Dear friend, Mr. Nicholas Burns, allow me to express the respect and the appreciation of my people and I for your deep and constant determination for the freedom and independence of Kosovo.<\/p>\n
Honorable colleagues, professors and students, Dear friends,<\/p>\n
As President of Republic of Kosovo, I feel privileged to be appearing
\nhere before such a respectable audience, at this very prestigious
\ninstitution, which, owing to scientific researches that it has carried
\nout and numerous generations of students that it has taught, has left
\nmultidimensional traces which are impossible to hide.<\/p>\n
Moreover, today I have the pleasure of providing you with a short
\noverview of the progress made by my country, the youngest state in the
\nworld, the Republic of Kosovo, and of its objectives for the future,
\nnear the historic city of Boston, which is known as the genesis of the
\ngreat processes for the freedom and the independence of the United
\nStates.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
As you know, Kosovo has won its independence on 17 February 2008,
\nfollowing century-long sufferings and sacrifices. The independence of
\nKosovo was declared in full coordination with the United States of
\nAmerica, the countries of the European Union and other world’s
\ndemocracies. <\/p>\n
The independence of Kosovo has resulted from a comprehensive centuries
\nlong resistance staged against a systematic oppression that was being
\nexerted upon its people, which culminated with an unseen brutality,
\nparticularly by the end of the 20th century, with Milosevic’s advent to
\npower, which imposed\u00a0 an eventual armed resistance by the people of
\nKosovo and of the determinant intervention by NATO, which brought the
\nethnic cleansing to an end and delivered the people of Kosovo from
\nannihilation.<\/p>\n
The sovereign and democratic state of Kosovo has been recognized by 70 countries around the world so far.<\/p>\n
In this context, besides the United States of America, which was among
\nthe first to announce the recognition, Kosovo has been recognized by
\nover three-thirds of the EU member countries, most of the OSCE member
\ncountries and the vast majority of the NATO member countries, namely by
\ncountries that together produce more than 70% of the global nominal GDP.<\/p>\n
Dear friends,<\/p>\n
Irrespective of all the challenges that we have had and are still
\nfacing as a young country, the Republic of Kosovo has become a story of
\nsuccess of a vast investment by the people of Kosovo and international
\ncommunity, especially by the United States of America and the European
\nUnion.<\/p>\n
Firstly, an overall political, economic and social sustainability and
\nstability constitute the best and most direct indication to such a
\nsuccess of the independence of Kosovo. The success has been manifested
\nparticularly in the completion of a cycle that has consisted of the
\ncreation of our state and the establishment of democratic institutions,
\nwhich have emerged from the free votes of the people of Kosovo,
\nirrespective of ethnicity. The work of these institutions is based now
\non a modern legal framework, including the highest legal document, the
\nConstitution of our country.<\/p>\n
Secondly, with the aim of building a democratic state for all the
\npeople, Kosova has, in practical terms, proven wrong all the ominous
\nprognoses of opponents of independence.\u00a0 In their efforts, they had
\nbeen continuously launching dark predictions, mainly accusing the
\nAlbanian majority of intent to commit acts of revenge upon the Serbian
\nminority. To the contrary, there was no exodus from Kosovo, or a
\nbacklash, or a persecution against minority communities or the Serbian
\ncommunity, in particular. Rather, our institutions have adopted a most
\npositive approach in providing for a civic equality, in paying a
\nparticular attention to the process of minority integration and in
\nproviding substantive legislative and constitutional guarantees, in the
\nlight of the provisions of President Ahtisaari’s Comprehensive
\nProposal. By these practical and affirmative legal documents and acts,
\nwhich are often perceived in Kosovo as acts of positive discrimination,
\nwe have provided strong proof not only of minority representation in
\nour institutions – like in the Assembly, in the Government and in the
\nLocal Government – but we have also tried to make sure that minority
\ncommunity members embrace Kosovo as a joint homeland and feel equal and
\nbeneficial to their own and our common perspective.<\/p>\n
Thirdly, being strongly committed to peace, stability and
\nneighborliness in the region, the Republic of Kosovo maintains
\nexcellent relations with its neighboring countries: Macedonia, Albania
\nand Montenegro, as well as other countries of the region.<\/p>\n
These relations are being cemented day by day in terms of bilateral
\nagreements on many fields. We have already started to apply a
\npassport-free movement policy with Albania and Montenegro and a similar
\nagreement with Macedonia is due, as a sign of closeness and security
\nbetween the citizens of our two countries.<\/p>\n
In this vein, as early as two years ago, during a visit to Tirana, I
\nproposed the creation of a mini Schengen zone between Balkan countries.
