The citizens of Kosovo today marked the 18th anniversary of the founding of the state, while the sacrifice of the people of Kosovo to get here has been centuries-old.
The Declaration of Independence of Kosovo was made on February 17, 2008 at 15:39 PM in the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo in Pristina.
"We, the democratically elected leaders of our people, hereby declare Kosovo an independent and sovereign state. This declaration reflects the will of our people and is in full accordance with the recommendations of the United Nations Special Envoy, Martti Ahtisaari, and his Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement," reads the statement signed by the participating MPs.
The Declaration of Independence was unanimously approved by 109 deputies present in the Kosovo Assembly hall.
And on the 18th anniversary of Kosovo's Independence, institutions organized a multitude of activities.
17/02/2026 13:37- Osmani: Kosovo today stronger than ever and ready for NATO
Kosovo and Kosovo Police said that no one can tarnish the war of the Kosovo Liberation Army, describing it as a just, liberating war led by the right to freedom and statehood.
According to her, without the extraordinary contribution of the KLA, Kosovo's independence would not have been a reality.
President Osmani, at the site of the parade of KSF and Kosovo Police troops, said that precisely on "Luan Haradinaj" street, in front of the "Newborn" monument and next to the "Heroinat" monument, the 18th anniversary of independence is being marked.
She emphasized that Kosovo today is stronger than ever, more prepared and more determined to move forward despite the challenges, adding that the country is building its defense capacities with responsibility and vision.
Osmani stated that the Kosovo Security Force and the Kosovo Police are demonstrating professionalism every day, showing that Kosovo is ready for NATO membership.
17/02/2026 12:48- 18 years of statehood, the passing of the Kosovo Security Force and Kosovo Police
Today, on the 18th anniversary of Kosovo's Independence, Kosovo Security Force and Kosovo Police troops paraded.
Many citizens were present at this ceremony, as the country marks the 18th anniversary of independence.17/02/2026 12:41- Tahiri: National unity, entry into the Council of Europe and NATO must be achieved
The head of the parliamentary group of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, Besnik Tahiri, at the solemn session of the Kosovo Assembly for the 18th anniversary of Kosovo's independence, said that we should never forget that the country's greatest historical value is the KLA war that brought freedom, the declaration of independence in 2008.
What needs to be achieved, according to Tahiri, is national unity, accession to the Council of Europe, to NATO so that Kosovo can once and for all conclude an important cycle for its people.
"A people that is still being challenged because they fought for their freedom, facing unfair trials, there are four names that are symbols of freedom, who are unjustly facing a process in which we are without any doubt that they will be declared innocent, because we believe in our just fight for freedom and in international justice. We must never forget that the greatest historical value is itself, the KLA war that brought freedom, the declaration and recognition of Kosovo's independence, and what must be achieved is the full consolidation of our state in international organizations, the unification of Kosovo with Albania, in the Council of Europe, in NATO, so that Kosovo can once and for all conclude an important cycle of the people," said Tahiri.
17/02/2026 12:26- Hamza: Our freedom has names, our sovereign Republic stands on sacrifices
The Chairman of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Bedri Hamza, congratulated the 18th anniversary of Kosovo's Independence, saying that the glorious history of our Republic cannot be rewritten.
Hamza, at the solemn session of the Kosovo Assembly, said that the declaration of independence was a victory of the determination of a people who refused to submit.
"Our independence is not a historical mistake. It is a right won with many heroes, martyrs, and with the support of our allies. Kosovo is an irreversible reality. Our state is a completed project of freedom. We have a challenge. We have a battle. But, we will triumph. We will make our state stronger. More efficient institutions. More equal justice. More functional democracy. But above all, we will preserve our memory. Because a people that forgets the sacrifice risks losing their freedom. And we will not lose it. Kosovo is our home. It is our trust. It is our responsibility. Our freedom has names. It has graves. It has history that cannot be erased. And on these sacrifices stands our Republic: free, sovereign and eternal. Happy Independence Day! Happy Statehood Day, Kosovo!", declared the leader of the PDK.
17/02/2026 12:09- Kurti: KLA leaders are being unfairly accused
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said that the Special Prosecution's accusations against former KLA leaders for crimes against humanity are unfounded.
He said that former KLA leaders are being unfairly accused because they dared to take up arms for freedom against a genocidal regime.
