Madam President: Four years as President, eternal oath for Kosovo!
On her fourth anniversary at the helm of the institution, President Osmani wrote: Each and every day, before all else, Kosovo! Four years in the service of citizens. Four years for the Republic! Four years as President, eternal oath for Kosovo!
President Osmani met with the President of Croatia, Zoran Milanović: Croatia remains a valuable ally of Kosovo in the field of defense and regional security
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, who is currently in Bulgaria representing the Republic of Kosovo alongside other leaders at the High-Level Meeting of the Aqaba Process for the Balkans III, met with the President of Croatia, Zoran Milanović. President Osmani wrote: Croatia remains a valuable ally of Kosovo in the field of defense and regional security. Today in Sofia I met with the friend and strong supporter of Kosovo, the President of Croatia Zoran Milanović, to whom I conveyed my warmest congratulations on his re-election to this position. We cooperate with Croatia in defense, in the economy and in every other field, because our relationship is based on mutual trust. With friends like Croatia, Kosovo grows stronger each and every day.
President Osmani represents Kosovo at the Aqaba Process Meeting, at the invitation of the King of Jordan and the President of Bulgaria
The President of the Republic of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani, at the invitation of the King of Jordan Abdullah II, and the President of Bulgaria Rumen Radev, has travelled to Bulgaria, to represent the Republic of Kosovo alongside other leaders at the Aqaba Process Balkans III High-Level Meeting, which will be held in Sofia. As part of the visit to Sofia, President Osmani will deliver a speech at the opening of the Summit and will hold separate bilateral meetings with some of the participating leaders. During these meetings, the expansion of bilateral relations, the advancement of cooperation in the field of security and the strengthening of joint efforts for regional stability will be discussed. This meeting is organized under the patronage of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Republic of Bulgaria and aims to strengthen regional and international cooperation in the fight against terrorism and extremism. The Aqaba Process, initiated by King Abdullah II of Jordan in 2015, has played a key role in coordinating global efforts against terrorism and addressing security challenges. President Osmani will emphasize Kosovo’s successful engagement in the fight against terrorism and radicalism, as well as the importance of close cooperation with allies and strategic partners. In this context, she will reaffirm Kosovo’s commitment to regional security and to strengthening the capacities of its security institutions in line with Euro-Atlantic standards.
President Osmani received Kosovo’s first Olympic champion Majlinda Kelmendi
The President of the Republic of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani, received today Kosovo’s first Olympic champion, Majlinda Kelmendi. President Osmani wrote: Today at the Presidency with Kosovo’s first Olympic champion and the permanent champion of our hearts, Majlinda Kelmendi! A name that makes us proud in the world arena and that continues to inspire us each and every day, not only every citizen of Kosovo, but also millions of world athletes. An example that should be followed with unparalleled work and dedication and who raised our flag on the highest pedestal!
President Osmani received the credentials of the new Ambassador of El Salvador to Kosovo, Rhina Bardi
The President of the Republic of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani, received today the Ambassador of El Salvador to Kosovo Rhina Bardi, on the occasion of the presentation of her letters of credence. During the meeting, President Osmani congratulated Ambassador Bardi on her appointment and expressed gratitude for El Salvador’s continued support to Kosovo. President Osmani recalled her visit to El Salvador last year on the occasion of the presidential inauguration, expressing admiration for the progress of this country. She emphasized Kosovo’s commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation and strengthening ties in various fields. Praising the leadership of President Nayib Bukele, President Osmani highlighted El Salvador’s extraordinary progress in security, economic growth and development of the tourism sector. She highlighted how Kosovo and El Salvador are ranked among the safest countries in the world, thus increasing their attractiveness for investment and tourism. In this regard, opportunities for cooperation were identified in the sectors of information technology, innovation, economy, defense, education and tourism. President Osmani stressed the importance of promoting private sector investments, encouraging entrepreneurship and organizing economic forums to bring businesses and institutions of both countries closer together.
President Osmani’s address at the BIRN Kosovo event on International Fact-Checking Day, during which a report was also published on the impact of hate speech and disinformation during the February 9th 2025 election campaign
Thank you Jeta, Honourable Ambassador Orav, Honourable Ambassadors of amicable countries, Honourable representatives of the media, institutions and civil society, Truth is democracy’s strongest weapon, it has always been, and remains so today. Therefore, when truth is attacked, freedom itself is attacked, the very democratic values on which our state was built with great effort and sacrifice are attacked. At a time when information circulates at an extraordinary speed, fact-checking is no longer just a duty of the journalists, but has become an obligation of the entire society, respectively a vital need for our state. This is because without the truth, there can never be a genuine democracy. Without the truth, our decision-making remains uncertain, trust between citizens and institutions weakens, and above all, the space for disinformation and manipulation expands, which can lead to extremely great risks. In the era in which we live, fake news can spread faster than the truth. Therefore, this is not only a challenge, but a real danger for the stability of our state, for our integrity as a state, for democracy but above all for national security. Precisely for this reason, fact-checking must become a daily standard, which each of us applies. Today, anyone can claim to be a journalist. The concept of citizen journalism exposes us to the risk of being constantly targeted by untruths. Civic journalism, aided by the exceptional technological development, including developments in AI, has made fact-checking more difficult and challenging than ever before. Anyone with a phone can publish something in an instant, without any editorial filter, without any professional standards and above all without even the minimum of professional ethics. Artificial intelligence, social media algorithms and fast communication platforms often give priority to sensationalism over truth. This has created a suitable terrain for disinformation, especially from malicious forces coming from outside our country, making it even easier to manipulate public opinion. We must not allow ourselves to be manipulated, because without the truth, we can never have a genuine democracy and a successful society. In the context of the changing global security architecture in the world, today disinformation is not simply a propaganda tool, but a weapon of hybrid warfare that aims to undermine legitimate institutions, weaken public trust and create uncertainty in decision-making, which, I return to, endanger the national security of our country. Therefore, when disinformation is directly related to the