On the occasion of the 18th anniversary of Kosovo's Independence, a state reception was held today by the President, the Speaker of the Parliament and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo. Representatives of parties and institutions participated in this reception, reports Ekonomia Online.
The country's first lady, Vjosa Osmani, told those present that today Kosovo is turning 18, "an age that symbolizes maturity, responsibility and faith in the future that we are building together."
"Today our Republic turns 18, an age that symbolizes maturity, responsibility and faith in the future that we are building together. We know that our history is not just a story of the past, but a journey that continues, a chapter that is written every day by our citizens."
Side by side with our allies and with full confidence in our own strength, we will continue to build an even stronger, even more just, even more prosperous Republic for each of our citizens. Let us always hold high the flag of our Republic and let us show the world that Kosovo is a story that continues to inspire, a land of free people, of resilience and eternal love for freedom.
Happy Independence Day of the Republic! Eternal glory to all those who gave everything for this day. Long live the Republic of Kosovo, its people and allies. Happy Independence Day to all!”, said Osmani.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said that the 18th anniversary of independence finds Kosovo stronger than ever and highlighted the role of the sacrifice of those who brought freedom.
"The 18th Anniversary of Independence finds the Republic stronger than ever and ready for the journey that awaits it, with more responsibility, but also with more self-confidence.
Independence, even at 18 years old, is one of those rare cases when youth is accompanied by wisdom. The state of Kosovo is preceded by thousands of years of our existence as a people and hundreds as a nation, as well as a long peaceful battle, which preserved our identity. Before the declaration of independence, our statehood has existed in many forms: in the names of children, in the verses of books and activities on both sides of the Atlantic, in addition to the Balkans and beyond. It has existed in the pride we have and in the call for the common good.
Therefore, at the beginning of the first year of state maturity, we enter with a long history of peace, as long as that of Europe itself. In these 18 years we had the founding act: for the first time our culture, identity, will and rights had the opportunity to be established by ourselves. Our freedom received the right infrastructure to be transformed into progress.
Although constantly threatened, to say that our history as a state and a nation is simply a story of survival is an unfair contraction of the truth. On the contrary, despite the difficulties, Kosovo survived without being in a state of survival, as science describes it: a state closed to everything that is not necessary for life. We survived with a big and open heart, maintaining spiritual generosity and a willingness to move forward; seeking accountability, but never revenge; deciding to live in unity, with interfaith and multiethnic coexistence.
In almost all of the world, the law gives you responsibility at the age of 18 and the freedom to decide your own destiny, with full capacity for action. The age of 18 also finds Kosovo with strong institutional stability. For the second time, we have a stable government, with the necessary support of the people to fulfill a full four-year mandate and to push forward deep reforms in all areas of governance.
"Growing up and adding years is a privilege, because it is precious to be and to develop. But the state that declares independence in the 21st century has a special privilege: the entire history of the declaration of independence, which is always a battle led by deep feelings, is within our living memory. The reason why we are here and the future where we live together," Kurti said.
The Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu, focused on the history that resulted in the country's freedom.
"Welcome to the state reception in honor of the 18th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Kosovo. Today we mark the anniversary of our independence, a historic act that was crowned by the centuries-old efforts of our people for freedom, equality and self-determination.
Kosovo's independence is the result of a long and difficult path, of sacrifice, of organization, mobilization and, most importantly, of our will as a people. The history of Kosovo is a history of resistance: resistance against denial, against injustice and against violence. The people of Kosovo faced systematic oppression, discrimination and organized violence. The right to education, to work and to equal representation was denied. However, the aspirations for freedom and statehood never faded. They were passed down from generation to generation, from our great-grandparents, grandparents and parents.
In those dark times, the voice of national conscience was personified in prominent figures such as Adem Demaçi, a symbol of political resistance, sacrifice and unwavering perseverance for freedom, who, through decades of imprisonment, kept alive the ideal of a free Kosovo. The Albanian diaspora was an inseparable part of this resistance. It proved that the connection to the homeland knows no borders.
The 90s marked a special chapter in our national resistance. The peaceful resistance of the citizens of Kosovo, expressed through social organization, the construction of parallel institutions, popular protests and the student movement, demonstrated the political and moral maturity of a society that sought freedom. Today we also remember President Ibrahim Rugova, characterized by moral legitimacy and commitment to a peaceful solution.
But when the violence intensified and the right to life was threatened, armed resistance emerged as a historical necessity. The Kosovo Liberation War became a symbol of sublime sacrifice for freedom. At the forefront of this war stands the emblematic figure of Adem Jashari, who together with his family in Prekaz wrote the most glorious and painful page of our modern history, becoming the foundation of Kosovo's freedom.
This foundation is being tested today. The ongoing trial of the former leaders of the KLA General Staff in the Special Court has touched our collective conscience and the very foundations on which our freedom rests. At this moment, we have a responsibility to stand united as a people, as institutions and as a state, in defense of our historical truth and the dignity of our liberation war. Because our war was not a project of a party or a region; it was the will of a people to live freely – a response to injustice, denial and violence.
"The independence of Kosovo is a reality and this reality stands beyond any test. Today, on this holiday, we bow with deep respect to the martyrs, martyrs and all those who contributed to the liberation of the country," said Haxhiu./Ekonomia Online
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