\nThe initiative, which presidents of these countries have hailed,
\nreaffirms our strong commitment to be open and to contribute directly
\nto the freedom of movement of people and goods, because this is where
\nthe foundation of our development and progress towards the future lies,
\nas well as serving as a direct proof of our maturity in our
\nEuro-Atlantic integration efforts.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Fourthly, despite a period of devastation and its terrible aftermath,
\nhuman toll (more than 15,000 killed – today, the fate of over 2000
\nmissing people is unknown) and destruction of economic potentials,
\nKosovo has started to recover since the end of the war and up to the
\nrecent years that have followed our independence. It has undertaken
\nmajor steps in transforming its economy, in line with the trends of the
\nmarket economy.\u00a0 I would like to point out that Kosovo has almost
\ncompleted the privatization process and it has achieved a constant
\ngrowth of 4-5% in its annual GDP.\u00a0 Kosovo has shown maturity with
\nregard to respecting and implementing modern policies of market
\neconomics and as a result has become a member of the World Bank group
\nand the International Monetary Fund, and aspires quick membership in
\nother international mechanisms.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Honored Audience,<\/p>\n
Despite such an approach adopted by the institutions of our country and
\ndespite the international support and investment, the reluctance of
\nsome members of the Serbian community to integrate themselves has
\nrepresented a challenge so far. Indeed, through parallel structures at
\nBelgrade’s conduct, they have tried to promote policies that have aimed
\nat hampering a progress in Kosovo and at keeping, first of all, the
\nSerbian population under pressure.<\/p>\n
In this very context, the Serbian diplomacy has also tried to block a
\nfurther international recognition of the Republic of Kosovo and its
\naccession to international institutions. The request that it has filed
\nwith the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion on the
\nlegality of declaration of independence of Kosovo represents such an
\nendeavor.<\/p>\n
Dear audience,<\/p>\n
As you are well aware, on July 22, the International Court of Justice
\nannounced its advisory opinion, which answers positively for the full
\ncompliance with international law of the decision of the
\nrepresentatives of the people of Kosovo for the independence of the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
Accordingly, the International Court of Justice has found that:
\n1. The independence of Kosovo did not violate the general international law;
\n2. The independence of Kosovo did not violate the SC Resolution 1244;
\n3. The independence of Kosovo did not violate the Provisional Constitutional Framework;
\n4. ICJ also concluded that the independence of Kosovo is a result of
\nspecific circumstances, thereby confirming the sui generis nature of
\nKosovo, as the Special Envoy to the UN Secretary General, Mr. Marti
\nAhtisari has maintained, and it does not represent a precedent to other
\ncountries or areas, as some people caution without a reason.<\/p>\n
One finds the sui generis nature of Kosovo intertwined as a symbiosis
\nbetween many elements, starting with historic, legal and constitutional
\nones – with Kosovo being an equal constitutive part of the former SFRY
\nfederation – up to other elements that relate to the times of genocidal
\nacts that the people of Kosovo have experienced and that have
\nnecessitated a humanitarian intervention by the international community
\nto deliver the people of Kosovo from annihilation and genocide.<\/p>\n
Such a professional, unbiased and explicit opinion has served to
\nconfirm Kosovo’s decision on independence, taken by the representatives
\nof its people, and we believe that it represents a substantial argument
\nto remove dilemmas among certain countries that have hesitated to
\nannounce the recognition pending the ICJ opinion.<\/p>\n
Despite this very clear opinion of the Court, unfortunately, Serbia
\ncontinues to make efforts to distort the conclusions contained in the
\nopinion and the unequivocal position of the International Court of
\nJustice.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, the later developments, such as the adoption at the UN
\nGeneral Assembly of the Resolution on Kosovo, co-sponsored by the EU
\nand Serbia, give weight, de facto and de jure, to the meritorious
\nopinion of the ICJ. Therefore, despite its hesitations and its previous
\ndraft-resolution, Serbia has directly recognized the ICJ opinion,
\nwhich, as I mentioned before, qualifies the declaration of independence
\nof Kosovo as an act that complies with the international law.
