Honorable President of the Republic of Albania, President Begaj,<\/p>\n
First Lady Armanda Begaj,<\/p>\n
Honorable representatives of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo, the Government and the Assembly,<\/p>\n
Honorable ambassadors,<\/p>\n
Honorable Commander of the Kosovo Security Force, Lieutenant General Bashkim Jashari,<\/p>\n
Honorable representatives of the associations that emerged from the war,<\/p>\n
Families of the heroes and heroines of the Kosovo Liberation Army,<\/p>\n
Honorable local and foreign personalities who have contributed to the freedom and independence of Kosovo,<\/p>\n
Honorable attendees,<\/p>\n
Your Excellencies,<\/p>\n
On the 17th anniversary of our independence, we are bringing together the history, sacrifice and pride of this nation in a solemn act, in honoring those who made Kosovo free and many others who continue to help us move forward today.<\/p>\n
On this holy day, in this solemn moment, we are not just commemorating a date, but in fact we are honoring a glorious era of our people.<\/p>\n
17 years of freedom, 17 years of statehood, but a much longer battle than that to show the world that Kosovo is eternal.<\/p>\n
At this special ceremony, we remember and honor those who gave everything for the freedom of this country.<\/p>\n
Such is the Jashari family, the foundation on which Kosovo’s freedom was built, a living monument of sacrifice and unparalleled heroism.<\/p>\n
In the history of humanity, it has rarely happened that an entire family<\/p>\n
has been sacrificed for the sacred ideal of freedom, becoming a symbol of resistance and national dignity and a motivation for thousands of KLA soldiers.<\/p>\n
From the first bullet to the heroic resistance of March ’98, the Jashari’s were never broken. They never retreated. They, in fact, embraced immortality. 55 members of the Jashari family and four relatives and neighbors, a total of 59, fell on the altar of freedom in March of 1998.<\/p>\n
Rightly, Commander Adem Jashari and Hamza, and many others, were honored with the Hero of Kosovo Order.<\/p>\n
I had the honor of presenting the order to the Jashari family for the legendary Commander two years ago.<\/p>\n
And today we will award the title of hero to Shaban Jashari, the one who inspired his family and his sons, the head of the Jashari Family and I would say the head of the entire great family called Kosovo.<\/p>\n
But until today, except for Bac\u00eb Shaban, Adem and Hamza, until today<\/p>\n
The Jashari family, as such, as an emblem of freedom and a symbol of sublime sacrifice, had not been awarded in its entirety for its heroism, sacrifice and unparalleled endurance.<\/p>\n
Therefore, I have the extraordinary honor that on behalf of the people of Kosovo, to award today the Jashari Family as a whole as an act that aims to fill this historical gap, recognizing the shared sacrifice of each member of this family who stood and fought for the freedom of Kosovo.<\/p>\n
This is an important moment to reaffirm that the state of Kosovo never forgets the sublime sacrifice of our history, but honors it in the most deserved and complete way.<\/p>\n
With the same inspiration based on previous decisions, which will be implemented today, today we will present the Hero of Kosovo and Heroine of Kosovo orders, respectively, to Fehmi and Xhev\u00eb Lladrovci, two fellow fighters and spouses, who fell as they lived, that is, together, together and with weapons in their hands and with the ideal of freedom embedded in their souls.<\/p>\n
They never separated life from war. And they sealed this title, the title of Hero of Kosovo, with their lives and blood, proving that the fight for freedom was not an individual sacrifice, but a joint commitment of both men and women who believed that Kosovo deserved to be free.<\/p>\n
And with this act we are making not only an institutional assessment, but also a moral and historical confirmation that the contribution of women in our liberation war should not be allowed to remain in the shadows.<\/p>\n
The war was not only for men, it was a joint battle, where women like Xhev\u00eb Lladrovci, Yllka Domi, Lumnie Raka, Jehona Raka, Emsale Frangu, Mukadeze Lika-Muhaxheri and many, many other women, who today will receive the title of Hero of Kosovo, as they deserve, sacrificed just as much as men, so today they are finally taking the place that belongs to them in history by being awarded the highest order, the Hero of Kosovo Order.<\/p>\n
The girls and women, fighters and resistance members, who gave their lives for the freedom of Kosovo, proving that the liberation of this country was not only a battle of men, but a joint effort of the entire people of Kosovo, show that their names will forever remain engraved in our national history.<\/p>\n
The freedom of Kosovo is also their work, of the strength, sacrifice and courage that they showed in the darkest moments of our history.<\/p>\n
Those who fell on the field of honor, the heroes of the Kosovo Liberation Army, put the ideal of freedom above all else, sacrificed their lives, in order to prevent history from repeating itself unjustly.<\/p>\n
They will remain our eternal heroes, whose memory will live in our hearts and national conscience forever.<\/p>\n
Therefore, today, based on the proposals that have come from associations that emerged from the war, from deputies, from family members and from other public figures, a number of awards will be bestowed to the heroes who gave the most precious, their lives, so that today we can enjoy freedom.<\/p>\n
Honorable participants,<\/p>\n
Our history also knows living heroes, contributors to our freedom and independence, who come from the Republic of Albania and from different parts of the globe.<\/p>\n
Today, when we remember the sacrifice and the unyielding efforts for the freedom of Kosovo,<\/p>\n
It is important to recall the first roots of the Kosovo Liberation Army born from the determination of men and women who did not bow to injustice.<\/p>\n
In 1991, two founding groups of KLA fighters began their journey towards freedom, preparing and training in Albania.<\/p>\n
