President: 113 years ago, the flag that unites the hearts of all Albanians everywhere was raised in Vlora
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, together with President Bajram Begaj, the Speaker of the Parliament Niko Peleshi, and Prime Minister Edi Rama, participated in the ceremony marking the 113th anniversary of Albania’s Independence, which was held in Vlora. President Osmani wrote: 113 years ago, in Vlora, the flag that unites the hearts of all Albanians everywhere was raised. Today, when we raise this red and black flag again, we honour not only the Independence Day of Albania, but also the sacrifice of the entire nation, from Vlora to Pristina, from Shkodra to Skopje, Mitrovica, Presheva and Ulcinj, in exile and wherever the Albanian heart beats. This flag is our common history, the symbol that united us in our most difficult days and today leads us towards a European future. Happy 113th Anniversary of Independence! Long live the red and black flag! Long live the Albanian nation!
President Osmani congratulates on November 28: From Skanderbeg’s Kruja, to Ismail Qemali’s Vlora and Jasharaj’s Prekaz, our history is written in blood
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, has said that the National Flag Day, the Independence Day of Albania, the birth of the Legendary Commander Adem Jashari, and the first public appearance of the KLA, are four events that constitute the axis of our national pride. President Osmani wrote: The National Flag Day, the Independence Day of Albania, the birth of the Legendary Commander Adem Jashari, and the first public appearance of the KLA, are four events that constitute the axis of our national pride. From Skanderbeg’s Kruja, to Ismail Qemali’s Vlora and Jasharaj’s Prekaz, our history is written in blood, courage and faith. Today, Kosovo and Albania walk side by side: two states, one nation, two flags, one heart. Happy National Flag Day! Happy Independence Day of Albania! Glory to Commander Adem Jashari and all the heroes and martyrs of our nation!
President: Shkodra has given so much to the Albanian nation and has always remained the cradle of tradition and our national identity
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, on the eve of November 28, Flag Day, visited Shkodra, where she was received by Mayor Benet Beci. President Osmani wrote: Thank you for the warm hospitality in Shkodra, the city of Albanian culture, faith and resistance, Mayor Beci! It is a pleasure to visit Shkodra on the eve of November 28, Flag Day, the day that unites all Albanians in one heart, wherever they are. Shkodra has given so much to the Albanian nation and has always remained the cradle of tradition and our national identity.
President Vjosa Osmani’s Thanksgiving Speech at Camp Bondsteel
Press statement of President Vjosa Osmani at the Adem Jashari barracks on the KSF Day
Greetings to all, Happy Armed Forces Day! Happy Army Day! Today is a day of pride for all the people of Kosovo. It is a day of pride, because our army today is a worthy and proud successor of the Kosovo Liberation Army, of the boys and girls who laid the foundations of our freedom. And these boys and girls that you see today make us proud not only within the country, but wherever they serve: in academies in different countries of the world, where they study in allied countries, but also in peace and stability operations in different countries of the world, where they serve side by side with our allies. Our army is getting stronger every day. Our army is becoming more operational, more interactive and more professional every day. And, of course, other boys and girls who want to serve the homeland are joining the ranks of our army every day. We are extremely proud of their work, they are the strongest guarantee, together with the Kosovo Police and other security institutions, of our sovereignty, of our territorial integrity, of the protection of our statehood and the protection of every citizen of the Republic of Kosovo. I want to express my gratitude to the Commander for his leadership, and of course the Minister for his extraordinary work, and together we will move forward to make our army even stronger every day in defense of our state, which was built with many sacrifices. Congratulations to everyone once again on the Armed Forces Day!
President Osmani extends Thanksgiving greetings: American soldiers have consistently stood with Kosovo
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, conveyed her Thanksgiving message. President Osmani wrote: Urime Dita e Falënderimeve/Happy Thanksgiving American soldiers have remained steadfast alongside Kosovo, through our most difficult moments and our most hopeful ones. Today, on this Thanksgiving Day, I had the honour of joining them once more at Camp Bondsteel to express our profound gratitude for their enduring contribution to peace and security in Kosovo and throughout the region.
