The President: To Kadare, the freedom of Kosovo was a triumph of the Albanian nation
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, paid tribute to the writer Ismail Kadare. Below is President Osmani’s full post: With a heavy heart we said farewell to the outstanding writer and the inimitable colossus, whose words transcended borders, cultures and time. For decades, Ismail Kadare’s works illuminated the darkest corners of history and the human spirit. His ability to weave history, myth and reality made his voice one of the most unique and powerful in contemporary literature. For this, we are forever grateful for the works he bequeathed to us. To him, the freedom of Kosovo was a triumph of the Albanian nation. To the Albanian nation on the other hand, the very existence and work of Ismail Kadare is a triumph of culture over ignorance and freedom over dictatorship. Farewell to thee o titan of literature, Ismail Kadare!
President Osmani met with the head of the OSCE mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Michael Davenport
The President of the Republic of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani received today the head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission in Kosovo Ambassador Michael Davenport. The latest developments in the country as well as the work carried out by the OSCE in Kosovo, which this year marks its 25th anniversary, were discussed at the meeting. In this regard, President Osmani conveyed her congratulations on this important anniversary, underlining the commitment of this organization in support of efforts to strengthen democracy, human rights and the rule of law, on which Kosovo is showing continuous progress. During the meeting, a number of laws which are being reviewed by the Assembly of Kosovo were discussed, as well as the importance of those laws being in accordance with international standards on human rights. At the meeting, President Osmani and Ambassador Davenport discussed among other things the results of the OSCE report which confirms that the number of inter-ethnic conflicts is constantly decreasing. On this occasion, Madam President emphasized full commitment to the complete elimination of such cases.
The President: The Constitutional Declaration of July 2nd 1990 was the starting point towards the realization of the long-awaited idea of Kosovo as an independent state
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, met the delegates of the Constitutional Declaration of July 2, 1990. President Osmani’s full post: The Constitutional Declaration of July 2nd 1990 was the starting point towards the realization of the long-held idea of Kosovo as an independent state. Today, on this anniversary, I had the honor to meet some of the delegates of that time, whose courage and determination marked a historic act, through which the foundations were laid for today’s reality – the independent and sovereign Republic of Kosovo.
President Osmani declares Wednesday a day of state mourning
The President of the Republic of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani, pursuant to the Constitution of Kosovo, has decided that Wednesday, July 3rd 2024, will be declared a day of state mourning, in honour of the late colossus of Albanian letters, the world-famous Albanian writer Ismail Kadare. The state mourning will be observed all day on Wednesday, the day when the late Ismail Kadare will be buried, and the State Protocol is tasked with undertaking all the necessary acts in the implementation of this decision. President Osmani, in June of last year, bestowed the writer Ismail Kadare with the “Hasan Prishtina” Order, among the highest Orders given by the Republic of Kosovo to the most outstanding personalities of the nation. Meanwhile, in August, Madam President announced via a decree that the world-famous Albanian writer Ismail Kadare was granted the citizenship of the Republic of Kosovo.
President Vjosa Osmani received the Ambassador of Türkiye to Kosovo Sabri Tunç Angılı
The President of the Republic of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani received today the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Kosovo, Sabri Tunç Angılı. The latest developments in the country, as well as Kosovo-Turkey bilateral relations were discussed at the meeting. President Osmani emphasized the commitment of the Republic of Kosovo to the intensification of cooperation with Turkey in various fields, including the fields of economy, defense and foreign policy. President Osmani also emphasized the important role of the Turkish community in Kosovo. President Osmani and Ambassador Tunç Angılı also discussed Kosovo’s membership in international organizations, with Madam President thanking Türkiye for its continuous support.
The President of the Republic of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani received today in a regular meeting the US Ambassador Jeffrey Hovenier
The President of the Republic of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani received today in a regular meeting the ambassador of the United States of America, Jeffrey Hovenier. The latest developments in the country, including developments in the dialogue with Serbia were discussed at the meeting. In this regard, President Osmani reiterated the importance of lifting the measures in order to create an equal position at the dialogue table. President Osmani and Ambassador Hovenier also discussed the coordination of President Osmani’s international agenda. On the eve of July 4th, the US Independence Day, Madam President conveyed her best wishes to the American people, reaffirming Kosovo’s commitment to the continuous strengthening of the alliance with the United States.
