Kosovo Security Forces parade in Prishtina during 10th independence celebrations

19/02/2018 09:55

The solemn 10th anniversary of independence session had a number of important guests who contributed for the independence, such as William Walker, former Ambassador of the OSCE Assessing Mission in Kosovo; the congressman known as a friend of Albanians, Elliot Engel, and Bernard Kushner, former UN Chief Administrator in Kosovo.

This anniversary also gathered in Prishtina the Albanian President, Ilir Meta; the Parliament Speaker, Gramoz Ruci; Prime Minister, Edi Rama; opposition leader, Lulzim Basha; and former Prime Minister, Sali Berisha.

Kosovo Parliament Speaker Kadri Veseli said in his opening speech that the economic transformation is an easier challenge than the liberation of the country and state-building processes. “The second decade of independence should be the decade of economic growth for Kosovo citizens”, Veseli declared.

Elliot Engel said that there were people who said that Kosovo would never be independent, but when you see where this country has been, and what it has achieved so far, it really makes you wish them happy anniversary wholeheartedly. “This country will have its army side by side with the USA, to help with peace in the world”, Congressman Elliot Engel declared.

The Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, said that celebrating Kosovo’s independence once would seem such an unreachable objective, same as the idea of having both countries cooperate closer to each other. “Albania and Kosovo will have a common foreign policy, not just the same foreign representations. We may even have a national unity symbol and a national security policy as regards security. This may not sound rational, but history has taught us that what can be dreamed about, it’s not impossible to be realized”, Rama said.

The Kosovo Security Forces paraded on Prishtina’s squares, for which President Thaci reminded the important process of turning it into a proper official army. “The Security Forces had made all preparations to transform into the Armed Forces of Kosovo, but we, as politicians, were unable to follow the steps properly. Things have changed now, however, and as President of Kosovo I am determined to create its army the soonest possible”, Thaci said.

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