Parade of the Kosovo Military and Police Forces
Dear citizens of our Republic, congratulations on Independence Day, congratulations on 18 years of statehood! Honourable President Begaj, Honourable Speaker Haxhiu, Honourable Prime Minister Kurti, Dear uncle Rifat and the entire Jashari family, Honorable Rugova family, Honourable officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the KSF, Honourable members of the Kosovo Police, Honourable families of KLA martyrs, associations that emerged from the KLA war, Ambassadors of friendly countries, Honourable leaders of our institutions, On this February 17th, we gathered here, because history has invited us to this very place. Here, in this place, stands the NEWBORN monument, the identifying sign of our state, which gave the long-awaited announcement that Kosovo had become a state. On this significant anniversary, we are on “Luan Haradinaj” Street, which bears the name of a distinguished fighter, a hero of the Kosovo Liberation Army. A name that reminds us that this state was built by the courage of those who chose not to remain silent in the face of injustice. Their blood lies in the foundations of our independent and sovereign state. A few meters from here stands the “Heroinat” monument, a powerful but also painful memory of nearly 20 thousand women raped by the Serbian genocidal regime during the war of 1998-1999. That monument reminds us that the wounds left behind by the war, the pains that are not always seen, but that live long in our collective conscience, will never be forgotten. It reminds us that freedom has a high price and that justice for the thousands of people killed, including children, remains our permanent obligation. Therefore, today, in this space where the birth of the state, the sacrifice of all KLA fighters and the wounds of war stand together in one place, we remember the effort of generations that was sealed precisely in February 2008. 18 years ago, Kosovo was declared a state, but long before that day Kosovo had gained freedom. Today, before you stands an 18-year-old Republic, born of sacrifice, nourished by resistance and strengthened by the spirit of its people, by each of you. Kosovo is a free state, unyielding, determined to defend its freedom in every inch of it. Kosovo is an independent and sovereign Republic, courageous, strong, proud and with many friends. Kosovo is our eternal homeland, our home, our soul, our common future! Today, we bow with respect to all those who contributed to this day. To those who did not surrender. To those who stood firm even when the road seemed long but dark. We honor the historic vision of the architect of independence, the Founding Father of our Republic, the historic President, Ibrahim Rugova, who in times of repression kept alive the hope, dignity and identity of our people, making peace an act of courage and political wisdom. We honor the unparalleled sacrifice of the Jashari family, led by the Legendary Commander, Adem Jashari, an eternal symbol of sacrifice for freedom. We honor every boy, every young man, every woman, every man, who fought in the Kosovo Liberation Army, the best sons and daughters of this country. We honor the sacrifice of the veterans and invalids of war, who when history called for courage, responded with action, turning the centuries-old aspiration into an irreversible reality. So let us repeat clearly, today and forever: no one can tarnish the war of the Kosovo Liberation Army. It was a just war, a liberation war, a defense war led by the right to freedom and statehood. Without this extraordinary contribution of the KLA and without this sacrifice, the independence of Kosovo would not be the reality that we celebrate today. By defending the truth and our liberation war, we defend our own state, our independence and the freedom that we enjoy today. We will not allow anyone to tarnish these sublime values, for which our people gave everything, even children in their cradles. Because a history written in blood cannot be erased or distorted by anyone. Dear citizens, In a little while at Skanderbeg Square, our citizens will begin the march for justice. As President of the Republic of Kosovo, I give my strong support to this march, because our citizens demand nothing but justice. Because our citizens know well that defending our liberation war is defending the state of Kosovo itself. Because our citizens know well that the KLA is the bloody oath of our people from which we will never give up. Honorable guests, on this great day, we express deep and lasting gratitude to the United States of America, to European countries and all allies around the world, who stood on the right side of history. They helped us win freedom, they helped us build the state, and even today they stand with us, as reliable partners of peace and security. Today, Kosovo is building its defense capacities with responsibility and vision. Today, the KLA heirs, our Security Force and the Kosovo Police, are making us proud each and every day. They prove that Kosovo is ready for NATO. Our girls and boys in uniform are proof that this country has sons and daughters ready to serve the homeland with honor, dedication and to contribute to global peace. Today, Kosovo is stronger than ever. Today, Kosovo is more prepared than ever before. Today, Kosovo is more determined than ever to move forward, despite the challenges. We are a country dedicated to learning and moving forward. Our 18-year-old republic has never been afraid of responsibility. It is a country that knows that freedom requires work, well-being, vision and the protection of the truth at all costs. for this reason, together, we must make Kosovo fairer for our children and stronger for the generations to come. On this 18th anniversary, let us move forward with unity, united and with faith and pride, because Kosovo today is more mature and stronger for every challenge that the future brings. Therefore, I address all the citizens of Kosovo, and especially you, the young men and women, who, like our
Today’s address by President Osmani at the solemn session of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo on the occasion of the 18th anniversary of Independence
