Honourable Prime Minister Kurti,
Honourable Ambassador Hovenier,
Honourable Minister Mehaj,
Minister Sveçla,
Honourable KSF Commander, Lieutenant General Jashari,
Honourable Deputy Commander of the 34th Infantry Division, Brigadier General Erens,
Brigadier General Bozicevic,
Honourable partners of the Republic of Kosovo, partners of the Kosovo Security Force,
Soldiers of the partner forces and of the Kosovo Security Force,
Honourable participants in this historic exercise,
Dear citizens of our Republic,
I have the honour to be with you today at the commencement ceremony of the joint multinational exercise Defender Europe ’23, led by the US Army Europe and Africa Command.
Today, I stand before you to pay tribute to your courage, dedication and unwavering commitment to this international exercise.
You are the embodiment of bravery and the representation of the noblest ideals of service, sacrifice and solidarity.
You are guardians of peace and security in an increasingly complex world and increasingly challenging developments.
In this international exercise, you are alongside armies from different nations and states.
However, you remain united under a single cause, the common cause—to strengthen cooperation, build trust, and enhance interoperability among allied forces.
You are the epitome of teamwork, crossing boundaries and working together towards a common goal – the safety and protection of our values.
This international exercise is a symbol of our collective determination to maintain peace and stability in a world that is constantly being challenged. It is a reminder that our strength lies not only in the power of our weapons but in the connections we create, in the alliances we build and in the shared values we cultivate every day.
Together we are stronger against the forces that seek to divide us, proving that our unity and cooperation are key to a safer and more peaceful future.
The main objective of Defender 23 is to demonstrate the military and combat capability of the US and allied forces against potential aggressors and to reassure European allies and partners that the continent is safe from potential attacks.
This exercise is historic in many respects, especially for the youngest military force on the European continent, our Security Force.
Exactly two years ago, with great success, we carried out the “Defender-Europe’21” exercise together, and we continued without stopping in the preparations for the next exercise, which is commencing today with a ceremony in Gjergj Kastrioti-Skënderbeu Square, one of the names most significant in our history.
Skenderbeg is a hero not only for Kosovo but also for Europe. He is known as a strategist and military leader among the greatest in the history of wars for the defense of the homeland and the protection of civilizational values that strongly influenced the defense of Europe and our continent in general.
On the other side of the square is the statue of the historic leader, the leader of the movement for our independence, and at the same time the architect of our Republic, the Historic President Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, whose vision and ideal, throughout the difficult journey, was embodied in pro-Western and Euro-Atlantic values.
Defender 2023 also coincides with the 24th anniversary of our liberation, which is a day as fresh as the memory of the US military intervention with the forces of other NATO allied countries, against Milosevic’s genocide against the people of Kosovo. We were the victims, while Milosevic’s regime was the aggressor. Well, our war was a war for freedom! This is the only truth, which we will defend every time and everywhere!
Therefore, today, as we see the KSF soldiers lined up in this square, I want to bring to the attention of everyone the sacrifice of their ancestors, the daughters and sons of the KLA, who made our freedom possible and protected and restored our dignity. They are the epitome of selflessness, sacrifice and courage. Led by the legendary commander Adem Jashari, they and over 3 thousand KLA martyrs are the personifications of freedom and our country.
Appreciations and eternal gratitude to the KLA girls and boys!
Thank you also to the men and women of the nations of the freedom alliance, the NATO alliance, and all the USA soldiers for the sacrifice in support of our efforts for freedom and independence!
During the 24 years after the war, you stood by us with your support, supporting the Army of the Republic of Kosovo, which we raised and developed together with you, and now in this exercise, they will practically demonstrate that they are ready to carry out tasks within multinational peace and stability operations wherever needed.
Honourable participants,
The participation of the Republic of Kosovo, with the status of the host country among 25 countries in this exercise with the readiness and interoperability of about 1400 KSF troops, side by side with many American and other multinational military troops of allied and partner and NATO countries, best confirms the strong trust of our strategic partner, the USA, towards the Republic of Kosovo and towards our Army.
Our way forward is unstoppable and we are strongly determined to consolidate and strengthen the democratic institutions of the rule of law and the rule of law as vital factors in strengthening the security and defense system in our country.
In a very sensitive security environment, when challenges and threats are becoming more and more complex, the importance of cooperation with allies in the field of defense, along with all other fields, is necessary and existential.
This is strongly confirmed by the high level of interoperability during the planning phase of the exercise, which we believe will be crowned with maximum success in the execution phase with the integration of our forces into a joint training operation with the countries of the Western Balkan region.
In addition to the “Defender-Europe’23” exercise, this also raises the need for the joint creation of a political front, as well as that of security and defense, starting with the Adriatic Charter, USA-A5, with the necessity to move forward with Kosovo’s membership, then with the entry of our Republic into the Partnership for Peace Program leading to NATO membership.
This fact should be a strong indicator for all the causes of challenges, all the causes of destructiveness and destabilization tendencies that they will always fail in their efforts to undermine peace and security in our country and the region in general..
Our countries have demonstrated and continue to do so, as they do with this exercise, full stability thanks to the clear Euro-Atlantic orientation and close partnership with the USA, EU countries and other NATO member countries, as well as the regular and coordinated cooperation based on shared values and objectives.
Soldiers of amicable forces and of the Kosovo Security Force,
Today you will crown your maximum and selfless commitment carried out during the long preparatory phase.
I have full confidence in your professional skills and capacities and your level of strength, endurance and intensive preparations.
Let this international exercise serve as a testament to the power of cooperation, as a triumph of the human spirit and the indomitable will of soldiers like you. Let this be an indication of how strong our alliance with the USA is.
Stay steadfast in your purpose, hold fast to your values, and come back from this exercise with new pride, experience, and skills!
Together with allied forces, we are always stronger!
Good luck and good tidings to you!
God bless our alliance with the United States of America!
Thank you!