President Osmani: Slovenia is an unwavering ally and supporter of our Euro-Atlantic future
The President of the Republic of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani received the Speaker of the National Assembly of Slovenia, Urška Klakočar Zupančič. The importance of excellent relations between the two countries, confirming readiness for their further advancement was discussed at the meeting. During the meeting, President Osmani expressed her deep appreciation for Slovenia’s steadfast support in Kosovo’s path to freedom, independence and state building. According to President Osmani, Slovenia is a strong friend and ally of Kosovo, and expressed her gratitude for Slovenia’s continuous support in strengthening Kosovo’s international position. “Slovenia and Kosovo have a strong bond and we are committed to working together to address common challenges and take advantage of the many opportunities for cooperation. Through cooperation, we can achieve our common goals and to contribute to the maintenance of stability and prosperity in our region and beyond” emphasized President Osmani. According to Madam President, Kosovo is a positive example in the region with progress in the field of the rule of law, the fight against corruption and organized crime, transparency, good governance and respect for human rights. President Osmani added that the goal of Kosovo’s foreign policy remains focused on strengthening the international position and membership in international organizations, in which case she also emphasized the important role of parliamentary diplomacy. In this line, President Osmani laid out the need for continued Slovenian support for Kosovo’s membership in the EU, NATO, as well as in international organizations. The importance of inter-parliamentary cooperation of friendship groups between the two parliaments and mutual exchange of experiences was also discussed. Discussions also focused on a wide range of topics, including increasing cooperation in the field of economy, information technology, women and youth empowerment and so on.
Madam President’s condolences on the passing away of Ismail Kadare
In human history, writers have often guided nations through the most difficult moments of history, articulating the idea of freedom. Ismail Kadare was the Albanian genius, man and writer who devoted his whole life and work to the love of the land, the blood and the country of the Albanians, creating an irresistible legacy of worship and glory for the country of his nation. With this love, which he expressed everywhere in his work, he presented the values of his people around the world, promoting the Albanian language, culture and literature and the Albanian people themselves, while he defended all over the world the right of the Albanian people of Kosovo to live free and independent, in intellectual and cultural circles, in political environments and in his correspondence with prominent world personalities. The people of Kosovo, like the entire Albanian people, are in mourning today. It has lost the colossus and the most famous Albanian scholar, he lost the unstoppable supporter of the right of the Albanian people in Kosovo to live free and unencumbered and the unstoppable promoter of this right all around the globe. It lost the inimitable writer, to whom as President I had the honour to hand over the citizenship of Kosovo some time ago and bestow the “Hasan Prishtina” Order. For decades, he artistically and intellectually nurtured the feeling of freedom, making us, the Kosovar Albanians, better understand the extent of freedom and covet it eternally. His passing into the afterlife marks his physical separation from us, but he will remain permanently in the hearts and souls of millions of readers and admirers of his work, in the hearts and souls of every Albanian, the nation he served until his last breath. Glory to the life and deeds of the colossus Ismail Kadare.