Kurti, at the solemn session of the Kosovo Parliament in honor of the 18th anniversary of Independence, said that crimes against humanity against the Albanian civilian population were committed by Slobodan Milosevic's Serbia, adding that the threat of their repetition is Aleksandar Vučić's Serbia.
17/02/2026 11:53- Haxhiu: Efforts to detach the KLA war from its historical context risk distorting the truth
The Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu, at the solemn session of the Assembly for the 18th anniversary of Kosovo's independence, said that any attempt to detach the war of the Kosovo Liberation Army from its historical and political context risks distorting the truth of the people of Kosovo.
Haxhiu said that the people of Kosovo are experiencing the Special Court and its judgment as unjust, which, according to her, is overlooking the circumstances in which the liberation war took place.
Haxhiu said that this date is honored by what lies at the foundation of the Republic, the KLA and its just struggle for liberation.
17/02/2026 11:51- Begaj: Former KLA leaders are being unfairly faced with fabricated charges by the Special Court
The Republic of Kosovo is an irreversible reality and a sovereign state, said the President of Albania, Bajram Begaj.
He, at the solemn session of the Kosovo Assembly in honor of the 18th anniversary of Independence, said that Kosovo was a place where freedom was killed, but today freedom functions and inspires.
"This anniversary is proof that the Republic of Kosovo is an irreversible reality and a sovereign state. Kosovo was the place where freedom was killed, today it is the place where freedom functions and freedom inspires. Today's Kosovo is a new state in years, but with deep roots of sacrifices, contributions and merits. It walks with confident steps towards the future without ever forgetting the foundations on which it was built," he said.
He mentioned the former KLA leaders who are being tried in The Hague. Begaj said they are unfairly facing fabricated charges by the Special Court.
17/02/2026 11:16- Osmani before MPs: The KLA is the greatest ideal that Albanians have built over the centuries
The country's President, Vjosa Osmani, in a speech before the members of the Kosovo Parliament, said today that the Kosovo Liberation Army is the greatest ideal that Albanians have built.
The head of state said at the solemn session of the Assembly that 18 years ago Kosovo rose from suffering to dignity and from resistance to statehood.
"Freedom won through sacrifice is eternal," she said.
Osmani emphasized that the KLA is the greatest ideal that Albanians have built over the centuries and that it is the heart of national resistance and the response of an oppressed people to a genocidal regime.
"This war was always just, pure and necessary. Any attempt to tarnish and relativize it is not only unjust, but also historically untrue and intolerable," Osmani said.
The head of state further said that the leaders of the KLA who are today in The Hague, together with thousands of other fighters and with the support of the people, stood up for freedom, dignity and the inalienable right to live freely in their homeland.17/02/2026 10:52- 18 years of statehood, solemn session of the Assembly of Kosovo
The solemn session of the Kosovo Assembly has begun.
Present are an Arbëresh delegation, the President of Albania, Bajram Begaj, the Member of Parliament of Great Britain, Alicia Kearns, a guest from the Iowa Guard, and ambassadors accredited to Kosovo.
17/02/2026 10:45- Heads of state pay homage to Prekaz
On the 18th anniversary of Kosovo's declaration of independence, state leaders paid homage at the memorial complex in Prekaz, to honor the family of the legendary commander Adem Jashari.
The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, the Speaker of the Parliament, Albulena Haxhiu, the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, and the government cabinet today paid homage at the cemetery of the Jashari family who fell for the country's freedom.
Before paying homage in Prekaz, the state leaders paid homage at the grave of former president Ibrahim Rugova, national activist Adem Demaçi, and the memorial complex for the missing.
17/02/2026 10:43- Heads of state pay homage at the graves of Rugova and Demaçi on the 18th anniversary of independence
Kosovo today marks the 18th anniversary of Independence.
Meanwhile, on this occasion, the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, Prime Minister Albin Kurti, and the Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu, paid homage and laid wreaths at the grave of the former President of Kosovo, Ibrahim Rugova, as well as at the grave of the national activist, Adem Demaçi.
In the morning hours, in front of the Kosovo Government building, the solemn raising of the flag of the Republic of Kosovo took place on the 18th anniversary of the declaration of Independence.
17/02/2026 09:59- View from Shkodra with the Kosovo flag, Beci: The heart of every Albanian beats the same, in joy, in challenges, we are together
The Mayor of Shkodra, Benet Beci, congratulated the citizens of Kosovo on the 18th anniversary of independence.
