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Statement of the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, at the Summit for Democracy

Dear President Biden, Esteemed participants,   I speak to you as the President of the Republic of Kosovo, one of the youngest yet most vibrant democracies in the world.   Kosovo will soon mark 14 years of independence, but we have fought authoritarian and genocidal regimes for much longer than that. Democracy is in the fabric of our society, it is deeply entrenched in our historic struggle for freedom and human rights. And, as envisioned by our founding father, President Rugova, our Republic stands strongly on three pillars: freedom, independence, and democracy.   Kosovo today continues to thrive through free and fair elections, with peaceful transitions of power, unfettered media freedoms, and the highest standards of human rights enshrined in our constitution.   But, Democracy is never a finished or finite project. So today, I set out Kosovo’s commitments for strengthening and nurturing our democracy to ensure it stands the test of time. We will:   1.     Strengthen the rule of law through the full implementation of the Strategy on Rule of Law, and a vetting process that will instill integrity, impartiality and professionalism at the heart of our justice system. We commit to enacting and implementing advanced legislation to seize illicit wealth, impose a travel ban on foreign individuals involved in serious human rights abuses, clamp down on foreign governments’ funding for political parties and ban public institutions from using untrusted surveillance vendors.   2.     Bolster the role of women in our society by initiating proceedings to harmonize all relevant laws with the provisions of the law on gender equality, to guarantee women’s rightful place in public institutions and decision-making roles. We will also adopt a bold national strategy against gender-based violence to implement the Istanbul Convention, to halt this epidemic through prevention and protection, and increase minimum sentences to reflect the severity of the gender-based crimes.   3.     I will establish a Presidential Council on Democracy and Human Rights that will bring together public institutions and civil society to drive and monitor the implementation of our commitments. This council shows our long-term commitment to improving our democracy.   We must not take democracy for granted, and we must relentlessly protect it. Whether a big or small a country, we can all make a difference, especially if we join forces. We are, therefore, pledging to work with you all to deliver on our objectives, share best practices, counter Russian interference and propaganda, and promote peace around the world.   In this spirit, I will host a Global Summit for Women in Peace and Security in 2022 that will bring together leaders from around the world.   In the struggle between democracy and autocracy, history teaches us that appeasement of autocrats never works. Today is more than a Summit, it is our collective voice rejecting autocratic tendencies, and it is our collective voice standing up for democracy.   I want to thank President Biden for his leadership in this endeavor.   From the most pro-American nation on earth, thank you all, and goodbye.  

President Osmani received at a meeting the Canadian non-resident ambassador Mr. Alan Bowman

The President of the Republic of Kosovo Dr. Vjosa Osmani received today at a meeting the non-resident Canadian ambassador to Kosovo, Mr. Alan Bowman. She expressed her gratitude for Canadian support for Kosovo since 1999 and welcomed the opportunities for the expansion of interstate cooperation, particularly following the meetings with the Canadian leadership held last month. President Osmani added that Canada's support for new recognitions and membership in international organizations is an indication of Canada's greater commitment to security and peace in the region. She expressed her readiness to intensify Kosovo's relations with Canada in the coming years in the field of diplomacy, trade exchanges and cooperation on security and defense issues. President Osmani underlined that the Kosovo-Canada cooperation is a reflection of common values and trust in the transatlantic alliance.  Ambassador Bowman expressed Canada's gratitude to President Osmani for Kosovo's assistance in sheltering of Afghan refugees. In this regard, President Osmani said that the citizens of Kosovo, through their experience as refugees during the recent war, appreciate the importance of safe housing and that Kosovo's institutions will be side by side with its NATO allies in dealing with such humanitarian challenges. 

President Osmani received at a farewell meeting the Charge d’Affairs of the Embassy of Japan in Kosovo, Mitsunori Ogasawara

The President of the Republic of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani received today at a farewell meeting the Charge d’Affairs of the Embassy of Japan in Kosovo, Mitsunori Ogasawara, whom she thanked for his contribution to a greater rapprochement of Kosovo and Japan, mentioning in this context the pandemic assistance and support with medical equipment.   President Osmani also expressed her gratitude for the ongoing partnership between the two countries. President Osmani also discussed with Mr.  Ogasawara the visit to Japan and meetings with top state officials with whom she discussed the expansion of political relations and also the increase of Japanese investments in Kosovo. At the meeting with Mr. Ogasawara, President Osmani also discussed the increase of the number of scholarships for Kosovar students who want to study in Japan, the initiation of the procedures for the abolition of the visa regime as well as other topics of mutual interest.

