President Osmani invited by the President of Switzerland for a state visit to Switzerland on May 21-22
At the invitation of the Swiss Federal Council, led by the President of the Swiss Confederation, Mrs. Karin Keller-Sutter, the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, and the First Gentleman, Prindon Sadriu, have been invited for a state visit to the Helvetic Confederation on 21-22 May, thus marking the first state visit of a Kosovo head of state to Switzerland. State visits are the highest level of visits, i.e. a higher level than official visits, and occur very rarely, therefore, this also marks a historic moment in Kosovo-Switzerland relations. President Osmani will be received with state ceremonies and high military honours by the President of the Swiss Confederation, Mrs. Karin Keller-Sutter, at the central Bundesplatz in Bern on May 21st, in the presence of many citizens. As part of the official agenda, President Osmani will hold meetings with the President of Switzerland and the Federal Council, as well as deliver a speech at the Swiss Parliament. Both presidents will also hold a joint press conference. In honour of President Osmani and the delegation from Kosovo, President Keller-Sutter will organise a state banquet, thus honouring the lasting friendship and partnership between the two countries. On the second day of the visit, President Osmani and President Keller-Sutter will visit a manufacturing company in eastern Switzerland, as well as a centre at the University of Saint Gallen, which is dedicated to developing a culture of learning and teaching areas of particular importance for the future of young people in Kosovo and Switzerland. In addition, President Osmani will have a meeting in Geneva with the Albanian diaspora, who live and work in Switzerland. The state visit of President Osmani is not only historic, but also symbolic, as it emphasizes the close, stable and multidimensional relations between Kosovo and Switzerland. They are relations built on shared history, democratic values and close state cooperation. Our compatriots who live and contribute in Switzerland have become a powerful bridge connecting the two peoples and two states. Switzerland was one of the first countries to recognize Kosovo’s independence in 2008 and since then has been one of the biggest supporters of the democratic, state-building and development processes of our country.
President Osmani: During my visit to Vienna, I was honoured to award Presidential Medals of Merit to some of Kosovo’s most valued friends in Austria
During her visit to Vienna, the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, awarded Presidential Medals of Merit to some of Kosovo’s most valued friends in Austria. “During my visit to Vienna, I had the honour of awarding Presidential Medals of Merit to some of Kosovo’s most valued friends in Austria. Today, our countries are closer than ever thanks to the support of friends like them!”, wrote President Osmani.
President: In Mauthausen, Austria, where humanity first knew horror, alongside fellow world heads of state, we gathered to remember and to promise one more time: Never again!
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, said that in Mauthausen, Austria, where humanity knew horror, together with other world leaders, they gathered to remember what happened there and to promise that it will: Never happen again! President Osmani wrote: In Mauthausen, Austria, where humanity first knew horror, we gathered with other world leaders to remember and to promise one more time: Never again! On the 80th anniversary of the liberation of this concentration camp by American forces, we felt the weight of memory and the strength of the oath to defend peace, dignity, and freedom, always. Let us be the voice of those who can no longer speak and the shield of the values for which they sacrificed themselves.
President Osmani meets the President of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, met today with the President of the Republic of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen, in Mauthausen, Austria, where the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camp was commemorated. In a cordial and friendly atmosphere, President Van der Bellen and the First Lady of Austria, Doris Schmidauer, together with President Osmani and First Gentleman Prindon Sadriu, emphasised the excellent relations between Kosovo and Austria, built on shared values and mutual respect. President Osmani expressed the gratitude of the people and institutions of Kosovo for the continuous support that Austria has given in all phases of Kosovo’s state-building, from the early recognition of independence to the support in the international arena and the Euro-Atlantic integration process. President Osmani emphasised that Kosovo remains committed to peace, stability, and its path towards integration into the organisations of the Euro-Atlantic family. She briefed President Van der Bellen on the latest developments in Kosovo and the security challenges in our region. President Osmani and the First Gentleman, together with the President of Austria and the First Lady, the King and Queen of Spain, and dozens of delegations from around the world, participated in the commemorative ceremony of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Mauthausen concentration camp by American forces. In addition to this ceremony, the President will also take part in several other activities during this working visit to Austria.