President Osmani: Happy Armed Forces Day! Our Army Day!
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, said that today we honour our Security Force, the guardians of peace, the steadfast defenders of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Kosovo. President Osmani wrote: Happy Armed Forces Day! Our Army Day! Today we honour our Security Force, the guardians of peace, the steadfast defenders of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Kosovo. Eternal glory to the heroes and martyrs who laid the foundations of our Army!
Speech of President Vjosa Osmani at the forum organized by the Institute for War Crimes in Kosovo (IKKL) regarding the poisonings of the 1990s
Dear Director Hetemi, Many esteemed representatives of institutions, family members, teachers, former students and witnesses of that difficult time, Representatives of civil society and the academic world, Dear guests, There are stories that do not fade despite the passing of years, just as there are crimes that are never forgotten, because silence would be a betrayal of the truth, of justice, and of those who experienced this crime themselves. The mass poisoning of Albanian students in Kosovo, in the years ’89-’90, is a terrible crime, which demands answers and justice to this day. A smell that initially seemed insignificant, but within minutes turned into panic and anxiety, students losing consciousness, dizziness, vomiting, sweating, and breathing problems. These were the symptoms and this was the scene of the years ’89-’90, when the poisoning of Kosovo students by the criminal Serbian regime began. This scent, which later turned out to be a chemical nerve agent, was the prelude to one of the worst attacks on Albanian children in Europe since World War II. This was not a coincidence, but a premeditated act against the students of our schools, as well as other people. The poisoning process lasted for many days between 1989 and 1990, and affected a wide range of institutions, including preschools, primary, secondary, and higher education institutions, a cultural institution, and an economic enterprise. According to data collected by Mr. Halim Hyseni, whom we have the honour of having here today, a total of over 7,000 people were poisoned during that period. In just a few weeks, schools in Pristina, Podujeva, Ferizaj, Gjilan, Vushtrri, Mitrovica, Kamenica and many other cities were transformed into scenes of pain and fear. In many cases, ambulances, especially those run by Serbian staff, refused to provide assistance to Albanian children. Instead of providing them with basic medical care, they were stigmatized, ridiculed, and ignored. On the other hand, many Albanian doctors and nurses who raised the alarm about the poisoning and came to the aid of the students at that time were dismissed from their jobs by the Serbian regime, accused of propaganda, and then banned from speaking in local and international media. Dear guests, After initial analyses, independent experts highlighted the presence of dangerous neurotoxic substances, which have been used even by the most brutal regimes in the world. On February 8, 1992, Professor A. Heyndirckx, scientific expert and director of the International Laboratory of IRUL University, in his study “What is it about Kosovo”, concluded that an organic-chemical nerve gas, sarin and tabun, substances known worldwide as chemical warfare agents, had been used against the students. This scientific finding confirms what Albanian parents, teachers and doctors saw with their own eyes, that a chemical attack was carried out against our children. This inhuman act was a well-organized, coordinated attack, typical of a repressive state apparatus that sought to break the spirit of a people, by hitting the most vulnerable, children, students, and young people. Serbia not only committed the crime, but also denied it afterwards, engaging all state propaganda, the secret service, diplomats, and even some of their doctors, describing the whole situation as “mass hysteria.” A grave insult to the families, a double blow to the poisoned children. But the facts are universally known. Hundreds of serious cases of poisoning have already