The first group, under the leadership of Zahir Pajaziti, trained in Elbasan and the other group, led by the legendary commander Adem Jashari, trained and prepared in Tirana, Surrel and Dajti Mountain.<\/p>\n
The preparation of these fighters was not just a spontaneous action, but a well-organized mission, supported by Albanian soldiers, such as Hysen Ymeri, Agron Dhimarko, Ylli Mici, Kastriot Hoxha and other Albanian soldiers who worked to train and prepare the first generation of our fighters who would later raise the flag of freedom.<\/p>\n
Therefore, today we will recognize this contribution institutionally, because they deserve it, because they are part of our history and just as they deserve it, so does the former KLA soldier, who came from Denmark to protect the people of Kosovo, Niels Henrik Hooge, who is with us today on the 17th anniversary of the state of Kosovo.<\/p>\n
But, as you know, honorable guests, freedom is not just an armed battle, it is a continuous effort to protect it and to keep the truth alive and to build a sustainable future for the generations that are now growing up in freedom.<\/p>\n
Therefore, today we honor tireless contributors to the independence of Kosovo from all over the globe. Those who, with their vision and dedication, helped in the state-building of our country.<\/p>\n
With deep gratitude, we remember and thank our international friends, who stood by us in the most difficult days, supporting us on the path to freedom and independence.<\/p>\n
They understood our pain, heard our voice and defended our right to live freely and then to build the state.<\/p>\n
From former presidents of different countries, prime ministers and assembly speakers of amicable countries to members of parliament, journalists and activists from many democratic countries around the globe, the number of contributors to the independence and freedom of Kosovo is large.<\/p>\n
Many of them have been awarded before, and I have issued a decision for many others to become so. Some of them have managed to be with us today on this 17th anniversary of Independence and some others will be awarded medals at future ceremonies.<\/p>\n
Today we also honor those who became the voice of Kosovo in the international arena.<\/p>\n
Journalists and photographers, who through writings and photographic evidence told the world the truth about our war, sacrifice and pain, but also about the indomitable spirit of our people.<\/p>\n
With equal pride today, we express our highest gratitude to the university centers of knowledge: the academic institutions that created the opportunity for the education of our youth to build an educated generation that will carry the development of Kosovo on its shoulders.<\/p>\n
Since the very first days after the war, and for some universities from Austria, in fact, even before the war, these universities ensured that they provided Kosovo and its youth with all the necessary support in building institutions of knowledge.<\/p>\n
The future of a state is measured by the knowledge of generations.
\nThanking these university institutions, Kosovo is moving forward with knowledge and vision.<\/p>\n
Therefore, based on the proposals that have come from various faculties of our universities, I have decided this time to decorate 20 international universities that stood by Kosovo in the most difficult days of building our education system.<\/p>\n
Representatives of several universities are with us today, while others will receive their medals at future ceremonies.<\/p>\n
While we also have religious leaders present at this ceremony today, I would like to especially mention that in the most difficult times for our homeland, interfaith tolerance and joint work were shown in the most extraordinary way possible.<\/p>\n
Therefore, today, some of the religious leaders of the Republic of Kosovo will also be awarded for their patriotic activity and their extraordinary contribution in the most difficult moments.<\/p>\n
Honourable participants,<\/p>\n
Today, we are not just bestowing awards but we are writing a chapter of glory and gratitude.<\/p>\n
Being honored by your country is more than an appreciation, it is a seal on its history, it is an oath for eternity.<\/p>\n
That there are people who do not live only for themselves, but live for the people, for the future, for an ideal that remains even after they are no more.<\/p>\n
There are men and women whose hearts have beaten to the rhythm of Kosovo, whose hands have worked for it, whose minds have illuminated its path.<\/p>\n
Therefore, today our country thanks them with eternal gratitude.<\/p>\n
These are the people who never tired, never stopped, and never gave up.<\/p>\n
In the darkest times, they lit the light of hope.<\/p>\n
During the greatest challenges, they found the strength to move forward.<\/p>\n
In moments when the freedom and future of Kosovo were in question<\/p>\n
they became the answer, they became the shield and the heart and soul of this country.<\/p>\n
Today, we remember them with honour and give them the place they deserve: in the pantheon of our nation.<\/p>\n
Their names will not only be written in these awards, but in the history of Kosovo, in the memory of the generations that will come after us, because without them we would not be here.<\/p>\n
Without the brave men and women of Kosovo and without allies from the democratic world, Kosovo would not be what it is today: free, proud and determined only to move forward.<\/p>\n
Let this day be a call to all of us, a call to love this country even more, a call to love Kosovo as they loved it,<\/p>\n
to work for it with the same dedication, to not allow anything to shake our dream. For an even better, stronger and more integrated Kosovo in the Euro-Atlantic family.<\/p>\n
Because Kosovo is not only a free land, but it is an invincible spirit.<\/p>\n
Kosovo is not only a written history, it is a bright future!<\/p>\n
Glory to those who fell for freedom, honor and gratitude to all of you who gave Kosovo dignity, strength and a future!<\/p>\n
May God bless you and your families!<\/p>\n
May God bless the Republic of Kosovo and its friends!<\/p>\n
Thank you!<\/p>\n