Thank you very much and good morning to everyone!
Honourable Mr. Fetahu,
Dear members of the Youth Council from all over the Republic of Kosovo,
Honourable Mr. O’Malley and Ms. Vashchenko,
Dearly beloved students,
It is truly a special pleasure to be among you today, precisely on International Students’ Day. At a conference that places students at the center of the conversation about peace and security, as it should be, in fact, in every democratic country.
I am extremely happy that this conference is bringing together over 200 high students, from every city, village and community in Kosovo.
This diversity is the most beautiful picture of our country. An inclusive Kosovo that builds bridges, where every student feels welcome and where peace begins exactly where you are formed, in your classroom and in your dreams for the future.
In the history of our country, young people and students have always been at the forefront of vital processes for our country.During the darkest periods, when our homes were turned into schools, because schools were forcibly closed for us and children were systematically poisoned by Milosevic’s genocidal regime, it was our students and young people who carried the heaviest burden, but they were the ones who raised their voices for freedom, for dignity and for the right to education.
A right that you today freely exercise, to think freely, to learn freely and to contribute to this country, which today is free thanks to the many students who sacrificed everything, so that today you and all of us can breathe in freedom.
And this very story reminds us that youth is never simply a distant witness to processes, youth is precisely the force that changes those processes. Even today, the responsibility to build a safe society begins precisely in schools.
School should be the safe space of your life, a place where you are respected, where you are heard and where you are not afraid at any moment to be yourself. This means an environment without violence, without bullying, without exclusion and without stigmatization of anyone.
Building such an environment requires daily commitment from each of us and sincere cooperation between students, teachers and institutions.
And an essential part of safety is also mental health. Many of our students, young people face pressures that are often not seen from the outside, but are felt deep inside.
Therefore, it is necessary for each school to offer professional support, as well as safe spaces, where students can talk about their concerns.
Asking for help is never weakness, it is courage and no one should feel alone in this regard.
And safety in digital space is equally important.
A large part of your life takes place online, and what happens online doesn’t just stay on your screen.
Bad language, online harassment, or thoughtless sharing of something that can harm someone in seconds, is why it’s important to exercise responsibility and caution whenever you communicate on social media.
And we also need to make sure that our security institutions protect every student who may encounter such phenomena.
You are the generation that can set new standards of digital behavior and show that respect is valid in real life as well as in virtual spaces.
Dear students, you are not just students who learn in schools, you are activists, you are innovators, you are creators of new ideas, and direct contributors to your peace and security and to the peace and security of our country.
It is no coincidence that at the International Forum on Women, Peace and Security, held in June of this year, we set the theme of child protection and the active participation of young people in public life and decision-making.
Your indispensable role at every step, from preventing violence to building trust among peers to creating a just society for all, is irreplaceable.
But, for this, your participation must be real and guaranteed, schools must be environments that motivate you to think critically, motivate you to raise your voice and provide ideas for the solutions that you see every day.
Your potential is extraordinary, you are the generation of peace and the generation of Kosovo’s bright future, and no matter how distant it may seem to you, I assure you that the future when you will lead this country in every sector is coming very, very soon.
I want to assure you that as always, the Presidency will be open to you, to your ideas, but also to your concerns.
Your potential, as I said, is great and we must ensure that it is utilized to move our country forward.
For this reason, I invite you to continue to work with dedication, to be curious, to protect each other and to keep the common good and the interest of our beloved country at the center of your every activity.
You are the ones who will write the next chapters of the history of our state!
Thank you and I wish you much success in the continuation of this conference!