been documented. Medical analyses exist, and scientific evidence and contemporary witnesses confirm thousands of other cases that seal the truth. The children who fell in those days in the school corridors, as a result of poisoning, became a symbol of a silent but invincible resistance. In those days, as Serbia tried to remove Albanians from schools, from the language, from education, Albanian children became participants and witnesses of the national resistance. They became the generation that was educated in homes, in basements, in garages, in makeshift schools. They became the generation that refused to surrender and give up dignity, freedom and the right to education. Despite the danger, these poisoned children stood firm, they were the forerunners of our freedom. Because Serbia poisoned our young people, but failed to poison their will. These poisonings were part of the wider scheme of Serbian apartheid and crimes against humanity, which were committed against our people in those years. These crimes, which then turned into a genocidal campaign against the people of Kosovo in the years ’98-’99. They were not an isolated act, but part of an entire system of repression, which initially aimed to close Albanian schools, expel Albanian teachers, and exert systematic violence, which turned into a clear goal to destroy our people. The poisoning of children was the clearest signal that Serbia would stop at nothing to attempt to subjugate our people. But they neither could nor succeeded. Today, when we talk about this painful history, it is not to awaken pain, but to awaken conscience. To this day, no perpetrator has been identified, no official responsibility has been taken by Serbia and, as usual, it refuses to accept the truth. Kosovo will not stop seeking justice, despite this denial of the truth by Serbia. We will continue to work on documentation and to seek responsibility for this crime. This is because only nations that remember and respect the past build true and lasting peace. Our proof is the foundation of our freedom. Dear guests, The poisonings were the beginning of what would follow later, the war of ’98-’99, the ethnic cleansing and genocide committed by the Serbian regime. All of this is part of the same criminal doctrine that the Milosevic regime used. Nonetheless, despite everything, Kosovo rose, defended itself, and with the stoic struggle of the Kosovo Liberation Army, with the wise leadership of President Rugova, and with the help of allies, achieved freedom and independence. Today, Kosovo is free, precisely because entire generations sacrificed everything for freedom and dignity. The history of the poisoning of Albanian students in Kosovo is not only a history of pain, but also of resistance. It is a history of not
President Osmani: Femicide continues to remain an open wound
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, stated that femicide continues to remain an open wound, a national crisis that is eroding the foundations of our society, day after day. President Osmani wrote: Femicide continues to remain an open wound. Not simply a problem. Not a statistic. But, a national crisis which is eroding the foundations of our society, day after day. What happened in Gadime e Ulët is not just “another case”. A woman, although protected by an active order, was barbarically attacked with an axe by her ex-husband. When a protection order remains a paper, then the danger becomes reality. And reality kills us. The number of cases of violence against women and domestic violence is telling us bluntly: papers do not save lives. Implementation, determination, reaction without delay – yes! Because behind every number lies a broken life, a traumatized child, a story that must never be repeated. On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, I appeal for ACTION. Responsibly. Carefully. Without any tolerance. As the law requires. As every woman and girl in the Republic of Kosovo deserves. Every wrong step, every negligence, every delay can be fatal. No one who exercises violence should feel untouchable. No woman should be left unprotected. There is no compromise when it comes to the lives and dignity of women.
