The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, participated in the Commemorative Academy for the historic President Dr. Ibrahim Rugova.
President Osmani, at the beginning of her commemorative speech on the historic President, quoted the famous verse of poet Ali Podrimja: “I am your son, Kosovo”.
“There could be no stronger and profounder description of the character of a President who was not only a President but more than that, an Albanian deeply connected to roots, to the culture and heritage of his country; a man of knowledge who studied the culture and made the heritage of his people visible; a leader, as Zef Pllumi said, the ‘most knowledgeable and wisest of all’”, said President Osmani. According to President Osmani, nothing could better portray President Rugova than the expression “I am your son, Kosovo”, which connects him to the country, the people, the values of heritage, and the commitment to create and maintain the state while keeping the connection with the Euro-Atlantic alliance.
“He was truly the son of Kosovo, serving it until his last breath, and he therefore earned the eternal love of his people”, emphasized President Osmani. Furthermore, President Osmani stated that Kosovo was fortunate to have a wise and visionary man who quickly became a symbol of resistance, an enduring spirit, and an unfailing flag.
“He was an extraordinary mobilizer of an entire people around the values of freedom because he had the intellectual and moral ability to cultivate and defend the word of freedom and free opinion without fear. He did not hesitate to express the demand for the freedom of the individual and the collective freedom of the people, alongside the creation of it. By seeking it, he became a model leader, teaching us how to think and achieve internal freedom as a prerequisite for winning external freedom. He knew that if you have won internal freedom if you can resist the ideologies and wild thinking, you will also win physical freedom, as you can resist even the most aggressive enemy; if you can conceptually reject the violence of dangerous ideologies, then you will reject them practically”, stated President Osmani.
According to President Osmani, President Rugova gave politics its most valuable dimension, the human dimension.
“In the personality of Dr. Rugova, the history of a nation tested over centuries is symbolized. The more he knew the history of his people, the more he knew and cultivated the philosophy of his people. The more he cultivated the feeling of rejection as a philosophical concept, the more he knew and cultivated wise and determined behaviour; the trials he faced in life, politics, and letters were proof of resilience. The more he was tested in life, in politics, and in letters, the more enduring and determined he became. He spoke briefly, but his words carried great weight. Their echo was felt far away, not only in Kosovo. He revived the national feeling and the feeling of freedom and united an entire people around this cause. Perhaps the poem “I am your son, Kosovo”, the poem that reminds us that love for the homeland is endless, could today have another title: We, your sons and daughters, Ibrahim Rugova, the founding father of our Republic”, said President Osmani.
She further stated that President Rugova will forever remain in the foundations of the state of Kosovo because he represents the spirit of the movement and the enduring efforts for independence.
“His political legacy is extraordinary. His role in leading the people of Kosovo towards freedom was decisive. He directed Kosovo towards the Euro-Atlantic vision and drew the attention of the entire democratic world to Kosovo. His death on the unexpected date of 21 January 2006 never diminished the echo of his work and the eternal memory of his personality. On the contrary, nowadays he is a guiding light as we work for the well-being and continuous success of our country and our people”, added President Osmani.
According to President Osmani, friendship and trust were values for President Rugova. Therefore, he strongly cultivated and strengthened friendships. He gained the respect of the greatest world personalities because he knew how to express gratitude to friends and work closely with them. These friendships were there when the people of Kosovo needed them the most. America was the guiding compass for his political actions and the building of democratic life, the exemplary model, and his guide for a free Kosovo.
“In conclusion, President Rugova will remain the man whom people loved and trusted, but also the leader who never abused this trust of his people. His connection with the people was also evidenced by the endless line of people who, on the day of his death on 21 January 2006, did not succumb to bitterness and cold but waited for hours to accompany their historic leader. This endless river of people expressed the endless love of a people for the one who led our citizens on a mission, a cause, but above all, on a journey: the journey towards an independent and sovereign Kosovo, integrated into the European Union and NATO, and in eternal friendship with the United States of America”, emphasized President Osmani.
