Seven years ago today, citizens had flooded the squares and streets of Kosovo, to bear witness of the crowning of collective centuries long endeavours and of individual sacrifice, all to make Kosovo a state.
Honourable representatives of the institutions of Republic of Kosovo,
Honourable Ambassadors,
Honourable citizens of the Republic of Kosovo,
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Seven years ago today, citizens had flooded the squares and streets of Kosovo, to bear witness of the crowning of collective centuries long endeavours and of individual sacrifice, all to make Kosovo a state.
During those cold days our hearts were warmed up by a hope- the greatest we had ever experienced – and our eyes were moist from tears for those no longer with us. For all the hardship we bore, which killed the dreams of many generations of this country.
That very day, we had the courage to, that despite many a difficulties and conundrums which the road ahead bore, we will stay together and will only look ahead. We were adamant to make Kosovo a state.
With our hands on our hearts, we vowed that the place where we saw so much suffering, we shall turn into a Republic of equals. Equal in rights, responsibilities and privileges. We professed that we shall reinstate a tradition of tolerance, of harmony, of Besa, of solidarity and righteousness, all values with deep roots in this soil. That we shall build independent Kosovo with our virtues which classify as a nation throughout the history. With hope and willingness. With sacrifice and zeal. With bravery and persistence to become masters of our fates. We declared that love for this country will become a guideline for all our actions. It was love for this country which brought us together, and gave a direction to all our ambitions.
By making Kosovo a state, we turned a new page of the history of Kosovo. And in this history page, it shall clearly be written that rights which we attained with lots of suffering, cannot be denied to others.
Upon this promise, We, all of US, made Kosovo a state.
We brought to fruition our centuries long cause, to live a dignified life, to bring to life the legacy of our ancestors, to enliven the vision of the architect of independence, President Rugova, and to honour the blood of the freedom fighters, heroes and martyrs who gave their lives for the freedom which all of us enjoy today.
Side by side with us , citizens of Kosovo, stood the whole democratic world in building of Kosovo of hope, with strong faith that values which we were laying in the foundations of our statehood, are at the same time universal values, values which convinced the democratic world a decade ago to come to our defence. We never faltered in our belief that we shall make Kosovo.
On this seventh anniversary, I have one and only message: We made Kosovo. Republic of Kosovo is an undeniable and irrevocable reality.
On this occasion, I would like to particularly thank the United States of America, for their unsparing support in our state building. You are our eternal friend. At the same time, I would like to thank member states of the European Union, our allies who believed in our determination on building of the independent Kosovo and our dedication to our integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures.
Tonight, I would also like to thank our Diaspora, those hundreds of thousands of citizens of Kosovo, who live every day with longing for this country and who never cease working for homeland. You are in our hearts.
Honourable citizens of the Republic of Kosovo,
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Our journey to enlivening of the vision of an independent, democratic, free Kosovo, in peace, continues to remain difficult. Lots of work has been done. Mistakes have been made. There were many a successes, as well as sacrifices and continuous challenges.
Many a times have we been disappointed, isolated and hopeless. We felt powerless, disenchanted, tired. Because Kosovo of today, for which we were ready to surrender our own existence, has yet to fulfil our expectations. Kosovo still does not resemble the image we hoped for and desired.
Yet, we are the generation which bears on its shoulders building of our statehood, the same way the generation before us bore on its shoulders the realisation of the Kosovo a state cause. We have never believed that this state building would be easy, because our resources and capacities are limited; growing pains are considerable, priorities abundant and expectations high. We have no time for disappointment and there is no room for hesitation.
Above all, Kosovo belongs to its citizens. On this anniversary, more than ever before, we need to reflect, we need determination to consolidate our statehood and we need hard work and toil to disconnect from the old practices, which decrease citizen’s trust.
We are all Kosovo today! We are the people of this soil- of this country- equal and proud citizens. Citizens who for these seven years of independence have proudly carried the name of the new state. The name of this Republic, the name of this country that every single one caries in its heart.
This is Kosovo on this anniversary –challenged but unshaken. And on this anniversary this is our common fatherland- a land that requires our helping hands to make it as we all want it to be – a state of law, developed and an inseparable part of free nations.
We made Kosovo. Now we must build the state which we all desire.
A very happy seventh birthday, our state!
Thank you.