Dear citizens of the Republic of Kosovo,
Honourable diaspora, the force that keeps Kosovo connected to the world!
There is no greater honour than to serve the Republic.
There is no greater responsibility, but also more noble, than to shoulder the trust of your citizens.
Thanks to your commitment to democratic values and perseverance in creating stable institutions, I have had the honor and the great responsibility to ensure that your will and your voice are worthily represented.
From day one, I have taken on this task with a clear conviction: that integrity is not negotiable, that the state does not bend, and that the trust of citizens is not wasted.
This has been my compass even when the path has not been easy and extremely challenging.
Your support has been clear, loud and continuous.
I have felt it in every neighbourhood, in every village and city, in every meeting, in every message, and in every opportunity I have had to meet you.
That support, above all, was trust.
And for this trust, I bow before you with the deepest and eternal gratitude.
Because the trust of citizens is the force that gives meaning to every public responsibility. I have turned that trust into loyalty, to you, to the principles of the state, to our common national and democratic values. Loyalty, solely to the Republic of Kosovo, its sovereignty, its independence and the inviolability of its borders.
For me, it has always been and it remains essential to protect the interests of the state and our citizens, to connect the difficult history and sacrifice of our people with the vision of the founding father of the Republic, President Rugova, to honor our liberation war and to protect alliances with our security allies who, even 27 years after the war, together with our institutions, still protect our border with Serbia. Protecting the alliance of freedom with the USA, European countries, and all peace-loving countries around the globe has been and remains the stable foundation for peace. I do not move from this vision, because this is the vision of our state, this is the vision of the citizens of my country.
Dear citizens,
My orientation as your representative has been and remains clear: that of President Rugova: a free, independent, democratic Kosovo, integrated into Euro-Atlantic structures and in permanent alliance with the United States of America. This has not been just a vision; it has been my daily guide. And Kosovo of these five years has been guided every day by this clear strategic orientation.
With deep humility, as always, today I honor the heroes, the martyrs of freedom, the martyrs of the Kosovo Liberation Army; all those who were forcibly disappeared by the Serbian genocidal forces; all the survivors of sexual violence during the war and all those who gave everything for this country, because our freedom bears their name and our Republic stands on their sacrifice.
These have been the permanence of my actions and the guiding compass of every work, in each day of my commitment to our beloved Republic, always remaining faithful to the principles of our state, now on the last day of the mandate, as on its first day.
Because a Kosovo that opens its doors abroad is stronger inside.
Because a Kosovo that is heard in the world is always safer at home.
At every meeting, every visit, in every conversation with world leaders, I have had a single message: Kosovo is a sovereign, democratic republic, with inviolable borders and determined to contribute to international peace, stability and security, both in our region and beyond, and a state destined for a Euro-Atlantic future.
This work has not stopped at any moment. I am deeply proud that we are leaving this institution more respected in the world, with open doors and strengthened alliances.
By bringing new recognition to Kosovo; by achieving visa liberalization with the EU and many other countries; by taking concrete steps towards the country’s integration into the EU and the Council of Europe; and also concrete steps towards a future in NATO, by providing strong guarantees for the inviolability of our borders; by building partnerships to strengthen our army; by making Kosovo part of platforms where it had no access before, such as with the historic participation in the NATO Summit, by making it a founding member of the Peace Board; by returning Kosovo to the center of global agendas: from the Agenda for Women, Peace and Security. to the protection of children in the digital world. By significantly advancing relations with other countries, until yesterday hesitant to establish relations with our country; by opening new perspectives of political relations with many other countries all over the globe, in these 5 years, we have proven that even a small state can have a great voice.
Because this was our vision from the first day when I was sworn in at the Assembly, but above all, when I swore the oath in front of you: for Kosovo to not only be part of
international tables, but also an active contributor to them.
Dear citizens,
As Supreme Commander of the KSF, I have seen up close the true strength of this country: our people in uniform. Women and men who do not seek applause, but carry our security on their shoulders.
But the future requires more than achievement. It also requires vigilance.
We live at a time when truth is challenged every day.
Where propaganda is dressed up as opinion.
Where slander and manipulation tend to replace fact.