state and the main pillars of the state, it is no longer just an attack on certain individuals, but on the state itself and the pillars on which that state stands and on its own security. Such hybrid warfare is also greatly aided by hate speech, which is closely related to the failure to verify facts, since it often stems from disinformation and the deliberate manipulation of reality, and women are often the most attacked in this regard. The spread of disinformation creates a false perception. Such a situation is exploited by those who aim to destabilize, using a divisive discourse that incites hatred and violence. In this manner, the failure to verify facts is not only a challenge for journalism, but it is a catalyst that then creates social polarization and internal conflicts. Our state, together with the contribution of each one of you, is built on the values of democracy, truth, which as Jeta mentioned precisely because it was defended and said during the most difficult times of our history brought us freedom, but is also the result of the values of transparency. However, these values cannot be protected by institutions alone, but require collective responsibility and the work of each and every one. Therefore, today, more than ever, we must join forces. To work with professional media that serve the truth. In the context of state security, the failure to verify facts is not simply an ethical or professional problem of the media, but becomes a serious threat to the state. It is everyone’s duty to defend the truth as a shield against these threats and destabilizing strategies, which aim to turn our state into a failed state. Foreign actors, especially Russia and Serbia, as you know, have actively promoted disinformation and divisive narratives to undermine credibility in democratic processes in Kosovo. Russian-backed media, such as Sputnik, RT, etc., have played a role in spreading disinformation about the electoral integrity of Kosovo and in stoking tensions in our region. Therefore, we need not only state vigilance, but also societal vigilance. We all need to be guardians of fact-checking. We must not stop verifying. Verification, verification and confirmation of verification, so that we do not fall prey to these malicious tendencies in any situation. We also need aware citizens, and everyone can contribute here through platforms like yours, so that they do not fall prey to misinformation, but seek out reliable sources and verify information before sharing it. Freedom of expression is one of the pillars of fundamental rights and freedoms, protected by the Constitution. However, it is not unlimited and it is not absolute, as our Constitution itself states, which indicates in which cases freedom of expression can be limited. It is not freedom of expression to call for murder, it is not freedom of expression to call for violence, it is not freedom of expression to demand that someone be killed with a bullet in the forehead, it is not freedom of expression to incite hatred, it is not freedom of expression to endanger national security based on disinformation, the national security of this state to which each of you has contributed, our common state, is not freedom of expression. Calling for murder is a crime, it is a criminal offense, not freedom of expression. Calling for a woman to be raped because she begged, because she wanted a bullet in her forehead is a crime, it is incitement to kill another woman, it is not freedom of expression. Inciting hatred in any democratic state and inciting violence in any democratic state are not freedom of expression.
President Osmani commemorates the 26th anniversary of the Vejsa family massacre
26 years ago, in the basement of the Vejsa family home, one of the most horrific crimes of the Serbian genocidal regime occured. 20 women, children and a man – are the victims, who were brutally murdered and then burned, in a heartless act that aimed to extinguish not only people, but also their memory. But memory does not fade. Their names remain engraved in the history of Kosovo as a testament to our collective pain and the strength to seek justice. The Vejsa, Caka, Haxhiavdija, Nuqi, Hoxha and Gashi families were not simply victims of a criminal regime, but witnesses of the courage and sacrifice that today inspires our commitment to truth and justice. On this anniversary, we bow respectfully before their memory and reiterate our call: Everyone who ordered and committed these crimes must be punished. The pain remains, but with it our commitment that these crimes will never be forgotten. Glory to their memory!
President Osmani receives UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy
The President of the Republic of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani, received today the UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy. President Osmani wrote: In a meeting with the UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, a valued friend of Kosovo, I proposed an advanced strategic agreement in the field of defense and economy, which was welcomed by Secretary Lammy. We also discussed the unwavering British support for Kosovo’s sovereignty and independence, regional security, dialogue with Serbia, economic cooperation and Euro-Atlantic integration. We are committed to concretizing this partnership and further strengthening our alliance with the United Kingdom. Kosovo remains committed to strengthening democracy, the rule of law and protection of the peace, with the support of our strategic allies.
President Osmani’s pronouncement regarding the constitutive session
This depends entirely on the members of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo. As President, my constitutional responsibilities are to convene this constitutive session. I believe that from the day of certification of the results until the moment when the constitutive session is held, there is already enough time for the political parties to conduct the necessary discussions, as well as for the organizers of the constitutive session. As you know, the Assembly must make a series of registrations and technical preparations, there is enough time. I wish success to the political parties, I wish success to the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo so that that process goes as well as possible and that the constitution is carried out on that date. However, as you know, as President, I do not have the right to vote, and despite the fact that in the past there may have been Presidents who have interfered in coalition issues, I consider those party issues, which according to the Constitution are not my duty. But, I am confident that the relevant institutions, in this case the members of the Assembly of Kosovo, will do their best to make this a successful session. Are you calling for the establishment of institutions not to be delayed, because even Mr. Lammy said that a government is urgently needed for the sake of cooperation? It is important for the citizens of Kosovo, but you are seeing geopolitical developments, it is not that the globe is waiting for us. Therefore, it is important that as soon as possible, but still within the constitutional deadlines, we first have the constitution of the Assembly, which is the first step, and then the government of the Republic of Kosovo. A functional Assembly, which also carries out the work of supervision in relation to the government, because Kosovo has a lot of work to do. Therefore, once again I want to wish success to the members of the Assembly of Kosovo, who are the only ones who have the right to vote that day after the oath, with the hope that the constitution will be successful.
Press statement by the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, and the United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary,David Lammy
