Dear citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, congratulations on Liberation Day, congratulations on 25 years of freedom!
Honourable President Begaj,
Honourable Speaker Konjufca,
Honourable Prime Minister Kurti,
Honourable KSF Commander, Bashkim Jashari,
Honourable Excellencies, Ambassadors,
Guests from all over the world,
Honourable members of the KSF and of the Kosovo Police,
Families of martyrs,
Veterans and invalids of the Kosovo Liberation Army
Veterans of the allied forces who have served for 25 years in the KFOR mission in Kosovo
Once again, dear citizens who are present here today or who are following us through screens, including our extraordinary diaspora
Today we are together, as on every anniversary, to commemorate, but also to celebrate one of the most significant days in the history of our state – June 12th, Liberation Day.
On this day, we honor the bravery, sacrifice, and unwavering spirit of the people of Kosovo, a people who fought bravely for the freedom we enjoy today.
This is a day to remember our painful past, but also to celebrate our present and to aim for a future filled with hope and prosperity.
Our fight was not just ours. In Kosovo in 1999, the right of nations to be free was defended.
In this fight, the Kosovo Liberation Army was our strongest pillar of resistance and hope.
Brave women and men took up arms to defend our right to exist. Their fight was not just for the land, but for the very soul of Kosovo. Every battle they fought, every life they risked, brought us one step closer to freedom.
The courage of the Liberation Army is a story of heroism that will be told from generation to generation. They were the defenders of our dreams of freedom, the guardians of our common future.
Their sacrifice was infinite, their spirit was invincible.
We owe them a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid, but must be remembered and honoured forever.
They continued the path begun earlier by the peaceful resistance, led by the Historic President, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, and then followed by the armed struggle of the Kosovo Liberation Army, led by the Legendary Commander Adem Jashari and the entire Jashari family.
Eternal honour to the Jashari family and all the brave men who fought for freedom!
As is known, our journey to freedom was not a lone one. We were supported by steadfast allies who understood the importance of our cause and stood by us in the darkest hours of our history.
So, thank you to all the allied nations, led by the United States of America. Thank you for coming to our aid in 1999 to protect us from extermination by the genocidal regime of Serbia!
Thank you to Albania and all Albanians wherever they live, and to other nations that opened their doors and hearts to thousands forcibly displaced from Kosovo.
On June 12, 1999, KLA fighters and NATO soldiers turned fear, terror, pain, and tears into hope, making freedom a reality. Today, we celebrate not only our liberation, but also the bonds of friendship and solidarity that were forged throughout our struggle.
25 years later, we are building our National Security architecture in partnership with strategic allies – and we are doing so in order to take our rightful place as a reliable partner in the NATO alliance and all Euro-Atlantic structures.
Kosovo is our eternal homeland, to which we are always indebted, as our heroes did and as our brave leader, Adem Jashari, entrusted us.
Kosovo is independent, it is the legacy of our heroes and martyrs, best embodied in the brave men and women who will march in this parade of the KSF and the Police today and who have sworn to defend the homeland at all costs.
Dear Allies,
These forces that will parade today are forces of peace, they are in defense of peace, but they will be today and forever in defense of freedom washed with blood, they will be today and forever and at any cost and price in defense of Kosovo in every corner of it
May God bless Kosovo and all its people,
May God bless all our allies!
May God bless the Kosovo Army and Police!
Eternal glory to all those who fell for the freedom of our Homeland!
Congratulations, dear citizens, on June 12th, let us celebrate together, generation after generation!
Congratulations!
