By Syle Ukshini*
I am particularly pleased to greet the President of the Republic, his Excellency, Mr. Ilir Meta, and the Speaker of the Parliament, Mr. Gramoz Ruci. I also warmly welcome the members of the Government Cabinet, leaders of all political parties, parliament members, former presidents and former prime-ministers of Albania.
10 years ago, on February 17, 2008, the Republic of Kosovo signed its future, its long and winding road to freedom and independence coming to an end.
Kosovo’s independence came only nine years after the military intervention of democratic NATO countries. It was the most major battle for the protection of human rights in the new conditions the end of the Cold War had created. Western intervention prevented genocide and made the idea of Kosovo’s ethnic cleansing impossible.
This was the moment a new country was added to Europe’s map. It was clear to the majority Kosovo’s independence could not be avoided any longer; it was the last and only chance.
It is important to remember, during this jubilee, but also thank for the immense support, our strategic partners – Albania, the US and EU member states, as well as countries from all around the world.
This jubilee is special to Kosovo because it coincides with the nationwide year of Gjergj Kastriot Skenderbeu, who continues to be a symbol of inspiration to the whole nation.
Kosovo and Albania
Kosovo and Albania have a unique relation, because our history, culture and language are common, but not only, as our two countries have a common goal, euro-atlantic integration.
As our natural and strategic partner, Albania has been a constant and decades-old supporter in our state formation process.
We value the engagement of Albanian diplomacy in Kosovo’s full integration in the international system.
Prizren, city that for us symbolizes the meeting point of our long historic and state forming efforts and the city of ethnic and religious harmony, was the place that the Albanian and Kosovo governments, in January of 2014, signed the Common Declaration for Cooperation and Strategic Partnership. This document materialized the mutual and long-term engagement in transforming our bilateral relations into a new regional model.
Regional Integration
Kosovo and Albania are in addition two important and constructive regional actors. Our two countries, along with other Western Balkan countries, continue to impulse regional cooperation and all Berlin Process projects, launched by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Kosovo’s government has welcomed the recent Western Balkans strategy paper by the European Commission, as well as the possible EU membership deadlines for these countries. However, Kosovo would like more clarity and similar integration deadlines, because only a europeanized Balkan region is successful to the EU.
For as long as this doesn’t happen, the EU cannot play an essential part in other parts of the world. Former High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton, in March 10, 2010, in a speech before the European Parliament, declared: “In a way, the Balkans is the place EU foreign policy was born. Especially here we don’t dare allow failure.”
Before giving the floor to the President of the Republic, Mr. Ilir Meta, allow me to raise my glass with all of you for the 10th anniversary of the Republic of Kosovo, for our brotherly and strategic relations, as well as for our common European future.
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On Feb. 17 of 2008 Kosovo’s big day arrived, its independence, which concluded the re-composition of Europe’s map after the dissolution of former Yugoslavia, as well as created new interstate Kosovo-Albania cooperation opportunities. The relations between Kosovo and Albania, beyond their interstate dimensions, are relations of brotherhood that greatly serve all-inclusive and strategic cooperation, but also regional and European level cooperation. In this context, Kosovo is grateful to Albania for the big support it has provided during these years, its recognition, the strengthening of its international position, Kosovo’s membership in different regional, European and global organizations, as well as for the cooperation we’ve had as two sovereign and independent states. The Kosovo-Albania model of cooperation deserves to serve as a model for cooperation with other states in the region. Our governments’ meeting in January 2014 was a novelty for Albania and Kosovo history, as both governments met to build a common cooperation strategy on many fields; in the field of foreign policy and security cooperation, in the field of justice, freedom and safety, and in the fields of economy, energy, tourism, transport, in the field of culture, education and means of information. What has followed the common Prizren meeting to the most recent Korca one presents a good and hopeful basis for offering this partnership a long-term content that will shape the future Kosovo-Albania relations.
The week of activities Kosovo’s embassy in Albania is organizing for the first time, in cooperation with Albanian institutions, aims to reflect the dynamic of the countries’ bilateral relations. The program includes classical cultural activities from the field of music, photography, film and culture. These projects focus on introducing Kosovo’s culture and new history, related to Kosovo’s state formation process.
Also thanking all Albanian sponsors and partners from Kosovo and Albania who offered their help and eased the organization of this ambitious project for Kosovo’s 10th anniversary. We aim to offer the Albanian public and international representatives in Albania part of Kosovo’s emerging artists’ work that have also attracted international attention through this program. We hope that you will join us in attending our activities taking place during the second half of February in Tirana.
*Speech by Syle Ukshini, the head of mission at the Kosovo embassy in Tirana