President Osmani’s address at the reception held by the Embassy of the Republic of Albania to Kosovo in honour of November 28th, Flag Day and the 113th Anniversary of Albania’s Independence
Highly esteemed Ambassador Malaj, Dear Albanians, Honourable Speaker of the Parliament, Mr. Basha, Honourable Prime Minister, Mr. Kurti, Honourable Ambassadors, Honourable Guests, Dear Citizens, Members of our Diaspora, Sisters and Brothers wherever you are, To homeland, one gives it all, because homeland is everything. Today is a day that is not measured in hours and minutes, but in centuries. November 28th is the day when our history breathes, when our hearts beat in unison, when the red and black flag is raised as a sacred symbol of our identity, sacrifice and national pride. November is the month when our history is celebrated. It is a story that can never disappear or fade, because it is engraved from generation to generation. Precisely in this month, on November 28, we united the legacy of generations in a single day: Flag Day, Albanian Independence Day, the birthday of the Legendary Commander Adem Jashari and the first public appearance of the Kosovo Liberation Army, four events that create a sacred symbiosis of our national spirit. Novembers in our history are almost always months of glory, a stream of events and sacrifices that make our nation immortal. The first of November, in 1443, when our hero Gjergj Kastrioti raised the flag with the double-headed eagle over the fortress of Kruja, paved the way for all other Novembers, transforming this penultimate month of the year into the month of Albanians, of bravery and freedom. Today, we bow down to those who kept this flag alive, in war, in prisons, in the mountains and through time, and raised it forever so that it would wave forever. For decades, this flag was banned in Kosovo. Albanians were imprisoned, beaten, persecuted and killed just because they hung it in windows, raised it in houses or carried it in their pockets as a keepsake. The Yugoslav regime and then the Serbian one wanted to erase our identity, but no one can ever erase the spirit of the Albanian. Because this flag was and remains the testament of our freedom. The independence of Albania was declared under this flag. Under the leadership of Ismail Qemali and patriots who came from all Albanian lands, including Kosovo, the voice of a nation that had decided to no longer live in slavery was raised. From Hasan Prishtina, Isa Boletini to hundreds of other Kosovar patriots who gave everything for the freedom of the Albanian state, Kosovo was there with blood, with rifles, with mind and with heart. On that holy day in 1912, Albania was carved, free and independent, as an inalienable right of the Albanian people. “However, God willed, through the hard work, and with the bravery and the unparalleled courage of the Albanians, that from today onwards the miseries and sufferings of our Homeland will end, because, here and now, we are FREE, INDEPENDENT and SOVEREIGN, and therefore: laugh and rejoice!” These words of the elder of independence, the patriot Ismail Qemali, are history, guidance and commitment. This right was later realized in Kosovo, under this same sacred flag, when the Kosovo Liberation Army, the best sons and daughters of this country, rose up against the genocidal Serbian regime to win freedom. Therefore, November 28 is our quadruple holiday. It is our main holiday, because on this day, in addition to the first public appearance of the KLA, we also celebrate the birthday of the Legendary Commander Adem Jashari, a man who belongs not only to one family, but to the entire nation on both sides of the Drini. He led the Kosovo Liberation Army to freedom under the red and black flag, transforming the sacrifice of Prekaz into a turning point in our modern history. Adem Jashari was not only the leader of our liberation army, but also the greatest sacrifice of our freedom. The first public appearance of the KLA was a historic moment that gave voice and vision to the long-awaited freedom. Under the red and black flag, our fighters showed the world that our country never surrenders, that the people of Kosovo had decided to defend themselves and free themselves from the genocidal regime. This act of courage marked the beginning of a new era in our history, uniting the hearts of all Albanians in a common cause for freedom and independence. Distinguished guests, Albania is moving confidently towards the final stage of its membership in the European Union, but it is not alone in this journey. All Albanians are strongly behind it, wherever the Albanian heart beats: in Prishtina and Tirana, in Tetovë and Gostivar, in Ulqin and Tuz, in Preshevë, Medvegjë and Bujanoc. This is the journey of an entire nation, united in dream and effort. It is also the journey of our diaspora in every corner of the world, which in the most difficult years kept our name, language, tradition and flag alive. They are precisely the bridge of our power, the proof that Albanianness does not fade, but grows, is cultivated and kept alive generation after generation. Today, more than ever, our fate is linked together. A stronger Albania in the EU means a stronger Kosovo; a consolidated and sovereign Kosovo means a safer, more respected and more developed nation. Our two countries, separated on maps but united in heart, are getting closer every day towards a Europe where Albanians will no longer be spectators, but equal contributors. Our future is inter-Albanian integration, as two states in the EU, in NATO and in the United Nations. With more common economy, culture, common projects, market and common vision. More Kosovo in Albania and more Albania in Kosovo. This is the direction, this is the mission, this is the path. As the red and black flag waves today more proud than ever, our common journey leads us towards a destination we have long dreamed of, towards the European Union. Kosovo and Albania walk side by side, as two states and one nation. Two state flags, but one single Albanian heart. Both countries have fought