The President of the Republic of Kosovo (Vjosa smani) addressed the European Parliament on Wednesday in a formal session in Strasbourg.

“The Republic of Kosovo, and its people, continue to look forward to the future. A European future”, President Osmani said and called for a more robust regional collaboration. “We have extended the hand of cooperation to our neighbours, and we did so in part because our people deserve an even brighter future”, added Osmani. She said that Kosovo is “your home” for Serbs who live in Kosovo. We will do all we can to ensure that you feel safe, included, equal, and heard.

She stressed that as the first President of Kosovo to speak in front of the European Parliament since Kosovo’s 2008 independence, her country is committed to a just, sustainable peace and stability, with respect for its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and good neighbourly relationships at its core.

“We need strong people to help us in this process” European Leadership – which we see so often in this Parliament – is needed across all institutions. This will require an active, credible and straight-forward roadmap for the future of our region as part of Europe’s family,” she said.

Talking about Kosovo’s Path to EU President Osmani stated that her country is aware of the challenges it faces and that Kosovo believes that a merit-based system should be used for countries who truly respect and act on European values. “European values and the EU spirit is deeply engrained in our DNA.” These values have shaped our history, inspired us in the present and guided us towards a bright future where Kosovo will flourish as a beacon for European ideals,” added she.

President Osmani emphasized Kosovo’s commitment towards the rule of law, justice, combating crime and corrupt practices and enhancing transparency. She said Kosovo was also focused on advancing equality for women and promoting their empowerment in all walks.

“EU values serve our moral compass, and guide us and the people of our country to the highest peaks in achievement,” said President Osmani.

Regarding Russia’s aggression towards UkrainePresident Osmani stated that there should be no gray area in our stance on autocracies or tyranny. (…) Kosovo is a small nation, but we will do anything to support our Ukrainian allies,” she said.

You can watch the entire speech Here is a link to the article (14.06.2023)

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