On the second day of her visit to Portugal, the President of the Republic of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani was received by the Portuguese Armed Forces, at the place from where the Portuguese forces joined the NATO intervention in Kosovo in 1999. At the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense, President Osmani met with the Minister of Defense João Gomes Cravinho, the Chief of the Armed Forces of Portugal, Admiral Silva Ribeiro, the Chief of the Navy, Admiral Mendes Calado, the Chief of Army General Nunes da Fonseca and the Chief of the Air Force General Joaquim Borrego. At the meeting, President Osmani thanked Portugal which in 1999 was part of the NATO intervention in Kosovo. This state's army was part of the KFOR mission in Kosovo with a contribution of about six thousand soldiers.
According to Madam President, Kosovo is again in need of help from friendly countries like Portugal.
“From the position of supreme commander of the Kosovo Army, I tell you that we need your help again. This time not to save our lives, but to build partnerships with our military. The Kosovo Security Force is expanding its capabilities and is in the process of transformation. Our soldiers have just returned from the first peacekeeping mission with the US Army in Kuwait. I have full confidence that our army can greatly benefit from the experience of your army. In addition to cooperation in the military field, in the near future, I want to see our forces alongside your forces in NATO. “This alliance is our goal and our strategic interest,” said President Osmani.
At this reception, motivated by their contribution to the freedom and peace in Kosovo, President Osmani awarded the Presidential Military Medal to the Portuguese peacekeepers who participated in the mission in Kosovo from 1999 to 2017.