President Osmani and Prime Minister Kurti appoint the new KIA Inspector General
The President of the Republic of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti were informed today by the Inspector General of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency Mr. Burim Ramadani of his resignation from this position. They thanked Mr. Ramadani for his service in KIA since 2019 and wished him success in his further professional engagements. After consultations, President Osmani and Prime Minister Kurti appointed Mr. Kujtim Shala as the new KIA Inspector General, who was until now engaged with the Kosovo Security Force.
President Osmani hosted the children of the “Fatosat” kindergarten
The President of the Republic of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani, on the eve of the end-of-year holidays, hosted today the children of the “Fatosat” kindergarten.
President Osmani at the Hanukkah ceremony: Let us reflect on the importance of this holiday and its message of hope and resilience
Dear Prime Minister Kurti, Dare Deputy Prime Minister Gërvalla, Ministers, Members of Parliament, Leaders of Political Parties, Dear Ambassador of the State of Israel, Tamar Ziv, Dear Ambassador Dan Oryan, Dear representatives of countries here in the Republic of Kosovo, Daer members of the Jewish community in our country, Distinguished guests, Thank you for having me here today. It is truly an honor to join you all in celebrating Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights and to reflect on the significance of this holiday and its message of hope and resilience. Hanukkah is a timely reminder of the need to remember the importance of standing up for our beliefs and fighting for what is right, even in the face of great adversity. At this challenging time for the world – with the ongoing war in Ukraine causing immense suffering and hardships, marked by brutal violence and strife, as well as political and economic implications across the European continent and beyond – we can all learn from the spirit of Hanukkah: that we can overcome our common hurdles through determination and perseverance. This special holiday is a time of hope and renewal, and we must hold onto that hope and do our part to bring a brighter and safer future for all. Dear friends, As President of the Republic of Kosovo, I am proud to represent a diverse nation and to celebrate this special holiday with you all, including members of our small but extremely vibrant Jewish community. As a country, as institutions, and most importantly, as people, we are proud of our unwavering commitment to the promotion of equality and justice for all, as well as our exemplary legal protection for all communities and all religions, as reflected in our Constitution and laws. It is through this commitment that we will build a stronger and more united Kosovo. Moreover, I am proud of our joint efforts to nurture our historically good relations with the State of Israel and most importantly, our people-to-people ties. These ties date back centuries and they were always characterized by compassion and mutual trust. As many of you know, Albanians opened their homes and hearts during the Second World War, saving the lives of the Jewish community, including their Jewish neighbors, oftentimes to the point of forfeiting their own lives. The bravery and compassion demonstrated by our people during these dark hours of our joint history is a testament to the power of Besa and of the great importance of standing up for one another in difficult times. Decades later, when the people of Kosovo were facing a genocidal war, Israel sent a field hospital and a medical team to Kosovo, treating hundreds of patients and saving lives. Additionally, the State of Israel welcomed Kosovar refugees, demonstrating an outstanding humanitarian example. On this note, we are proud of our growing relations with the State of Israel. Our two countries have a strong foundation for cooperation and friendship, and we are eager to build upon it to the benefit of both of our peoples. I look forward to the opening of a new and exciting chapter of relations with the State of Israel in this coming yearw, and I remain confident that by working together, we can build a brighter and more prosperous future for both of our countries and peoples. As witnessed recently with the renovation of the Jewish Cultural Center in Prizren by our Ministry of Culture, the people and institutions of the Republic of Kosovo are committed to helping our Jewish community thrive. And as we light the Hanukkah candles today and come together with our loved ones, let us remember the lessons of the past and embrace the hope and resilience that Hanukkah represents. In these difficult times, it is more important than ever to stand together and to support one another. As President Joe Biden said during this year’s White House Hanukkah ceremony, “The story of Hanukkah is one of miracles. It's a story of a small band of warriors fighting for their values to defeat one of history’s most powerful empires. It's the story of a small jar of oil burning brightly for eight days when it should've lasted one.” Let us carry this message of hope, let us all carry this message of miracles, as we work together to build a better, more just, and more peaceful world for all. Once more, Happy Hanukkah to all those celebrating in Kosovo and around the world. May this holiday bring light and joy to all of you, and may it serve as a reminder of the strength and resilience of the human spirit. Chag Sameach (Happy Holidays) to everyone! Thank you!