In a Facebook post, he writes that the heart of every Albanian beats the same wherever we live, while attaching a video where the Shkodra municipality is illuminated with the Kosovo flag.
17/02/2026 08:33- 18 years of state, heads of state pay homage to the missing and murdered children
As part of marking the 18th anniversary of Kosovo's independence, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, the Speaker of the Parliament, Albulena Haxhiu, and Prime Minister Albin Kurti, paid tribute to the Monument to the Missing in Ibrahim Rugova Square in Pristina.
They also paid homage to the Memorial Plaque of the Murdered Children in the courtyard of the Kosovo Parliament.
17/02/2026 08:24- Solemn Government Meeting, Kurti: Representatives who participated in the declaration of independence of our republic are being held unjustly in The Hague today
The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, at the solemn meeting of the Government of Kosovo for the 18th anniversary of Kosovo, said that on this day of celebration and reflection, one cannot fail to remember the representatives who participated in the declaration of independence of the Republic, who are today unjustly held in The Hague.
The head of the executive emphasized that the contribution of each of them to the freedom and independence of the country is precious and history will be the one that will make the right judgment.
"Today, at this solemn meeting of the Government, we remember the historic act of declaring independence on February 17, 2009.
We remember We honor the resistance and sacrifice of the people, we honor the heroes and activists who have fallen over the centuries, the peaceful resistance and the armed uprisings after World War II, which culminated in the war of the Kosovo Liberation Army. Today our independence turns 18. Perhaps a young age for the state, but an important chapter in our long journey as a people. Indeed, our state, independence and constitution are new, but our language, culture and people are ancient. Every citizen, regardless of language or ethnicity, religion or origin, is equal before the law", said Kurti.
17/02/2026 08:01- Kurti: Today we celebrate and honor the peaceful resistance, the armed uprisings that culminated in the just war of the KLA
The country's Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, said today that Kosovo is growing, both in terms of the number of recognitions and the power of the state.
"Kosovo is growing. The number of years of independence is increasing, the number of recognitions of statehood, the country's economy, the well-being of citizens and the power of the state are increasing.
Kosovo's Independence was born 18 years ago, but it was born mature because many generations of activists, our entire people, have worked, contributed, and sacrificed for us to be free and independent.
"Today we celebrate and at the same time honor the peaceful resistance, the armed uprisings that culminated in the just war of the KLA. Happy independence and let's celebrate together for life and time," he said.17/02/2026 08:01- Haxhiu: Today and every other day we honor all those who gave their lives for the freedom of Kosovo
The Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu, congratulated the citizens on the occasion of the 18th anniversary of the state's independence.
Haxhiu said that today and every other day, we honor all those who gave their lives for the freedom of Kosovo.
"Today and every other day, we remember with honor and respect all those who gave their lives for the independence we enjoy today. Today, we also honor the high-ranking figures who contributed in different circumstances and periods to liberation, freedom and independence. We honor independence if we work with functional institutions, with integrity and professionalism," she said.17/02/2026 07:43- Osmani congratulates citizens on the 18th anniversary of Independence: The sacrifice of the people of Kosovo to get here has been centuries-old
The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, has congratulated citizens on the occasion of the 18th anniversary of Kosovo's Independence.
The head of state said that the sacrifice of the people of Kosovo to get here has been centuries-old.
"I congratulate all citizens of the Republic of Kosovo on the 18th anniversary of the state's independence. It is a day where we all come together to celebrate this anniversary of our young state, which is entering its mature age."
The sacrifice to get here has been centuries-old, in fact, there have been entire generations who have given everything so that today we can enjoy the state of Kosovo. We express our deepest respect for the path, contribution and vision of the historic president Ibrahim Rugova, for the sacrifice of the Jashari family, led by commander Adem Jashari, and for thousands of martyrs, heroes of the KLA, for all those who gave their lives and made sacrifices so that today we can enjoy our state", said President Osmani.
17/02/2026 07:34- 18th anniversary of independence, the flag is solemnly raised in front of the Government building
Kosovo today marks the 18th anniversary of Independence.
The solemn raising of the flag of the Republic of Kosovo took place in front of the Kosovo Government building on the 18th anniversary of the declaration of Independence.
This ceremony was attended by the heads of state, President Vjosa Osmani, Prime Minister Albin Kurti, and the Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu.
