President Jahjaga’sspeech at the officialreception in honourof the eighthanniversaryof Independence of the Republic of Kosovo/
Prishtine, 16shkurt 2016/
Honourable Prime Minister Mustafa,/
Honourable representatives of the institutions of Kosovo,/
Honourable Senator Corker,/
Honourable Congressman Turner,/
Honourable Ambassadors and representatives of the international missions in our country,/
Honourable families of the martyrs,/
Dear citizens,/
Ladies and Gentlemen,/
Tonight we have gathered to mark the eighth anniversary of the Independence of Republic of Kosovo, our dear country, the birthday of our new state. This magnificent day, which ,many generations of a span of one hundred years, was no more than a dream, and which for a whole century we held in high esteem as an aim of our collective endeavours to live in peace and liberty.
Our state was born with lots of hardship. A massive human sacrifice was given, painful sufferings with grievous consequences, which many families continue to endure even 16 years after the end of the war, even on this night of the anniversary of the independence.
It is exactly this common journey of ours and the specific individual experience of every single one of us, which strengthens the foundations of Kosovo, which we together made it a state. It makes us all enjoy the privileges and responsibilities of being a Kosovar- including the historic responsibility to conclude this state building cycle- at the same time. It makes Kosovo the sole ideal, as Kosovo is more important than anyone of us.
The sacrifice to arrive at this point makes us conscious of the fact that Kosovo cannot be appropriated. It is not a property of any of political leaders. It belongs to its citizens, who today, are more united than ever in their refusal of divisions and disjuncture of its political class, in asking for accountability, in insistence for law and order, in ending of moral degradation and corruption, and for the repositioning of values and ideals which helped make Kosovo a state, a cause into which our greatest allies aligned themselves in, into the focus of our engagement. Thank you for being right by our side Ambassador Delawie, Kosovo has no greater friend. Honourable Ambassadors, thank you for your unreserved support.
This year, more than any other year, we have been suffering growth pains. In such a context, disagreements are understandable, as are the challenges of an approved but untested Constitution, which despite all things, must continue to provide weight and legitimacy to each decision making and activity of ours.
Our solutions must be constitutional and institutional, because only in such a manner we strengthen the trust we require to conclude this state making. It is undeniable that at this stage of state building as a society, we require an internal dialogue for our path ahead. But this discussion must never challenge the basic democratic consensus which we laid upon the foundations of the statehood of Kosovo and upon which we built our international and state legitimacy. It must never test our friendship with our allies or bring to doubt our determination to build a democratic state, to incite fear and create insecurities in our future. This is a long awaited day, a sacred day, which does not convert into a contest on the love for the fatherland.
It is undeniable that we have a lot of work to do. Lot of work in searching for justice for those no longer with us. Work in order to include every single citizen, regardless of ethnicity, in building of our joint home. Work in order to say no to corruption which is monopolizing the power in the hands of a minority which is denying the equal right to compete, to work and to augment the wellbeing to the citizen of Kosovo. Determination to hold accountable all those who have not represented the interests of the citizens in a dignified manner.
Without any doubt, Independence Day must be a day of reflection. But above all it is a day of celebration, day of joy, when we turn our heads back and feel proud of our greatest achievement in this century, making of Kosovo a state.
We share this day with our most beloved ones in order to celebrate our greatest love of all- our love for Kosovo, this dream of many a generation, which we have the obligation and a duty to enliven.
Kosovo will walk ahead, fearless. Its citizens will continue to be insistent on their irrevocable European future, unshaken in their belief that good days for Kosovo have only begun.
Citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, have a happy 8th anniversary of independence. Let us be proud of our joint achievements and let us not stop in aspiring for more.
Congratulations Kosovo!