President Osmani at the Hanukkah ceremony: Let us reflect on the importance of this holiday and its message of hope and resilience
Dear Prime Minister Kurti, Dare Deputy Prime Minister Gërvalla, Ministers, Members of Parliament, Leaders of Political Parties, Dear Ambassador of the State of Israel, Tamar Ziv, Dear Ambassador Dan Oryan, Dear representatives of countries here in the Republic of Kosovo, Daer members of the Jewish community in our country, Distinguished guests, Thank you for having me here today. It is truly an honor to join you all in celebrating Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights and to reflect on the significance of this holiday and its message of hope and resilience. Hanukkah is a timely reminder of the need to remember the importance of standing up for our beliefs and fighting for what is right, even in the face of great adversity. At this challenging time for the world – with the ongoing war in Ukraine causing immense suffering and hardships, marked by brutal violence and strife, as well as political and economic implications across the European continent and beyond – we can all learn from the spirit of Hanukkah: that we can overcome our common hurdles through determination and perseverance. This special holiday is a time of hope and renewal, and we must hold onto that hope and do our part to bring a brighter and safer future for all. Dear friends, As President of the Republic of Kosovo, I am proud to represent a diverse nation and to celebrate this special holiday with you all, including members of our small but extremely vibrant Jewish community. As a country, as institutions, and most importantly, as people, we are proud of our unwavering commitment to the promotion of equality and justice for all, as well as our exemplary legal protection for all communities and all religions, as reflected in our Constitution and laws. It is through this commitment that we will build a stronger and more united Kosovo. Moreover, I am proud of our joint efforts to nurture our historically good relations with the State of Israel and most importantly, our people-to-people ties. These ties date back centuries and they were always characterized by compassion and mutual trust. As many of you know, Albanians opened their homes and hearts during the Second World War, saving the lives of the Jewish community, including their Jewish neighbors, oftentimes to the point of forfeiting their own lives. The bravery and compassion demonstrated by our people during these dark hours of our joint history is a testament to the power of Besa and of the great importance of standing up for one another in difficult times. Decades later, when the people of Kosovo were facing a genocidal war, Israel sent a field hospital and a medical team to Kosovo, treating hundreds of patients and saving lives. Additionally, the State of Israel welcomed Kosovar refugees, demonstrating an outstanding humanitarian example. On this note, we are proud of our growing relations with the State of Israel. Our two countries have a strong foundation for cooperation and friendship, and we are eager to build upon it to the benefit of both of our peoples. I look forward to the opening of a new and exciting chapter of relations with the State of Israel in this coming yearw, and I remain confident that by working together, we can build a brighter and more prosperous future for both of our countries and peoples. As witnessed recently with the renovation of the Jewish Cultural Center in Prizren by our Ministry of Culture, the people and institutions of the Republic of Kosovo are committed to helping our Jewish community thrive. And as we light the Hanukkah candles today and come together with our loved ones, let us remember the lessons of the past and embrace the hope and resilience that Hanukkah represents. In these difficult times, it is more important than ever to stand together and to support one another. As President Joe Biden said during this year’s White House Hanukkah ceremony, “The story of Hanukkah is one of miracles. It's a story of a small band of warriors fighting for their values to defeat one of history’s most powerful empires. It's the story of a small jar of oil burning brightly for eight days when it should've lasted one.” Let us carry this message of hope, let us all carry this message of miracles, as we work together to build a better, more just, and more peaceful world for all. Once more, Happy Hanukkah to all those celebrating in Kosovo and around the world. May this holiday bring light and joy to all of you, and may it serve as a reminder of the strength and resilience of the human spirit. Chag Sameach (Happy Holidays) to everyone! Thank you!
President Osmani visited the SOS Village
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani visited the SOS Village today on the eve of the end-of-year holidays.
