President Thaçi in Washington: The future of our friendship with America is safe
Washington, February 08 – The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, attended last evening the reception organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo in Washington, in honour of the tenth anniversary of the independence of Kosovo.
President Thaçi traveled to the USA
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, has traveled to the United States today, where he will attend the Morning Prayers in Washington.
President Thaçi’s speech, addressing the Governmental Cabinet upon the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the Independence
Honourable Prime Minister Haradinaj, Honourable Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers, Honourable citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you very much honoured Prime Minister Haradinaj for the invitation to attend this meeting of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo. We are close to the marking of the tenth anniversary of the declaration of the independence, which for me, for each of you, and above all for our citizens, should be a moment of pride for our path of state building. We are also close to the publication of the EU Strategy for the Western Balkans, which definitely should create unique opportunities for EU membership for Kosovo and the entire region. It is the right time for the European Union to confirm that the entire Southeast Europe belongs to the EU, and not to other ideologies that violate Western values and principles. For us, the signing of the SAA has been an acknowledgment for the reforms we have made in all sectors: in economy, politics, and rule of law. But it is also a guide to our EU integration path. Honourable Prime Minister, congratulating you and your Cabinet for the work, I call the government to work with greater intensity for the implementation of the SAA and the European Agenda for Reforms. In this context, also all the institutions, the Presidency, the Parliament, and the local levels in close cooperation with the civil society, the media, public personalities and with all contributing people. Of course, our constant focus should be economic development. The signing of the agreement for the construction of the New Kosovo power plant by the Government of Kosovo was historical, for which I congratulate you, honourable Prime Minister for your leadership role. Increasing the welfare of the citizens, increasing the quality of education, medical services, increasing care for martyrs’ families and the continued care for KLA veterans, the opening of new jobs, and many other issues remain priorities of all institutions of the country. Honourable Prime Minister Haradinaj, Governmental Cabinet, Citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, I am glad that in these ten years of our country we have made continuous progress, though not always as much as our citizens deserve. The demands of the citizens were far greater than the opportunities we had as a state. But the trends are positive and that should motivate us all to move forward. State-building for us has not been an easy process for the reasons we all know. Kosovo has had to face enormous challenges to consolidate our statehood not only in the international arena but also on the internal plan. Only ten years ago, the northern part of Kosovo was under the control of Serbia’s illegal structures. While the current reality there is quite different. We have managed to conduct municipal and central elections, according to the Constitution and laws of Kosovo, through which our citizens have chosen their leaders who are represented in Parliament, the Government and the local institutions. We have installed our police and our judiciary. At the border crossing points in northern Kosovo there are Kosovo police officers and customs officers. Honourable Prime Minister Haradinaj, Honourable members of the Governmental Cabinet, Within this period we have built excellent relations with the countries of the region. The dialogue for the normalization of relations between the Republic of Kosovo and Serbia and the 2013 Brussels agreement has given positive results, although there is still much to be done. We have now entered the closing phase of this process and we are working to reach a final agreement which implies full normalization of relations and inter-state reconciliation. Without a doubt, today we are a good example of peace and reconciliation, an example of dialogue and building good relations with all. For a new, small, war-torn state, these achievements, for such a short time, are encouraging. As we are preparing to celebrate the tenth anniversary of our state, we are proud of the achievements of our people in many areas. The medals in sports, the rewards in art and culture, the achievements in science and innovation of the Kosovar youth make every citizen of our Republic proud. Their successes deserve even more room in our public space and greater attention of our institutions. Honourable Prime Minister Haradinaj, Honourable members of the Governmental Cabinet, Honourable citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, As we count the achievements of the state of Kosovo, of course, we can not fail to mention the aspirations for the future as well as the challenges we are facing. Although we know what our destination is, the road towards NATO and the EU is not easy and fast. This requires dedication and work focused on coping with the challenges, both immediate and long-term challenges. Immediate challenges remain the fulfilment of all conditions for visa liberalization for Kosovo citizens, the rapid and successful transformation of the Kosovo Security Force into the Armed Forces, the fight against radicalism and extremism and the preservation of the partnership with the international community, the war against corruption, organized crime and all other negative phenomena. But we should be encouraging in the commitments we have made so far, because we have met the criteria for liberalization, of course by welcoming and the recent efforts to find a way forward for the ratification of the demarcation agreement with Montenegro are very welcome. We should also praise the work of the members of the KSF to include all communities and to increase the level of professionalism, the multi-ethnic building of this army, enabling the establishment of the Armed Forces of Kosovo. As a society we have been determined and have acted together, at the institutional level and at the general social level, to prevent the penetration of extremism and radicalism in our society. Kosovo has been, is and will remain an active part of the anti-terrorist war, that is, of the global anti-terrorist coalition. By staying behind our international obligations, we demonstrate high responsibility to the international community on the one
