Prime Minister Albin Kurti, in the solemn speech before the deputies for the 16th anniversary of Independence, said that if Serbia had felt responsibility for the genocide in Kosovo, it would have recognized Kosovo’s independence as early as February 17, 2008.
In front of the foreign ambassadors, Kurti once again reminded that Serbia is following the path of confrontation with Kosovo. He also mentioned the passivation of addresses of Albanians in the Valley, saying that they are the most discriminated minority in Europe.
“Even today, like every year, we gather to wish Kosovo’s birthday. With 16 years under its belt, it is the youngest state in the region, but with a mature consciousness as much as the older states. Independence was the realization of a popular aspiration. Kosovo has been matured prematurely by the resistance of our people to successive waves of invasions and genocides. Kosovo became a Republic in Kaçanik and was fought with KLA rifles. With the sacrifices he made for the idea of the Republic, Kosovo won the sympathy of the democratic states that came to his side in 1999. In 2008, there was no doubt among the internationals whether the Republic of Kosovo would come. But it was discussed to come in such a form that was acceptable even to its biggest enemy, the Serbian state, which had wanted to stifle the idea of the state of the Albanians. It is clear to all of us that in the event that state Serbia would have felt the least bit responsible for the genocide in Kosovo, if reason and not chauvinistic revanchism had prevailed in its politics, it should have recognized Kosovo as early as 2008. Kosovo guarantees broader rights for the minorities in our region, especially the Serbs. The Albanians in the Valley are the most discriminated minority in Europe, which is still being subjected to cleansing with the so-called passivization of addresses. It is regrettable that our northern neighbor has chosen the path of confrontation and blocking the internal functioning of Kosovo and external recognition”, said the Prime Minister.
Full speech at the solemn session of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo on the 16th anniversary of Independence:
Your excellency , madam . Vjosa Osmani Sadriu, President of the Republic of Kosovo,
Honorable Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, Mr. The Throat of Conjufca,
Honorable Members of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo,
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Government,
Excellence ambassadors and international friends,
Dear families of martyrs,
Dear leaders and representatives of state institutions,
Dear religious priests,
Dear citizens of Kosovo,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Even today, as every year, we gather to congratulate Kosovo’s independence birthday. With its 16 years on its shoulders, the Republic of Kosovo is the youngest in the region, the youngest as the seventh state, but with mature consciousness, as much as the consciousness of states older than it.
Because the Republic of Kosovo in 2008 was already mature, as the realization of a popular aspiration that has been brewed for many years and decades. Kosovo has been matured prematurely by the uprising for the unification of villages and the independence of Albania; it has been matured by the attitude of our people towards the successive waves of invasions and genocides.
Its time had come in 1981, when people around its state filled the squares and came out in front of the tanks shouting “Republic of Kosovo! “. Kosovo became a republic with a Constitution in the Assembly of Kacanik, to fight peaceful protest demonstrations and with freedom rifles of the Kosovo Liberation Army. With the sacrifices he made for the idea of the republic, our people in Kosovo won the sympathy of democratic and progressive states that supported them in 1999. In 2008 there was no dilemma left in the community of democratic countries that the Republic of Kosovo would come to, but it was discussed to come to such a treatment that was acceptable even to its biggest enemy, the Serbian state that had wanted to suppress the idea of the state to Albanians.
Honorable citizens of the Republic,
All of us are clear that in case state Serbia would have felt somewhat responsible for the genocide in Kosovo, if reason and not chauvinist revanchism prevailed in its policy, it should have known Kosovo since 2008. The Republic of Kosovo guarantees wider rights for minorities in our region, especially for Serbs, who benefit and contribute to our common state.
Meanwhile, Albanians in the Presevo Valley are the most discriminated minority in Europe, which is still being subjected to cleansing through the so-called “address passivization”. It is regrettable that our northern neighbor has chosen the path of confrontation and blocking the internal functioning of our republic and its external recognitions.
She had initially rejected the Franco-German proposal, and today continues to refuse to sign the Basic Agreement on normalization of relations with Kosovo that brings good European neighbors.
In her place, she even embraced terrorism.
Even there he failed shamefully, facing the heroism and professionalism of our police. Well, in order to protect our republic from the terrorists funded, exercised and run by Serbia, we had to give martyrs again. Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku is added to the plead of our martyrs. Without their sublime sacrifice we would not be commemorating our republic anniversary today.
Glory to the martyrs! The Republic never forgets you!
Honorable Members of the Assembly and other participants in this meeting on the 17th of February,
Let’s go to the Republic, all, each, each together! The Republic, as conceived 125 years ago by patriot Sami Frashëri in his political manifesto, is necessary for protection and development. We do not negotiate our existence, our freedom and our right to be protected and developed, therefore every day as the government of Kosovo we take steps to build the lawful state, to strengthen democracy and accountability, to include and help all citizens regardless of ethnicity or gender tyre. Kosovo has recently made important progress, in protecting security, respecting the law and strengthening a social state that addresses the needs of citizens, so that they are given the opportunity to live with dignity. As of January 1st this year, our citizens have been moving visa-free in the Schengen Area, causing to intensify relations with our great diaspora that has contributed so much to our state.
Kosovo ranks among the successful democracies in the region, while other countries have taken steps back by restricting citizens’ freedoms and threatening other countries in the region. Kosovo remains committed to the Berlin Process, to the Growth Plan, and will continue working with our western partners and allies towards the goal of NATO membership and the European Union. Especially Kosovo’s NATO membership is imperative to guarantee our state’s sovereignty and prevent Russian influences in our region. Cooperation with Albania will increase and the Kosovo Government remains committed to implementing the agreements between our two countries. Kosovo is on the side of North Macedonia and Montenegro, as neighboring states with which we share the same values. We believe that the Albanian citizens in these countries will be a factor for peace, justice, democracy and alliance with the West.
According to World Bank forecasts, in 2024 our republic is expected to have the highest economic growth in the region. We will push forward developmental projects and social support for good living in democratic republic.
On the 16th birthday of independence we thank the United States of America, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Turkey and other NATO member countries. We thank all 117 countries recognizing independence around the globe: from Canada to Australia and New Zealand, from Japan to Panama and Peru. In particular, we thank Albania, its good people, state and party structures and political and social leadership. We thank Kosovo’s political parties, here in the parliament and those outside the parliament, national minorities – i.e. Serbs, Bosniaks, Turks, Ashkalines, Roma, Egyptians and Gorans – and non-governmental organizations – i.e., civil society and media -, religious clerics and all professionals of our country for their contribution to our republic.
With its 16 years, the republic enjoys health and beauty and we will do our best to make it prosper and beautify in the future, because all of us, as people and institutions, are determined to take control of our Kosovo!
Congratulations!
Thank you so much!
/Argumentum.al