President Osmani's speech at the sixth Republic of Kosovo Ambassadors' Conference
Honourable Prime Minister, Mr. Kurti, Honourable Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Donika Gërvalla, Honourable Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Bislimi, Honourable Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Ms. Bogujevci, Honourable heads of mission and diplomats of the Republic of Kosovo, Dear friends, Dear participants and media representatives, Annual ambassadorial conferences such as this one serve to have an open discussion about our foreign policy, as well as the regional, continental and global environment in which we find ourselves as a country, the achievements and challenges facing our foreign policy and external service, as well as to deliver messages to you on key foreign policy topics. Our foreign policy must always be in the interest of the state, in the interest of its citizens and based on the promotion of Euro-Atlantic values, building partnerships with countries from different continents and expanding alliances with our traditional strategic partners. Therefore, this Conference should enable us through discussions and analyses, to reach the same understanding of the environment that affects our foreign policy, clarify the strategic goals of this policy, as well as identify areas and good practices in which we must improve ourselves. You, as diplomats of the Republic of Kosovo, are the mirror and the window of Kosovo abroad. On the one hand, with your actions, you must reflect the fundamental values of the Republic of Kosovo related to democracy, ethnic and cultural diversity and the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit of our citizens, and on the other hand, you are the window through which you communicate and build bridges of cooperation with institutions and organizations in the countries where you work and serve as Kosovo's home to our ex-pats as well. For this reason, I ask you to upscale your efforts and engagement together with us so that Kosovo gains as many friends and as many partners as possible in the international arena, as well as to communicate and cooperate even more closely with the Office of the President and with all other institutions towards the realization of our common goals for a stronger Kosovo. Also, I encourage you that during the Conference and the discussions in the various panels, we are all also self-critical about the achievements and challenges we face, since this approach helps us to improve and perform much better as institutions in the service of state interests of all our citizens. As the leader of foreign policy, I have constantly articulated the strategic objectives of Kosovo in foreign policy which, among other things, include: • strengthening the international subjectivity of our Republic, including the aim for new recognitions and membership in international organizations; • the advancement of the integration process in the Euro-Atlantic structures; • promoting good relations with countries around the world that share the same values as us; and • promotion of the country's economic interests. Regarding the environment in which our foreign policy operates, it should be underlined that during 2022 we were challenged in four directions. First, Serbia continued with active actions against our international position through the corrupt campaign of blocking of new recognitions and memberships in international organizations. We have fought against these actions of Serbia in cooperation with the allies and we have taken concrete steps towards the creation of communication channels with non-recognizing countries this year, and as you know, we also submitted the request for membership in the Council of Europe and also the application for membership in the European Union. However, as a foreign policy, we must further multiply our joint efforts to stop Serbia's influence on other countries, especially by using our close partnership with the amicable countries that we have on each continent. Second, Serbia has taken action against the constitutional order by forcing Serbs in the north to abandon the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo through threats, coercion, attacks, but also enticement in certain cases. These actions are aimed at destabilization of the country and the creation of an institutional vacuum in the north as a prelude to what Serbia wants, i.e. its territorial claims in relation to Kosovo. Such a thing will of course never be allowed and our actions will only increase in establishing the rule of law in every part, in every corner of our territory. In relation to the Serbs who are citizens of our Republic, our institutions will always be supportive of socio-economic initiatives with the aim of their full integration into the multi-ethnic society of the Republic of Kosovo. Third, the dialogue process with Serbia was undermined and blocked by the obstructionist actions of the regime in Serbia, making progress and the achievement of agreements impossible on many fronts, including the blocking of the agreement on forcibly missing, the non-implementation of the agreement in the field of energy, the non-implementation of other agreements which were reached during the last months as well as blocking the discussion on the document proposed by Germany and France and supported by the USA. Despite these challenges, Kosovo has been a constructive party and engaged in dialogue following clear principles: the final agreement must be centered on mutual recognition and must respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity, constitutional order and institutional functionality of the Republic of Kosovo. And fourth, Russia's war on Ukraine which, in addition to the consequences it has brought to European security by creating a clear division between the states in the Euro-Atlantic axis against the Russian one and has actualized the importance of NATO, the crisis of inflation, energy and supply food, has offered us opportunities in foreign policy to show our Euro-Atlantic values and to get even closer to our allies. Also, as far as the international context is concerned, our foreign policy, like that of other countries, has been influenced by changes in the global economy and hybrid threats as a result of Russia's war on Ukraine and the malicious actions of states such as China and Iran or non-state actors which are challenging the international order. In an increasingly interconnected world, the international
President Osmani met with the KFOR Commander, Major General Angelo Michele Ristuccia
The President of the Republic of Kosovo Vjosa Osman, met with the KFOR commander, Major General Angelo Michele Ristuccia, with whom she discussed the latest developments and security in the country.
