Prishtina, May 24th, 2018 – President of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, attended today the opening of the exhibition on the contribution of President Ibrahim Rugova to the state forming of Kosovo, organized by Kosovo Museum.
President Thaçi said that whoever visits this exhibition, will have the opportunity to turn back in time to the tragic times , full of hardship, all interconnected with President Rugova himself.
Kosovo’s independence movement, according to President Thaçi, both in the political and military sense, brought together the politicians, intellectuals. Military officers, women and men, old and young, to a sole ambition.
“This rebellious and freedom loving nation, who remains the most pro-American and pro-western nation at this part of Europe, should be given the right to be free and to have its own state” said President Thaçi.
The head of state also pointed out that being united, on behalf of Kosovo, achieved the support and backing of the western world and the independence of Kosovo.
“President Rugova and I were together at the Rambouillet Conference, at all post war developments, as well as in the Unity Team. Together we prepared Kosovo to gain independence. We were together in Washington, Brussels, the Vatican and many other capitals of the world. To convince the world of our right to freedom and our own state. We built eternal friendships with our strategic partners” added the President.
In front of the Rugova family members, and other state representatives, President Thaçi said that Kosovo’s independence was not a political incident or accident, but was won through sacrifice and self-abnegation.
He also added that civil disobedience against Serbia was monumental as a political movement in the global premises, and the KLA was most successful political and military movement in the history of the world.
“Combination of these two components, could only result in civic unity, with massive international support, to culminate with Kosovo’s freedom and independence”, said President Thaçi at the opening of this exhibition.
According to the President, Ibrahim Rugova was a very communicative man, a man of dialogue and of negotiation, a man of patience and reconciliation.
“As parties and as various political concepts, our highest aim was the realization of the will of our people for Kosovo’s independence and liberty. I feel good about the cooperation we had. Today, each party and political leader must see Kosovo’s stable future and Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic future before the interests of the relevant political parties” added the President.
He also stated that today, each citizen of Kosovo, wherever they might libe, in Kosovo or outside its borders, if freedom loving and libertarian, while Kosovo is a state and has its own symbols: its flag, its anthem and its emblem.
“Kosovo has its own national and state identity. Kosovo has European identity. Everyone must feel proud of Kosovo. Our state is above every one of us. We must all be in service of our country”, said President Thaçi.
President Thaçi congratulated the organisers of this exhibition, which among others also celebrates the institutional appreciation of every one of us, for the role of the historic President Rugova.