Honourable President Begaj, Honourable Speaker of the Assembly Ms. Haxhiu, Honourable Prime Minister Kurti and members of the government cabinet, Dear Uncle Rifat, Honorable members of the Assembly of Kosovo, Honorable diplomatic representatives of amicable countries, Former presidents and former prime ministers, Honorable Rugova family, Jashari family, families of martyrs, Representatives of security institutions, Religious leaders of our country, Honorable guests from the IOWA Guard, from England and from various countries, Dear citizens of our Republic, 18 years ago, Kosovo rose from suffering to dignity and from resistance to statehood, thus proving that freedom gained through sacrifice is eternal. 18 years ago, Kosovo was declared a free, independent and sovereign state, ending a long and painful journey, but also opening a new chapter in our national history. Kosovo’s independence was won with effort, blood, sacrifice and centuries of patience. It was built by those who were persecuted, imprisoned, exiled, fought, but never surrendered. Today, with the deepest respect, we bow to the memory of all those men and women who fell for this day, so that Kosovo could be a Republic. At the foundation of our state lies the vision of the historic President, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, the architect of the independence of our Republic. With wisdom, patience, vision and an unwavering faith in the freedom and dignity of our people, he led Kosovo through the most difficult times, giving our cause legitimacy and international support as well as domestic hope. Our history was further shaped during the period of the struggle for freedom. It bears the name of the Legendary Commander Adem Jashari, his heroic family and all the men and women of the Kosovo Liberation Army. The KLA is the greatest ideal that Albanians have built over the centuries. It is the heart of our national resistance and the response of an oppressed people to a genocidal regime. This war was always just, always pure and always necessary. Any attempt to tarnish it, to relativize it or to equate the victim with the aggressor is not only unjust, but also historically untrue and completely unacceptable. The leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army, who are today in The Hague together with thousands of other fighters and with the unwavering support of the people of Kosovo, stood up for freedom, for dignity and for the inalienable right to live freely in their homeland. Therefore, any attempt to equate our liberation war with the crimes of the genocidal regime of Serbia not only undermines justice, but also seriously damages the foundations of long-term peace in our region. The KLA war was our strongest pillar of resistance and hope. This historical truth is the foundation of our state and cannot be undone by any attempt to rewrite or distort history. Today, more than ever, we have a duty to stand together. No difference of ours, past or present, should be an obstacle to our unity in defense of our liberation war, because in this way we protect the purity of freedom, independence and the very existence of our state. Because, above every difference, there is our common responsibility to defend this state, which is the result of centuries of sacrifice. By defending the truth, we defend our own statehood and we will do so for as long as we live, because our liberation war was the bloody oath of a people who wanted to live free in their own land. Each of them gave their stamp in body, soul and memory to the state that we enjoy today. Therefore, today, our duty is to ensure that this freedom is worthy of the sacrifice of each martyr and fallen, who gave their lives for freedom. Kosovo became a state to defend the truth and to never allow history to be rewritten to the detriment of those who sacrificed everything. And the people of Kosovo sacrificed everything, even their children in their cradles, so that we can enjoy freedom today. Therefore, we will never accept in Kosovo or anywhere in the world, any narrative that equates the aggressor with the victim, the occupier with the occupied, and crime with resistance for freedom. Honorable Members of Parliament, Kosovo’s path to freedom has been a long, arduous journey, filled with challenges, but also with strong alliances and sincere friendships. On this anniversary, with deep gratitude, I would like to thank all our allies, allies that we built with the wisdom and vision of the historic President, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, and the men and women who stood by him in building these alliances, which we will defend at all costs. We thank the United States of America, our strategic ally! We thank every European country and elsewhere, all our international partners, who stood by Kosovo when freedom seemed distant and impossible. Without their political, diplomatic and military support, our dream of freedom would still be distant. Today, after 18 years of statehood, we have achieved a lot, but we still have a long way to go. Our shared responsibility is to continue to transform the ideal for which the martyrs sacrificed themselves into a strong state, with sovereignty in every inch of it, in functional and impartial justice, in economic development for every citizen of our country, in integration into the Euro-Atlantic family, where we have a place and above all in hope, hope for our young people. 18 years of statehood are even more responsibilities. Let us preserve Kosovo as a trust. Let us build the future with courage. Let us always keep the love for our homeland alive. Let us preserve freedom as the most precious value and build the state as a common home for all generations that will come after us. Glory to the martyrs of the nation and the fallen for freedom! Congratulations on the 18th anniversary of Independence! Long live the Republic of Kosovo! Thank you!
Statement to the media by President Vjosa Osmani on the occasion of the 18th anniversary of Kosovo’s Independence
President Osmani: 18 years of independence, statehood and dignity – together for our Kosovo! 🇽🇰
President Osmani receives congratulatory letters from the King of the United Kingdom, H.M. Charles III, the President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the President of France Emmanuel Macron and the President of Italy Sergio Mattarella, on Kosovo’s Independence Day
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, in the wake of numerous congratulatory letters from world leaders on the occasion of the anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Kosovo, has also received congratulatory messages from the King of the United Kingdom, H.M. Charles III, the President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron and the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella. In their letters, the leaders conveyed their warmest congratulations to President Osmani and the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, emphasizing their commitment to further strengthening of bilateral relations, support for Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic integration, as well as peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond. Please find attached the congratulatory letters.
