Solemn session for the 16th anniversary of Independence, remembering the martyrs and all those who gave their lives for freedom

The Assembly of Kosovo today held a solemn session on the occasion of the 16th anniversary of Independence.

In her speech, President Vjosa Osmani said that February 17 is a unique date that unites citizens.

"February 17 is our greatest historical achievement, it is a reflection of our ideal, our ancestors and entire generations over the centuries to build a free and independent state. Our Republic is consolidating every day by honoring its citizens and their name in the world. For the citizens of Kosovo, having a state has always been a sacrifice and an ideal," said the president.

She further added that despite the centuries-old difficulties, the citizens of Kosovo resisted.

"Sovereign Kosovo is proof of what can be achieved when the invincible will of citizens is united around a common goal," said the president.

She remembered all those who gave their lives for freedom and independence and who did not give up despite everything. The country's president also spoke about Kosovo's allies.

"I especially want to thank our friends, friends of freedom. You were with us throughout our entire journey, when we were denied every right, cruelly oppressed, and when we fought for freedom.... when we were freed and built our state and we have you by our side without any doubt even today in defense of our sovereignty, borders and democracy", said the head of the state.

President Osmani further said that among these alliances, the alliance with the USA stands as the most powerful pillar of citizenship, while the journey towards Euro-Atlantic institutions, according to her, has no alternative.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo, Glauk Konjufca, said that without allies, the path to Kosovo's citizenship would be impossible.

"We have them all in mind and we do not forget to thank our friends, without whom the path of our state would be impossible, first of all the United States of America and then the European Union states that openly supported the freedom of Kosovo . We also thank NATO for stopping Serbia's genocide of our people, but we also thank all the countries that recognized Kosovo's independence," said Konjufca.

He further said that February 17 is a day of inspiration for every citizen of Kosovo.

"February 17 is a day of inspiration, so it should be a day of bowing before those who gave the most. We bow before those who gave their lives for freedom, we bow before our brothers and sisters who were killed by Serbia, just because they were Albanians. In the foundation of our state lies the heroism of Jasharaj, the wisdom of Ibrahim Rugova and the ideal of Adem Demaç", added Konjufca.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Albin Kurti in the solemn session of the Assembly of Kosovo said that with 16 years on his shoulders, the Republic of Kosovo is the youngest in the region, the youngest as a state, but with mature consciousness, as much as the consciousness of states older than that.

"Because the Republic of Kosovo in 2008 was already matured, as the realization of a popular aspiration that has been kneaded for many years and decades. Kosovo has been matured prematurely by the uprisings for the unification of the vilayets and the independence of Albania; it has been matured by the resistance of our people to successive waves of invasions and genocides.

Her time had come in 1981, when all around her people filled the squares and went out in front of the tanks shouting 'Kosova Republic!'", Kurti said.

He further added that everyone is clear that in the event that state Serbia would have felt the least bit responsible for the genocide in Kosovo, if reason and not chauvinistic revanchism had prevailed in its politics, it should have recognized it Kosovo since 2008.

"The Republic of Kosovo guarantees the widest rights for the minorities in our region, especially for the Serbs, who benefit and contribute to our common state", Kurti said among other things.

The Prime Minister also spoke about the Albanians in the Presheva Valley, who are the most discriminated minority in Europe, which is being subjected to cleansing through the so-called "passivization of addresses".

"On the 16th birthday of independence, we thank the United States of America, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Turkey and other member countries of the European Union and NATO. We thank all 117 states recognizing independence around the globe: from Canada to Australia and New Zealand, from Japan to Panama and Peru.

In particular, we thank Albania, its good people, state and party structures and political and social leadership", said the Prime Minister, among other things. /Telegraph/