Prishtina, June 8th, 2018 – President Hashim Thaçi and Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj laid an iftar (breaking of the fast) for the leaders of the Kosovo Islamic Community.
President Thaçi said that the month of Ramadan is a month of temptation for the devoted believers and fasting augments the level of solidarity and care for one another.
Below is President Thaçi’s full address at the iftar meal, laid out tonight in honour of the leaders of Kosovo Islamic Community:
“By expressing my pleasure to be in your presence, please allow me to convey my felicitations for your fast today. The month of Ramadan, is year after year, a month of temptation for the devotees, who voluntarily abstain from food and water, thus dedicating more to the faith in God.
During this month, both physical and spiritual peace reigns and there is greater harmony between brain and heart.
Peace reigns over the conflict during this month.
The good over evil.
Fasting is the moment of the increased solidarity among the families of the faithful.
There is greater awareness about people with insufficient means.
Remembrance for solidarity with the weak.
Thus, the month of Ramadan is a month of human ennoblement, strengthening of love and surfacing of mercifulness.
Honourable participants at this iftar,
We are lucky we live in a society with exceptional religious, cultural and ethnic tolerance.
Religious beliefs are a treasure.
Respecting each other’s traditions and religious rites makes our lives richer.
For this positive climate, a special merit goes to you, honourable leaders of Kosovo Islamic Community.
Kosovo has been and will continue to be a land of all religious faith which excludes all types of extremism.
Honourable participants,
We are proud of the nurturing of the good religious tradition even at most difficult times of captivity and prevalence of monist ideologies.
Albanian Muslim clergy has at all times been on the side of the people.
On the side of ideals and ambitions for freedom and independence.
Therefore tonight, I wish you enjoy this iftar, with trust that the remaining days of the month of Ramadan pass in enjoyment, in the midst of your family and friends”.