President Osmani’s address at the special event held in honour of our multiple Champion, Majlinda Kelmendi

Dear Majlinda! Dear Majlinda's family Distinguished Representatives of all the institutions of the country! Mr. Minister! Madam President! Representatives of the political parties! Honourable Ambassadors! Members of Parliament! Honourable Driton and Agron Kuka! Thank you all wholeheartedly for your presence here tonight! Dear guests!   She is rightly considered a legend of the sport of judo. She is rightly considered the heroine of Kosovo. In three decades of her life, she became the face of today's Kosovo, which made our state as we want it. The blue-yellow flag waved to the summits alongside the flags of the largest states around the globe, thanks to her triumph. It kept us in fever, made us cry with joy, made us feel honored, made us proud.  Thirty years old is the heroine and the pride of our country. She is not only a world-renowned judoka, not only a world champion with two titles from the world championships, and not only a judoka with four European titles and an Olympic gold medal and not only a winner in the Grand Slam, Grand Prix and Masters. She has in fact challenged the sport of judo with everything that can be won, and has won all that can be won!  She is our dream come true, she is our heroine! Kosovo was represented for the first time at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games by Majlinda and for the first time ever she brought Kosovo its first gold medal. Thanks to her dedication, the flag of the Republic of Kosovo waved for the first time at the Olympic Games. She is the first to echo the name of our small country, the state dominated by her peers. This invincible force with consecutive successes was and will be an inspiration for the girls of Kosovo and beyond.   This is Majlinda Kelmendi! Much more than the prizes she has won.    Distinguished guests,   Without Majlinda and the courage to conquer new horizons, without the role model she became to our young people, today we would have neither Distria nor Nora, or many other girls as well.  The fastest man in the world, Eric Liddle, who is known as the “flying Scotsman”, says that in the dust of defeat as well as the laurels of victory there is a glory to be found if one has done his best!  Majlinda has given her best, she has shone by putting Kosovo on the world map of judo with her fighting spirit, discipline and immense dedication and the love for her country and her people.    A little girl with a big soul is no longer just history, it is courage, motivation and hope that breaks stereotypes, whatever they are. Her triumph proved that there are no small states that cannot win in the sport of judo, just as there are no girls that cannot triumph in this sport. Majlinda did both. Demonstrated the power of a girl, as well as the power of a state, for which we will always be grateful!   The dream started at the age of 8 when she started her journey in the sport of judo, which she fulfilled with perseverance. She represented the state with dignity, was stoic, fought well and eventually won. She was not seduced by the many enticing financial offers to wear the jersey of any other country but decided to stay with unparalleled fidelity to the colours of her native country – Kosovo.   Led by Coach Driton Kuka, Majlinda testified that Kosovar girls can also play a sport, which is traditionally considered boys sport.   Of course, this is an extraordinary success under the leadership of a professional, adamant and visionary coach as Toni Kuka is, but also of a leader of the Judo Federation, as is Agron Kuka.   Toni is the deserving man, who has aroused the passion for judo not only in Majlinda, but also in many other girls and boys, turning Kosovo into the main competitor of Japan, the country where the sport of judo was born. Therefore, Tony and Agron, thank you for excelling us as a state, for elevating us, and for making us proud alongside the most powerful states in this sporting discipline.    But, just like in the process of independence of the country, in judo too Kosovo could not achieve success without the support of friends. The man who did a lot for the judo of Kosovo, but also for Majlinda, is in particular the president of the World Judo Federation, Marius Vizer, and just as rightly, the road leading to the National Judo Centre in Peja, bears his name as a sign of permanent respect for him. Mr. Vizer, the people of Kosovo will always be grateful for the opportunity you have given to Majlinda, judo and the state of Kosovo to excel in international arena.    Dear participants,   Today we are here to open a new chapter of Majlinda. As she left a successful career in active sports, Majlinda will henceforth continue her journey in other engagements in sports, where I strongly believe that again she will be the unsurpassed address of the success. She deserves any reward, she deserves every reward. We will never be able to repay her for the emotions, for the pride and for the dignity that she gave to us. She encouraged us as a small country to face the powers in the sport of judo. She dared to make her and our state's dream a reality. Therefore, as a brave woman, there is no other way to end this life chapter of hers, except with an honour, which I am bestowing on her today. Like our heroine Shotë Galica in rifle battles, Majlinda in sports battles kept alive the inspiration for generations, our national pride, defended our dignity and waved high the flag of the state of Kosovo.  Therefore, I humbly say, thank you Majlinda!  I invite you on stage to receive the Order that bears the name of Shotë

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