President Thaçi’s speech, addressing the Governmental Cabinet upon the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the Independence
Honourable Prime Minister Haradinaj, Honourable Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers, Honourable citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you very much honoured Prime Minister Haradinaj for the invitation to attend this meeting of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo. We are close to the marking of the tenth anniversary of the declaration of the independence, which for me, for each of you, and above all for our citizens, should be a moment of pride for our path of state building. We are also close to the publication of the EU Strategy for the Western Balkans, which definitely should create unique opportunities for EU membership for Kosovo and the entire region. It is the right time for the European Union to confirm that the entire Southeast Europe belongs to the EU, and not to other ideologies that violate Western values and principles. For us, the signing of the SAA has been an acknowledgment for the reforms we have made in all sectors: in economy, politics, and rule of law. But it is also a guide to our EU integration path. Honourable Prime Minister, congratulating you and your Cabinet for the work, I call the government to work with greater intensity for the implementation of the SAA and the European Agenda for Reforms. In this context, also all the institutions, the Presidency, the Parliament, and the local levels in close cooperation with the civil society, the media, public personalities and with all contributing people. Of course, our constant focus should be economic development. The signing of the agreement for the construction of the New Kosovo power plant by the Government of Kosovo was historical, for which I congratulate you, honourable Prime Minister for your leadership role. Increasing the welfare of the citizens, increasing the quality of education, medical services, increasing care for martyrs’ families and the continued care for KLA veterans, the opening of new jobs, and many other issues remain priorities of all institutions of the country. Honourable Prime Minister Haradinaj, Governmental Cabinet, Citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, I am glad that in these ten years of our country we have made continuous progress, though not always as much as our citizens deserve. The demands of the citizens were far greater than the opportunities we had as a state. But the trends are positive and that should motivate us all to move forward. State-building for us has not been an easy process for the reasons we all know. Kosovo has had to face enormous challenges to consolidate our statehood not only in the international arena but also on the internal plan. Only ten years ago, the northern part of Kosovo was under the control of Serbia’s illegal structures. While the current reality there is quite different. We have managed to conduct municipal and central elections, according to the Constitution and laws of Kosovo, through which our citizens have chosen their leaders who are represented in Parliament, the Government and the local institutions. We have installed our police and our judiciary. At the border crossing points in northern Kosovo there are Kosovo police officers and customs officers. Honourable Prime Minister Haradinaj, Honourable members of the Governmental Cabinet, Within this period we have built excellent relations with the countries of the region. The dialogue for the normalization of relations between the Republic of Kosovo and Serbia and the 2013 Brussels agreement has given positive results, although there is still much to be done. We have now entered the closing phase of this process and we are working to reach a final agreement which implies full normalization of relations and inter-state reconciliation. Without a doubt, today we are a good example of peace and reconciliation, an example of dialogue and building good relations with all. For a new, small, war-torn state, these achievements, for such a short time, are encouraging. As we are preparing to celebrate the tenth anniversary of our state, we are proud of the achievements of our people in many areas. The medals in sports, the rewards in art and culture, the achievements in science and innovation of the Kosovar youth make every citizen of our Republic proud. Their successes deserve even more room in our public space and greater attention of our institutions. Honourable Prime Minister Haradinaj, Honourable members of the Governmental Cabinet, Honourable citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, As we count the achievements of the state of Kosovo, of course, we can not fail to mention the aspirations for the future as well as the challenges we are facing. Although we know what our destination is, the road towards NATO and the EU is not easy and fast. This requires dedication and work focused on coping with the challenges, both immediate and long-term challenges. Immediate challenges remain the fulfilment of all conditions for visa liberalization for Kosovo citizens, the rapid and successful transformation of the Kosovo Security Force into the Armed Forces, the fight against radicalism and extremism and the preservation of the partnership with the international community, the war against corruption, organized crime and all other negative phenomena. But we should be encouraging in the commitments we have made so far, because we have met the criteria for liberalization, of course by welcoming and the recent efforts to find a way forward for the ratification of the demarcation agreement with Montenegro are very welcome. We should also praise the work of the members of the KSF to include all communities and to increase the level of professionalism, the multi-ethnic building of this army, enabling the establishment of the Armed Forces of Kosovo. As a society we have been determined and have acted together, at the institutional level and at the general social level, to prevent the penetration of extremism and radicalism in our society. Kosovo has been, is and will remain an active part of the anti-terrorist war, that is, of the global anti-terrorist coalition. By staying behind our international obligations, we demonstrate high responsibility to the international community on the one
President Thaçi handed over the Flag of Kosovo to the Olympic Team solemnly
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, handed over the Flag of Kosovo to the Olympic Team solemnly, who will participate in the winter Olympic Games “PyeongChang 2018”, to be held in South Korea
President Thaçi received a delegation from Ulcinj
Prishtina, February 2, 2018 – The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, met today a delegation from Ulcinj headed by Nazif Cungu, Mayor of Ulcinj, and composed of Genci Nimanbegu, Vice-President of the Assembly of Montenegro, and Faik Nika, Vice-President of the new Democratic Force.