President Vjosa Osmani bestows the Presidential Medal of Merit upon the British MP, Alicia Kearns
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, has bestowed the Presidential Medal of Merit upon the British MP, Ms. Alicia Kearns, in recognition of her steadfast support to the sovereignty of the Republic of Kosovo and her unwavering commitment to peace and security in Kosovo and the region. During the ceremony, Madam President expressed deep gratitude for MP Kearns’ continued engagements in raising awareness of the risks and challenges facing Kosovo and the entire Western Balkan region. On this occasion, President Osmani called MP Kearns a great friend of Kosovo, emphasizing that the people of Kosovo are deeply grateful for her continued support, as well as for her contribution to strengthening the partnership between Kosovo and the United Kingdom.
President Osmani received the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, received today the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania, Edi Rama, with whom she discussed interstate relations and regional developments. The focus of the meeting was, first and foremost, close political and institutional coordination, as well as the mutual commitment to intensifying cooperation in foreign policy, in order to advance common strategic interests. Both leaders emphasized the importance of continuous Kosovo-Albania coordination as a factor of peace and stability in the region, as well as the constructive role of both states in international initiatives that promote peace and cooperation. During the meeting, cooperation within the Board of Peace was also discussed, emphasizing the importance of joint engagement in global initiatives that promote dialogue, security and democratic values. In this context, it was underlined that Kosovo and Albania are honoured with the invitation from President Donald Trump to the Board of Peace, as a proof of respect and partnership with strategic allies. President Osmani and Prime Minister Rama reaffirmed their will to expand the fraternal cooperation between the two states, emphasizing the economic partnership, the development of joint projects and the establishment of concrete opportunities that directly affect the drawing together and well-being of the citizens of both countries. In this context, President Osmani congratulated Prime Minister Rama on the progress on the path towards the European Union, describing this as evidence of Albania’s clear European commitment and as a development that strengthens the European perspective of the entire region. At the conclusion of the meeting, Prime Minister Rama congratulated President Osmani and the people of Kosovo on the 18th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Kosovo, reconfirming the full and unwavering support of the Republic of Albania for the state of Kosovo and its Euro-Atlantic future.
President Trump congratulates President Osmani: we strongly support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kosovo
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, has received a congratulatory letter from the President of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump, on the occasion of the 18th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of Kosovo. In his letter to the President, President Trump congratulates the people of Kosovo on this important anniversary, reaffirming the steadfast support of the United States of America for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Kosovo. President Trump also expressed the readiness of the United States to expand the partnership between the two countries, particularly through increased trade and investment, with the aim of advancing shared prosperity, and emphasized that the United States is ready to work alongside Kosovo to advance peace and stability for mutual benefit. President Trump also expressed his gratitude to President Osmani and the people of Kosovo for their support of American efforts for peace, and welcomed Kosovo as a founding member of the Board of Peace, which aims to make the world safer, stronger, and more prosperous. At the end of the message, President Trump expressed his confidence in further strengthening of the cooperation and partnership between the two countries.
President Osmani congratulates the Ashkali Community Day in Kosovo
In the mosaic of the identity of the Republic of Kosovo, the Ashkali community occupies a special place, with its rich traditions, language, culture and heritage that have made our country more diverse. The cultural heritage of the Ashkali is an inseparable part of the history of Kosovo. On this day, we reaffirm our commitment to a Kosovo where every community feels equal and respected. The strength of Kosovo lies precisely in its diversity, in the interweaving of traditions, in mutual respect and in a shared future with dignity for all.
Republican Congressmen Zach Nunn and Pete Sessions give a strong support for another term to President Osmani and Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic Vision
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, has received letters of support from Republican Congressmen of the United States of America, Zach Nunn and Pete Sessions, in which they express support for her leadership and confidence in the continuation of her second presidential term. In their letters, they also reaffirm their support for Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic direction. Congressman Zach Nunn has underlined the extremely strong and bipartisan confidence of the United States Congress in President Osmani’s leadership. “At a crucial moment for Kosovo and the region, your commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law has provided stability, continuity, and clear strategic direction,” the letter states. He further added: “your steadfast leadership uniquely positions you to continue to lead Kosovo forward.” Meanwhile, Congressman Pete Sessions emphasized that President Osmani represents Kosovo in an exemplary manner in the international arena and that her leadership has directly enhanced Kosovo’s standing and credibility among democratic allies. “I have great confidence in your ability to continue as President of the Republic of Kosovo,” Congressman Sessions wrote, among others. Both congressmen reaffirmed the United States’ continued support for Kosovo’s sovereignty, democratic development, Euro-Atlantic integration, and its prospects for NATO membership — key pillars for peace, stability, and sustainable prosperity in the region. These messages constitute clear evidence of the strong and strategic partnership between Kosovo and the United States, as well as of the continued confidence in President Osmani’s leadership, but also in Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic path.