\nAccordingly, through the resolution, Serbia has, therefore, recognized
\nthe reality of Kosovo’s independence.
\n\u00a0
\nLadies and gentlemen, <\/p>\n
During both negotiations on the status held before the declaration of
\nindependence and all other periods that followed, Kosovo has affirmed
\nits commitment to good bilateral relations with the Republic of Serbia.
\nDespite tragedies that we have suffered and the fact that Serbia has
\nnot apologized for the crimes committed in Kosovo, which cannot be
\nforgotten, we are strongly committed to giving the cooperation between
\nour two countries a chance, but always as between two equal and
\nsovereign states.<\/p>\n
It is our very aspiration to rise above tragedies that we have
\nexperienced and to give the civic reconciliation a chance that reveals
\nour long-term objective of building a firm foundation for peace,
\nstability and an overall development in the region. <\/p>\n
We have always maintained that there are many issues which our two
\nstates can discus and that are in the interest of the people of both
\ncountries.
\nWhy not discuss freedom of movement of people and goods? Why not discus
\neconomic cooperation and cooperation in other fields? Why not discuss
\nfacets of cooperation in supply with electricity in the region? Why not
\ndiscuss return of the people to their own homes and estates? Why not
\ndiscuss missing people? Why not discuss mutual recognition of official
\ndocuments and many other issues that may come up in the course of time?<\/p>\n
In our opinion, resolutions to these issues depend on the willingness
\nof our countries for a treaty of neighborly relations. Kosova is ready
\nto discuss a wide range of issues of common interest to the people of
\nour two sovereign countries.<\/p>\n
Thus, I state that Kosovo has welcomed the text of the resolution in
\nits entirety, as an important UN document, that opens a new epoch of
\ncooperation between parties (Kosovo and Serbia) and that the dialogue
\nand cooperation among them can only contribute to the development of
\nimportant processes, of international cooperation and good neighboring
\nrelations. <\/p>\n
However, at the same time, Kosovo is never ready to discuss with Serbia
\nissues that were settled once and for all, such as its political status
\nas a sovereign and independent state, its territorial integrity or
\nother issues that relate to its domestic legal and constitutional
\norder. <\/p>\n
Dear friends of Kosova,<\/p>\n
Kosova has a clear vision for its future and sufficient resources to accomplish that vision.<\/p>\n
The rights to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, which compose the
\nmost powerful guiding triangle for the American democracy and freedom,
\nremain the North Star in our work and determination for the future.\u00a0
\nThis formula has not lost its value in the past centuries.\u00a0 Indeed, to
\nthe contrary!<\/p>\n
Thank you!\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Dear friend, Mr. Nicholas Burns, allow me to express the respect and the appreciation of my people and I for your deep and constant determination for the freedom and independence of Kosovo.<\/p>\n
Honorable colleagues, professors and students, Dear friends,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":63046,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[105],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-72345","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-speeches"],"yoast_head":"\n