This is the declaration of Kosovo's Independence proclaimed 18 years ago.

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Express newspaper

17/02/2026 7:06

On February 17, 2008, Kosovo became an independent state. Today marks 18 years since our country celebrated statehood.

On the occasion of marking this anniversary, we bring you the full Declaration of Independence of Kosovo.

Delarata was read by the then Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi.

Declaration of Independence of Kosovo

Gathered in an extraordinary meeting on February 17, 2008, in the capital of Kosovo, in Pristina,

Answering it the people's call to build a society that respects human dignity and affirms the pride and aspirations of its citizens,

Committed to face the painful legacy of the recent past in a spirit of reconciliation and forgiveness,

Dedicated to the protection, promotion and respect of the diversity of our people,

Reaffirming our desire to be fully integrated into the Euro-Atlantic family of democracies,

Noticing that Kosovo is a special case arising from the non-consensual dissolution of Yugoslavia and is not a precedent for any other situation,

Recalling the years of conflict and violence in Kosovo that disturbed the conscience of all civilized peoples,

Grateful that the world intervened in 1999 thereby removing Belgrade's rule over Kosovo, and placing Kosovo under the temporary administration of the United Nations,

Proud that Kosovo has since developed functional, multi-ethnic institutions of democracy that freely express the will of our citizens,

Recalling years of internationally sponsored negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina on the issue of our future political status,

Expressing regret that no result acceptable to both parties was reached despite the genuine commitment of our leaders,

Confirming that the recommendations of the United Nations Special Envoy, Martti Ahtisaari, provide Kosovo with a comprehensive framework for its future development, and are in line with the highest European standards for human rights and good governance,

Determined to see our status resolved in order to give our people clarity on their future, move beyond the conflicts of the past and realize the full democratic potential of our society,

Honoring all the men and women who made great sacrifices to build a better future for Kosovo,

• We, the leaders of our people, democratically elected, through this Declaration declare Kosovo an independent and sovereign state. This announcement reflects the will of our people and is in full compliance with the recommendations of the United Nations Special Envoy, Martti Ahtisaari, and his Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement.
• We declare Kosovo a democratic, secular and multi-ethnic republic, guided by the principles of non-discrimination and equal protection under the law. We will protect and promote the rights of all communities in Kosovo and create the necessary conditions for their effective participation in political and decision-making processes.
• We fully accept the commitments to Kosovo contained in the Ahtisaari Plan, and we welcome the framework it proposes to guide Kosovo in the coming years. We will fully implement those obligations, including prioritizing the adoption of legislation included in its Annex XII, especially that which protects and promotes the rights of communities and their members.
• We will adopt as soon as possible a constitution that embodies our commitment to respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all our citizens, especially as defined by the European Convention on Human Rights. The constitution will incorporate all relevant principles of the Ahtisaari Plan and will be approved through a democratic and careful process.
• We welcome the continued support of the international community for our democratic development through the international presences established in Kosovo on the basis of Resolution 1244 of the United Nations Security Council (1999). We invite and welcome an international civilian presence to oversee the implementation of the Ahtisaari Plan and a rule of law mission led by the European Union. We also invite and welcome NATO to maintain the leading role in the international military presence and implement the responsibilities given to it under the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999) and the Ahtisaari Plan, until that time when Kosovo's institutions will be able to assume these responsibilities. We will fully cooperate with these presences in Kosovo to ensure future peace, prosperity and stability in Kosovo.
• For reasons of culture, geography and history, we believe that our future is in the European family. For this reason, we announce our intention to take all the necessary steps to ensure full membership in the European Union as soon as possible and to implement the reforms required for European and Euro-Atlantic integration.
• We express our gratitude to the United Nations Organization for the work it has done to help us in post-war recovery and reconstruction and to build the institutions of democracy. We are committed to working constructively with the United Nations as it continues its work in the period ahead.
• With independence comes the duty of responsible membership in the international community. We fully accept this duty and will adhere to the principles of the United Nations Charter, the Helsinki Final Act, other acts of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, international legal obligations and the principles of good international relations that mark the relations between states. Kosovo will have its international borders as provided for in Annex VIII of the Ahtisaari Plan, and will fully respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all our neighbors. Kosovo will also refrain from the threat or use of force in any way that is inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations.
• We, through this Declaration, accept Kosovo's international obligations, including those reached on our behalf by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), as well as treaty obligations and other obligations of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to which we are bound as a former constituent part, including the Vienna conventions on diplomatic and consular relations. We will cooperate fully with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. We intend to seek membership in international organizations, in which Kosovo will aim to contribute for the purposes of international peace and stability.
• Kosovo announces its commitment to peace and stability in our region of Southeast Europe. Our independence brings to an end the process of the violent dissolution of Yugoslavia. While this process has been painful, we will work tirelessly to contribute to a reconciliation that would allow Southeast Europe to move beyond past conflicts and forge new regional ties of cooperation. For this reason, we will work together with our neighbors to advance our common European future.
• We express, in particular, our desire to establish good relations with all our neighbors, including the Republic of Serbia, with which we have historical, commercial and social relations, which we intend to develop further in the near future. . We will continue our efforts to contribute to neighborly and cooperative relations with the Republic of Serbia by promoting reconciliation between our peoples.
• We hereby clearly, specifically and irrevocably affirm that Kosovo will be legally obliged to fulfill the provisions contained in this Declaration, including here especially its obligations from the Ahtisaari Plan. In all these matters, we will act in compliance with the principles of international law and the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, including Resolution 1244 (1999). We publicly declare that all states have the right to rely on this Declaration, and we appeal to them to offer us their support and assistance.