President Thaçi said that the contribution of the Albanian diaspora has been exceptional, both for the democratisation of Albania, and for the liberation and independence of Kosovo, the advancement of the rights of the Albanians in Macedonia, Montenegro, Presheva, Bujanoc and Medvegja.
President Thaçi said that the contribution of the Albanian diaspora has been exceptional, both for the democratisation of Albania, and for the liberation and independence of Kosovo, the advancement of the rights of the Albanians in Macedonia, Montenegro, Presheva, Bujanoc and Medvegja.
The head of state said that our state just marked the 11th anniversary of the independence with 116 international recognitions, and is a member of around 200 international organisations, but we need to move ahead faster.
“Kosovo does not only have friends and partners, such as United States of America, NATO and European Union, but it also has opponents of its independence, which slow down the process of consolidation, especially of the external one, of the state of Kosovo. What I can say is that Kosovo has carried out exceptional reforms, in politics, economy and legislation. But this progress is also your contribution, and the contribution of all the citizens of Kosovo,” said President Thaçi.
The President added that now we find ourselves within a new circumstance, at a favourable momentum, when Kosovo, with the full support of the United States of America, under the leadership of the European Union, and in full coordination with its friends, enters the final dialogue with Serbia on the achievement of a comprehensive agreement.
“The aim of the institutions of Kosovo is to achieve a comprehensive agreement on the normalisation of relations between the state of Kosovo and the state of Serbia. An agreement which, will guarantee mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia, as well as Kosovo’s membership in UN. We all know what Serbia has done in Kosovo. I see here my fellow fighters, with whom I have shared the trenches of war fighting Serbian police and Serbian army. But, we have known then to be wise, and to be responsible and determined for the achievement of important agreements, as in Rambouillet, which brought forward the bombardment of Serbia, and in Vienna, where the process of Kosovo’s independence was commenced,” stated the President.
He also said that it is natural to have different ideas, but he will not allow in any circumstance the organisation of an international conference where Russia will also participate.
The President pointed out that Kosovo will only engage in a process where European Union leads and where the support of the United States of America is at its fullest.
“Under no circumstance and at any price shall I allow it to, even as an idea, despite the fact that I take to ideas very favourably, the idea of some sort of a Balkan Union. I reiterate that the idea for the establishment of some kind of a Balkan Union, is an encroachment upon our nation. It is a violation of the Euro-Atlantic values of our orientation. The Idea of a Balkan Union is a step back for our nation. The Union of Kosovo, but also of the Albanian nation, is the Union of the European Union, NATO and our eternal friendship with the United States of America,” said President Thaçi.
At this summit, the head of state also spoke in relation to the ideas circulating on the exchange of territories.
“The division of Kosovo, cannot happen without first stepping over my body. Mo one can encroach a single millimetre of the territory of the Republic of Kosovo. No one can encroach upon Trepça, Mitrovica, Ujman or any other part of the territory of the Republic of Kosovo,” said the President.
Mister President also said the he is in favour of the correction of the border and union of the Presheva valley with Kosovo.
“There is no one in the world who can deny my engagement for the realisation of the legitimate rights of Presheva, Medvegja and Bujanoc for the union with the territory of the Republic of Kosovo, without violating the territory of the Republic of Kosovo. Of course, we are currently at a Status quo and in a frozen conflict which must be overcome. Together with the United States of America, European Union and NATO we must move faster towards Euro-Atlantic perspective, in order for Kosovo to become part of NATO and EU. Together with our friends, we must seek a solution which guarantees the recognition by five European Union countries, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, Cyprus and Spain. And once again I reiterate, that we shall under no circumstance or price allow a humbug of a daily electoral politics to deteriorate the special and eternal relations with the stakeholders of Kosovo’s freedom and independence, the United States of America,” said President Thaçi.
At the Tirana Diaspora Summit, president Thaçi highly praised the great contribution of our fellow compatriots living abroad, on the empowerment of the two Albanian states.