Personal notes of a wartime child on democracy
When you’ve known darkness and complete devastation, there’s a burning drive inside you that keeps you going as you hope for better, brighter, more promising days. Unfortunately, in every era, democracy has been tested by the forces of tyranny and oppression and by those who seek to undermine its transformative power. Yet, democracy always endures. It becomes more resilient and robust because at its core, democracy is about the spirit of the people. It’s about their dreams, their aspirations. One of the youngest democracies in the world, the Republic of Kosovo, recently marked 16 years of independence. Young yet resilient, Kosovo continues to demonstrate how a people’s fortune can be transformed when they are afforded a path to independence, freedom and democracy. From 1989, when the Milosevic regime abolished all of the constitutional rights of the people of Kosovo, we faced unimaginable violations of our basic human rights. All our freedoms, from our right to education to our right to work, were stripped away, in an attempt to destroy us as a people. I was only 7 years old when this started, and just like all of the other kids in Kosovo, had to live through these difficult times, including the horrors of a genocidal war waged against my people in 1998-1999 by the Milosevic regime. Democracy seemed like a distant dream then, but certainly one that was worth fighting for with every fiber of our being. As I’d try hard to navigate through this harsh reality, I would always remember the expression that defined my upbringing: “Remember, times might not always be easy, but as long as you carry on, democracy will carry on too. Democracy lives in you.” With this in mind, I always felt personally responsible to carry on and to make sure that I encourage everyone around me to do the same. Today, I am the President of Kosovo, the second woman in history to hold that office. But back then, we knew too well what the opposite of democracy brings. From a young age, our experience of living under the Milosevic regime, where your day to day rights were continuously undermined, taught me the value of democracy and the pain of its absence. Democracy meant freedom. You wanted to be a part of it. You wanted to contribute to it. You certainly wanted to make sure it carries on. If you stood up for democracy, you stood up for what you thought was right. For us, there was no halfway house to democracy and freedom. Emerging from the ashes of a war, Kosovo’s journey was indeed challenging. However, our path was always illuminated by the unwavering aspiration and commitment to peace, equality and prosperity. Being nothing short of the most existential ingredient to a successful, thriving and evolving society, democracy stands firmly as the antidote to tyranny, the bulwark against oppression, and the guarantor of our most cherished and valuable freedoms. It is not merely the best system of governance that humanity has known, but it embodies the very essence of who we are as a people. It is a way of life—a way of life that empowers us to shape our own destiny and to build a better future for all. It is therefore that, to the people of Kosovo, democracy was always the sole answer and the only choice. Even in our darkest times, it was in the pursuit of democratic values that we found solace. There is no chapter of our modern history that is not defined by the relentless pursuit for more democracy. Stronger democracy. Resilient democracy. The history of Kosovo also teaches us the importance of alliances in defending democracy. In fact, it is precisely because the world’s democracies did not stand still while the people of Kosovo were facing unimaginable horrors, that today we can enjoy the results that democracy yields. My country’s success is a testament to what democracies achieve when they stand together in the face of tyranny and oppression. At the forefront of this transformative endeavor stand the women of Kosovo, who are not just active participants in state building, but are also vigorously contributing to reshaping it. While history tends to minimize or even erase the role of women – this is an ode to all of our women who were central to our peaceful resistance and liberation struggle. And equally so today, to all the women who remain central to our day-after-day progress. The history of our country and the history of our women evolved hand in hand. The role of women in shaping Kosovo’s young democracy has been vital. Yet, as we’ve come to understand, democracy isn’t a given. It is a responsibility, a responsibility to protect, to uplift, to defend, to support, but most importantly, a responsibility to act. Fortunately, our women never shied away from acting. From the halls of public institutions to the streets where history is made, the contributions of women in Kosovo’s journey are both profound and undeniable. They understood too well that where there is consistency, persistence, unity and ambition, democracy always wins. Whether through seeking justice, breaking barriers, leading community transformation, or innovating for social good, the women of Kosovo know that democracy is not just an ideal: it is an action. So, they are organizing, they are mobilizing, they are protesting and they are raising their voices not just for gender equality, but also for climate justice, for economic equity, and for a world where every individual, regardless of their background, can reach their potential. These young women are not waiting for an invitation to take the lead; they lead by setting an example in every way that they can. Their energy and vision are exactly what our democracy needs in order to face the challenges of the 21st century. I meet these strong women, bold women, courageous women, unstoppable women, every single day. Amazed by their determination to stop at nothing, I can’t stop but wonder what would this world have looked like
President Osmani met the French ambassador Olivier Guérot yesterday
The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, yesterday received the ambassador of the French Republic, Olivier Guérot. The meeting discussed the latest developments in the country, the upcoming Francophonie Summit, as well as Kosovo’s membership process in international organizations. At the meeting, the President reiterated Kosovo’s commitment to continuous cooperation between the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo and France, for the benefit of the citizens of both countries.