Konkurs për plotësimin e vendit të lirë të punës – Një (1) Zyrtar i Lartë për Marrëdhënie Ndërkombëtare – Divizioni për Marrëdhënie Ndërkombëtare
Our shared values are under attack. They are also our best defence
At this year’s World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, global leaders will discuss the challenge of maintaining a shared progressive narrative in an increasingly fractured world. As President of Kosovo, a country that is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its independence this year and which is still developing economically and politically, I cannot stress enough the value of finding and maintaining a shared purpose on a global level. Countries like mine need the active support of a united global community that is interested in supporting sustainable and equitable development across the globe. Restoring the shared values that were born out of the collapse of communism in the 1990s is of special importance to me and my people. My country is the product of such shared humanitarian values. Exactly two decades ago, Kosovars were experiencing genocide and ethnic cleansing at the centre of the European continent. Half of the population was deported from Kosovo while images of mass graves were disturbing the global public. I was a political leader of a guerilla force that was trying to resist the devastating might of one of the continent’s last dictators – Slobodan Milosevic. Our efforts to protect our people would have likely taken far more time and human lives had there not been a global outcry. The memory of the Kosovo war may have faded for many of you by now, but back in 1998, everyone from Nobel Peace Prize laureates to NATO generals, from dedicated Western journalists in the field to humanitarian workers in refugee camps believed that peace was a worthy aim to fight for. Even then, there were voices on the political extremes opposed to the intervention that saved the people of Kosovo. The far left was unable to distance itself from anti-NATO sentiments and considered the Kosovo intervention an imperialist project. The far right, meanwhile, saw Kosovans as a dangerous Muslim ‘fifth column’ in Europe, and was not opposed to the policies of Milosevic in Bosnia and Kosovo. In the end, however, it was the shared human values of the overwhelming majority at the centre of the political spectrum that made our liberation possible. The disruptive forces of isolationism, fragmentation and nativism could not match the joint efforts across political and social strata to defend the basic values of humanity. In 2008, after a negotiation process mediated by the UN negotiator Marti Ahtisaari in full coordination with Western democracies, Kosovo declared its independence and is now recognised as a sovereign country by the majority of UN members. We have recorded the highest average economic growth for the last decade in the Western Balkans, and we have improved steadily in all critical indicators of good governance, economic and political freedoms and democratic nation-building. Almost 20 years after NATO’s involvement in Kosovo, we have to admit that the world has changed since those days of cross-cultural and international humanitarian interventions. With all the opportunities afforded by the internet and social media, I am sad and even disturbed by its sinister side. Extremists can find each other easily on social media, creating powerful echo-chambers that are spreading across the web like dark matter. That being said, I do not subscribe to the view that Twitter or Facebook are the roots of this increasingly fragmented narrative. No – it must be said clearly and unabashedly: there now exist powerful political forces that are trying deliberately and systematically to annul the last century of progress in the world – and in the case of Kosovo, a decade of freedom. These forces originate in Russia. Coordinated efforts from Moscow – between the state, propaganda channels, intelligence, hackers and political stakeholders – have one clear aim. They want to damage beyond repair multiple bonds of trust; between citizens and governments within Western countries, between countries belonging to NATO and the EU, but also beyond. These efforts are not created or caused by technology. These are forces that have always lurked in the background, at the extremes of our public discourse, but which are now strengthened by deliberate policies to destroy the values upon which the free world rests, including communities such as the EU and NATO. We cannot formulate new narratives in a fractured landscape without clearly identifying who is currently attacking the global order; and we cannot develop tools of resistance against fake news or cyber-assaults on democratic systems without accepting that these are deliberate attacks. These are not virtual islands of disruption, but a connected archipelago of conscious platforms of attack on our shared values. And so Davos this year will be extremely important as it seeks to analyse new geostrategic fissures, as well as ways to reconnect and to rediscover our joint story of human progress. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/01/our-shared-values-are-under-attack-they-are-also-our-best-defence
President Thaçi, a panelist at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland
Prishtina, January 23, 2018 – The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, has traveled today to Davos, Switzerland, where he will partcipate at the World Economic Forum.
President Thaçi has appointed 21 state prosecutors
Prishtina, January 22 – The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, pursuant to the constitutional and legal powers, in accordance with the proposal of the Prosecutorial Council, has appointed today 21 new state prosecutors, in the Basic Prosecutions of Kosovo.