Honourable Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Konjufca,
Honourable Prime Minister, Mr. Kurti,
Honourable Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers,
Representatives of the Municipality of Prizren,
Representatives of central and local institutions,
Honourable Members of Parliament,
Dear citizens of Prizren, of the Republic of Kosovo, of Albania and the entire Albanian space,
Today we are again in Prizren to reflect on two key moments in the history of the Albanian and Kosovo people, events that took place more than a century apart, but are deeply interconnected in their importance: the League of Prizren of 1878 and the liberation of Kosovo on June 12, 1999.
These two dates symbolize the enduring spirit of our people, our dedication to freedom and our unwavering determination in the fight for freedom and independence.
Every time June 10th arrives, we return to this place where 146 years ago ideologists Ymer Prizreni, Abdyl Frashëri, Iljaz Pashë-Dibra, Sylejman Vokshi and many others gathered in the Assembly with the cause of national revival against the danger that threatened our nation.
Combining the nationwide political and military organization, the League of Prizren represents the culminating organization for the liberation of Albanian lands and their protection from any threat and claim of other countries.
Prizren was chosen as an appropriate place, in accordance with the geostrategic and geopolitical context of the time, with which the leadership of the League aimed at the sacred mission of national revival and revival and the realization of the natural right to freedom and independence, like other peoples in Europe.
The demands and positions of the League of Prizren became the cornerstone and guiding compass of our destiny as a nation, alongside other nations of Europe.
Despite the fact that the positions and demands of the Assembly of the Albanian League of Prizren were not considered by the great powers at the Congress of Berlin, its leaders came to the forefront in organizing and carrying out titanic resistance to implement the ideals associated with the decisions of the League of Lezha, led by our national hero, Gjergj Kastrioti-Skanderbeg.
The continuity of numerous liberation uprisings, in particular the one in 1910 in Kosovo, then the one in 1911 led by Dedë Gjo Luli, the declaration of Independence on November 28, 1912 in Vlora and finally the declaration of independence of Kosovo on February 17, 2008, have their source, among other things, in the history of the League of Prizren.
Therefore, the League of Prizren remains forever engraved in the minds and hearts of every Albanian as a natural testament to the spirit of our nation.
It is precisely this goal, together with that of the League, that naturally intertwine with June 1999, with the historic victory of our people’s resistance, led through peaceful resistance initially by the historic President Ibrahim Rugova and in the liberation war of the KLA, led by the legendary Commander, Adem Jashari, and undoubtedly with the strong support of the democratic world, led by the United States of America and the entire North Atlantic Alliance (NATO).
In 1998 and 1999, as in 1878, Albanians from all the areas where they live came together to support the liberation war, making Kosovo free and independent, as they dreamed and sacrificed for generations.
As Mr. Tony Blair said today in the Kosovo Assembly: Kosovo was liberated from the occupying forces, because they were occupying forces, but they will never return.
However, as history repeats itself, so do trends. In this turbulent time for our continent, Serbian chauvinist ambitions are once again on the scene with appetites that we have not seen in 25 years.
Therefore, in the face of great security threats, our unity will serve as a force to protect our state from the chauvinist tendencies of neighbouring Serbia.
We must rise above our differences, reflecting on the events of our history to find the strength just as before, so that in the function of protecting the nation and the homeland, we can all be one!
Congratulations on the 146th anniversary of the League of Prizren!
Congratulations on the 25th anniversary of the liberation of Kosovo
Thank you!
