest for freedom has been a long and arduous journey, in fact it was centuries-old. We have faced many difficulties and suffering, but throughout this time, we have remained steadfast in our belief that freedom is worth every sacrifice. The support of our allies was a powerful affirmation of this belief. It reminded us and the world that freedom is a right that, even once achieved, must be defended and preserved at all costs and at all costs.
This reminds us that alliances and partnerships with states are equally decisive in guaranteeing and maintaining the freedom we have gained, never taking it for granted.
Therefore, today, as we honour the NATO soldiers who contributed to our freedom in these 25 years, we honour above all, above all the stoicism of our people and our Liberation Army, with the full conviction that freedom is not a gift, but the highest price a people can pay was paid for it. And freedom is still a responsibility today, it is a legacy that we must protect and a promise that we must fulfil for this generation and every generation that will come after us.
NATO in 1999 gave us the final support for our freedom, so today we aim and deserve membership in this military organization with our army, which with its professionalism is ready to become a contributor to peace everywhere in the world.
Honourable President Begaj, dear Lindita, many honourable friends, well-wishers, supporters from all over the world, and above all from all Albanian lands.
On this 25th anniversary of the liberation of Kosovo, a day that Albanians everywhere dreamed of and not only dreamed of, but for which Albanians from Kosovo, but also from other regions around Kosovo, contributed and fought.
I would like to conclude with a quote from our great writer Ismail Kadare, with the words he said a few months ago when I awarded him the presidential medal. I quote: “Our very gathering in this hall of Albanians and friends from all areas shows this triumph of the Albanian nation. No people give up on this triumph. This is a triumph for the joy and for the future of a people.”
Therefore, Ladies and Gentlemen: The people of Kosovo will never, never and at any price give up the triumph of freedom.
May God bless our heroes and martyrs!
May God bless the friends and allies of Kosovo!
May God bless Kosovo and its people!
Thank you very much!