President: On Europe Day, we reflect on the values at the core of both our Republic and the European Union
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, has said that on Europe Day, we reflect on the values at the core of both our Republic and the European Union: democracy, human rights and the rule of law. President Osmani wrote: On Europe Day, we reflect on the values that underpin our Republic and the European Union: democracy, human rights and the rule of law. These values have been and remain our guide in the journey towards integration into the European Union and the daily strengthening of our state. For the people of Kosovo, this day is a reaffirmation of who we are. Because we believe in Europe despite the challenges and injustices we face along this journey. On this significant day, it is important that, with one voice, we demand the lifting of the European Union’s unjust measures against Kosovo, and the serious treatment of Serbia’s destabilizing policies—which became even more evident when Vuçiq chose to mark Europe Day in Moscow, precisely with Putin, the one who is today endangering the stability and security of our continent. For the dream of Europeans for a whole, free and united Europe to be fully realised, punitive policies against the most pro-European people must end, and accommodative policies against pro-Putinist Serbia must stop.
President Osmani receives in a meeting the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Kosovo, Jonathan Hargreaves
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, received in a meeting the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Kosovo, Jonathan Hargreaves. During the meeting, they discussed the latest political developments in the country, with a particular emphasis on the need for the rapid establishment of institutions after the February 9 elections. President Osmani and Ambassador Hargreaves reaffirmed their mutual commitment to strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries and deepening cooperation in areas of common interest, such as the economy and defence, as agreed with the British Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, during his recent visit to Kosovo. The Berlin Process was another topic discussed during the meeting, which this time will be organised by the United Kingdom. President Osmani reiterated the need to prioritize the issue of enforced disappearances on the agenda of this process, as a moral and legal obligation that cannot be ignored in the context of sustainable peace in the region. The importance of further cooperation within the framework of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda was also highlighted, seeing the opportunities for an even more active role of the United Kingdom towards supporting the role of women in peace processes and decision-making. President Osmani expressed gratitude for the United Kingdom’s continued support towards Kosovo and for its contribution to advancing democratic processes and integration into international organisations.
President Osmani received in a meeting the new OSCE Ambassador to Kosovo, Gerard McGurk
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, had an introductory meeting yesterday with the new Ambassador of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Mr. Gerard McGurk, whom she warmly welcomed and wished success in his new mandate. During the meeting, President Osmani expressed her gratitude for the longstanding and stable partnership that the OSCE has built with Kosovo’s institutions and citizens. She highlighted the key role this mission has played in strengthening democracy, promoting good governance and advancing the rule of law in our country. In the meeting, President Osmani reiterated Kosovo’s commitment to close cooperation with the OSCE in the reform process, institutional transparency and human rights. Furthermore, President Osmani emphasized that she expects the OSCE to continue supporting Kosovo’s key priorities, including gender equality and support for marginalized groups.
President Osmani: The memory of Ilir Konushevci and doctor Hazir Malaj is a permanent commitment to preserve the freedom won with their blood and to maintain out with dignity the legacy they left behind
Today, we respectfully remember the hero Ilir Konushevci, the invincible fighter of the KLA, in the mission for the freedom of the homeland. Together with doctor Hazir Mala, they were steadfast in their dedication to freedom, as their dynamism was treacherously interrupted in an organized ambush, at a time when the Kosovo Liberation Army was expanding and organizing vigorously to carry out its liberation mission to the end. Their murder was a heavy loss for the KLA, but also a cornerstone for our freedom and for the state for which they fell, therefore justice for them is an obligation. They fell together, but rose eternally in the national memory as a symbol of the union of knowledge and weapons, of courage and humanity, of freedom and sacrifice. The memory of Ilir Konushevci and doctor Hazir Malaj is a permanent commitment to preserve the freedom won with their blood and to maintain with dignity the legacy they left behind. Eternal glory to their lives and work!
President Osmani congratulates His Holiness Pope Leo XIV: At a time when the world longs for peace, unity and compassion, his voice will carry great weight
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, has congratulated His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his election. President Osmani wrote: On behalf of the people of the Republic of Kosovo, I express my sincere congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his election. At a time when the world longs for peace, unity and compassion, his voice will carry great weight. May his papacy be marked by moral clarity, unwavering leadership and a deep commitment to the dignity of all humanity. Photo credits: Reuters/AP.
President Osmani received the credentials from the new Ambassador of Italy, Maurizio Antonini
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, received today the letters of credence from the new Ambassador of Italy, Maurizio Antonini. President Osmani wished Ambassador Antonini welcome and success in his diplomatic mission in Kosovo, underlining the excellent relations between the two states and the profound gratitude of the people of Kosovo for Italy’s continued support in all key stages of state-building and strengthening of Kosovo’s position in the international arena. The meeting highlighted the importance of further deepening bilateral cooperation in various fields, as well as cooperation within international organizations. The meeting also underlined the vital importance of moving forward in the Euro-Atlantic integration process of our country.