President of the Republic of Kosovo, Mrs. Atifete Jahjaga, is attending the Summit of the member states as well as states with observer status of the International Organisation of La Francophonie, which is being held in Senegal. She is accompanied by the Foreign Affairs Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Mr. Enver Hoxhaj.
During the today’s proceedings of the Summit, Kosovo became an observer status member of the International Organisation of La Francophonie.
The Summit is attended by a large number of statesmen from different countries of the world, including the President of France, Mr. François Hollande.
At an address delivered at this occasion, President Jahjaga said:
Honourable President, Ministers,
Honourable representatives of the member and observer states of the International Organisation of La Francophonie,
Ladies and Gentlemen;
I have an exceptional pleasure to represent Republic of Kosovo at the summit of this great cultural institution, at an important day as this one, when our country is becoming a member with an observer status in this respectable institution of our common values.
On behalf of the citizens of Kosovo and on behalf of institutions of the Republic, I would like to thank our host, President of Senegal, under whose auspices, the discussions for making Kosovo an equal member of this organisation and this forum of cooperation and communication were held.
I am grateful to every single member state of the OIF for the support which they have offered to the Republic of Kosovo and your unequivocal consensus for the acceptance of Kosovo in your midst. By incorporation of Kosovo in this organisation, you also added to yourselves a supporter of values which advance peace, as well as an additional voice which strengthens the dialogue and partnership as the only way to finding of solution to challenges of the future, affecting each and every one of us.
As the youngest state of Europe, we are dedicated to building of a country of equal citizens in both responsibilities and privileges they enjoy, a multi-ethnic state, proud of its achievements, its cultural coexistence and religious harmony, integrated into North Atlantic Alliance (NATO) and embracing the ideals which we have laid in the foundations of our state.
On this table, Kosovo and its institutions will be bringing our contribution, as equal members, to the improvement of the lives of our citizens and to the building of bridges of political, cultural and economic cooperation, which will further advance our bilateral relations and will strengthen our common values.
I welcome the opportunities for this cooperation and I thank you once again, for the contribution of every single delegate, every single state and supporter, towards the expansion of partnership and lending of the hand of friendship to Kosovo.