The President of the Republic of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani participated at the KFOR Change of Command ceremony, where she thanked Major General Ferenc Kajari for his service in Kosovo to date and wished a warm welcome to Major General Angelo Michele Ristuccia.
In her speech in front of Admiral Stuart B. Munsch, Commander of the NATO Allied Joint Force Command in Naples, KFOR leadership structures and representatives of Kosovo institutions, President Osmani emphasized that Major General Ristuccia is starting the mission in the most pro-NATO country in the world. According to her, Kosovo is a reliable partner of the North Atlantic Alliance, a member of which it intends to become.
President Osmani thanked thousands of KFOR women and men who have contributed and continue to contribute to freedom of movement, security and peace for 23 years.
According to President Osmani, while KFOR has reduced its presence, Kosovo has strengthened its defense capacities and at the same time is continuing the partnership and coordination with the peacekeeping forces.
“In 1999, NATO intervened to stop the ongoing genocide being perpetrated against the people of Kosovo. 23 years later, our military is serving alongside the US military and other partner countries and contributing to peacekeeping missions around the world. Kosovo has always stood on the right side of history and we are showing this once again by standing by the people of Ukraine now that peace, democracy, and order based on international rules are under attack again,” said President Osmani.
According to her, with NATO's contribution, Kosovo today is a peaceful and prosperous country. She reiterated the position that it is in Kosovo's state interest to be part of NATO, in order to protect collective security, democratic values, peace and stability in the country, region and around the world.