President Osmani's speech at the sixth Republic of Kosovo Ambassadors' Conference
Honourable Prime Minister, Mr. Kurti, Honourable Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Donika Gërvalla, Honourable Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Bislimi, Honourable Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Ms. Bogujevci, Honourable heads of mission and diplomats of the Republic of Kosovo, Dear friends, Dear participants and media representatives, Annual ambassadorial conferences such as this one serve to have an open discussion about our foreign policy, as well as the regional, continental and global environment in which we find ourselves as a country, the achievements and challenges facing our foreign policy and external service, as well as to deliver messages to you on key foreign policy topics. Our foreign policy must always be in the interest of the state, in the interest of its citizens and based on the promotion of Euro-Atlantic values, building partnerships with countries from different continents and expanding alliances with our traditional strategic partners. Therefore, this Conference should enable us through discussions and analyses, to reach the same understanding of the environment that affects our foreign policy, clarify the strategic goals of this policy, as well as identify areas and good practices in which we must improve ourselves. You, as diplomats of the Republic of Kosovo, are the mirror and the window of Kosovo abroad. On the one hand, with your actions, you must reflect the fundamental values of the Republic of Kosovo related to democracy, ethnic and cultural diversity and the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit of our citizens, and on the other hand, you are the window through which you communicate and build bridges of cooperation with institutions and organizations in the countries where you work and serve as Kosovo's home to our ex-pats as well. For this reason, I ask you to upscale your efforts and engagement together with us so that Kosovo gains as many friends and as many partners as possible in the international arena, as well as to communicate and cooperate even more closely with the Office of the President and with all other institutions towards the realization of our common goals for a stronger Kosovo. Also, I encourage you that during the Conference and the discussions in the various panels, we are all also self-critical about the achievements and challenges we face, since this approach helps us to improve and perform much better as institutions in the service of state interests of all our citizens. As the leader of foreign policy, I have constantly articulated the strategic objectives of Kosovo in foreign policy which, among other things, include: • strengthening the international subjectivity of our Republic, including the aim for new recognitions and membership in international organizations; • the advancement of the integration process in the Euro-Atlantic structures; • promoting good relations with countries around the world that share the same values as us; and • promotion of the country's economic interests. Regarding the environment in which our foreign policy operates, it should be underlined that during 2022 we were challenged in four directions. First, Serbia continued with active actions against our international position through the corrupt campaign of blocking of new recognitions and memberships in international organizations. We have fought against these actions of Serbia in cooperation with the allies and we have taken concrete steps towards the creation of communication channels with non-recognizing countries this year, and as you know, we also submitted the request for membership in the Council of Europe and also the application for membership in the European Union. However, as a foreign policy, we must further multiply our joint efforts to stop Serbia's influence on other countries, especially by using our close partnership with the amicable countries that we have on each continent. Second, Serbia has taken action against the constitutional order by forcing Serbs in the north to abandon the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo through threats, coercion, attacks, but also enticement in certain cases. These actions are aimed at destabilization of the country and the creation of an institutional vacuum in the north as a prelude to what Serbia wants, i.e. its territorial claims in relation to Kosovo. Such a thing will of course never be allowed and our actions will only increase in establishing the rule of law in every part, in every corner of our territory. In relation to the Serbs who are citizens of our Republic, our institutions will always be supportive of socio-economic initiatives with the aim of their full integration into the multi-ethnic society of the Republic of Kosovo. Third, the dialogue process with Serbia was undermined and blocked by the obstructionist actions of the regime in Serbia, making progress and the achievement of agreements impossible on many fronts, including the blocking of the agreement on forcibly missing, the non-implementation of the agreement in the field of energy, the non-implementation of other agreements which were reached during the last months as well as blocking the discussion on the document proposed by Germany and France and supported by the USA. Despite these challenges, Kosovo has been a constructive party and engaged in dialogue following clear principles: the final agreement must be centered on mutual recognition and must respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity, constitutional order and institutional functionality of the Republic of Kosovo. And fourth, Russia's war on Ukraine which, in addition to the consequences it has brought to European security by creating a clear division between the states in the Euro-Atlantic axis against the Russian one and has actualized the importance of NATO, the crisis of inflation, energy and supply food, has offered us opportunities in foreign policy to show our Euro-Atlantic values and to get even closer to our allies. Also, as far as the international context is concerned, our foreign policy, like that of other countries, has been influenced by changes in the global economy and hybrid threats as a result of Russia's war on Ukraine and the malicious actions of states such as China and Iran or non-state actors which are challenging the international order. In an increasingly interconnected world, the international
Fjalimi i Presidentes Osmani në Konferencën e gjashtë të Ambasadorëve të Republikës së Kosovës
President Osmani conveys her best wishes for Hanukkah
The President of the Republic of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani, on the first day of the Festival of Lights, conveyed her best wishes for Hanukkah to all those celebrating in Kosovo and around the world. “With wishes that this holiday will bring peace, joy and blessings to you and your families,” said President Osmani.