Therefore, I beg you: do not lose your compass.
Because only when the truth is known and defended, manipulation loses its power and the moral compass remains unshakable.
In recent weeks, meeting you all over Kosovo, I have seen something that cannot be fabricated: trust that is not easily extinguished.
But I have also seen your expectation and demand for more justice, more dignity, a clearer future, and unity around values.
And this expectation is just. Because Kosovo may be a small country, but it is a country with a great memory, and it deserves an even brighter future.
Sometimes, in politics, it is precisely loyalty to principles, consistency to the values of your people, the vision to protect the state and to stand strong alongside yesterday’s and today’s allies, and above all, loyalty to Kosovo, that becomes an obstacle for some.
On this journey, I have learned another truth: that sometimes, the greatest challenges do not come from outside.
They come when consistency to principles begins to be seen as an obstacle and not as a value, and when loyalty to the state does not match daily interests.
And precisely in those moments, a leader must choose: convenience or integrity.
I firmly believe that I have chosen integrity.
Because for me, the Republic is not an instrument. It is a trust. It is a trust.
Dear citizens,
At every meeting with you these days, I saw gratitude in your eyes, but also the expectation that Kosovo will achieve even more, better, and faster.
This is our Kosovo.
A small country on the map, but big in spirit.
A nation who have learned to stand, rise and move forward, always doing more than is expected of them.
To all those I have met: thank you from the bottom of my heart!
To those I have not been able to meet: our paths will cross, and we will be together, side by side, in the challenges and goals that await us.
During these 5 years, we have stood by women, youth, children, expats, athletes, people with special needs, non-majority communities and our citizens throughout the country, because a strong Republic is built only when each citizen feels included, heard and represented.
There is no greater calling than to serve a cause greater than oneself.
Being President of the Republic of Kosovo means being an uncompromising defender of our glorious past, a daily fighter for the present and a determined guarantor of a better future.
Today, I bow to every citizen who has trusted us. Because trust is the most precious currency of democracy, and the easiest to lose when truth is replaced by slander. That is
why I invite you to defend the truth together.
We may face challenges. We may face injustice.
But we will never, never, face a lack of courage. I promise you this. Because this nation has always chosen to stand up for what is right.
And if there is one thing I have learned from you, it is this: that Kosovo is not strong only when it wins, but it is invincible because it never gives up.
Dear citizens,
Our Republic will continue to grow stronger:
for the girls who are growing up with big dreams,
for the boys who believe in this country,
for the mothers and fathers who sacrifice every day,
for the grandparents who kept hope alive,
Because this Republic is bigger than any mandate, than any individual, and stronger than any political moment.
Kosovo will move forward. Together, we will move forward.
I will continue to be with you, for you, and for the state that we have all built together and that we will defend forever. I will continue to be on the side of the Republic of Kosovo.
Of course, political commitment means that the price of our positions is often paid by our families. Therefore, I want to thank from the bottom of my heart my two daughters and my husband, as well as my entire family, who stood by me every step of the way, no matter how difficult this journey was. Family is the strongest foundation of this society, and only by preserving the family values that have always been our strength will we be able to strengthen our state.
I would like to express special thanks to my cabinet and my colleagues here at the Presidency who have done a tireless and extraordinary job over these years. I also thank the administration and the many partners who, with dedication, often away from the public eye, have carried the weight of this mission with us. I thank our institutions, the friends of Kosovo with whom we collaborated to make Kosovo stronger, more heard and more respected.
Dear citizens,
The deepest gratitude always belongs to you.
Thank you for your trust.
Thank you for your support.
Thank you for your love.
Thank you for the greatest honor in life that you gave me: to serve our Republic!
Kosovo is and will remain independent and sovereign, inviolable within its borders, open to partnerships and alliances of values, unstoppable towards the EU and NATO, and eternally side by side with the United States of America. I wish that every President or Presidents in the future preserve and continue this legacy and this journey.
President Rugova built this institution as a strong institution, with integrity and allies. And such, I am leaving behind.
Today I am leaving this duty, but not at all, not at all, out of devotion to our beloved homeland.
May God bless the Republic of Kosovo and its people!
May God bless you and your families!
Thank you!
