Kosovo Independence Day celebrated in Rome

The eighteenth anniversary of Kosovo's Independence was also celebrated in Rome, at the Grand Hotel Parco dei Principi, a very elegant setting. Among the authorities were the United States Ambassador Tilman J. Fertitta and the President of the Italian Constitutional Court Giovanni Amoroso, the EU Ambassador to the Holy See and FAO, H.E. Martin Selmayr; the Head of the European Commission Delegation in Italy, H.E. Claudio Casini; the Ambassador of Albania to the Holy See, H.E. Majlinda Frangaj and many other personalities from the Diplomatic Corps, who represented Kosovo's friendly and partner states, including Malta, San Marino, Japan, the Dominican Republic, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, etc.

The most significant part of the evening was Ambassador Nita Shala's speech. She focused on the past suffering, present challenges, and hopes for a prosperous future for her people, underlining the premises that all Kosovars cherish for joining the greater Europe.

Musical performances by Kosovar artists added a homely feel to the evening, while the buffet, rich in typical dishes and traditional wines, offered guests an authentic taste of the country's gastronomic culture.

Below is the full speech of the Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to Italy, Nita Shala. R. Bozhani

 

Dear guests,

Honorable President of the Constitutional Court, Prof. Giovanni Amoroso,

Honorable representatives of Italian institutions,

Excellencies, friends of Kosovo, dear compatriots,

Good evening and welcome…

   Tonight you are invited to the Independence Day of the Republic of Kosovo, and we are happy to celebrate together the birth of one of the youngest states in the world. A little time has passed since that blessed February 17, 2008, and we, this young country, which is undoubtedly growing and is unlike any other, like it very much. It seems that it is time to say: “each to his own destiny”.

   My working group and I are proud to represent this small country, which is located in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula. Your presence here fills us with joy and proves to us that we have managed to face the sacrifices and indescribable challenges of the past, thanks to the support and assistance of 121 friendly countries that recognize Kosovo as a sovereign state and to which we will be eternally grateful. Of course, the most heartfelt thanks go to the country that is welcoming us, Italy, whose assistance has been crucial for our present and future. Italy, together with the United States of America, has been and continues to be our closest allies, and we hope that it will be so today and in the future. 

     For us, Kosovo is not just “a handful of soil and two stones”, but much more: it is our entire life and that of our children, who today have the fortune to be born and grow up in freedom. It is the denied life of our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents, whose value is priceless, because they sacrificed themselves to that extreme limit, where words, overcome by pain, cannot describe it.

    Kosovo for us was the missing dignity of an entire people until recently. It is the language of our ancestors, banned and censored for centuries. It is the land of a courageous people who have not stopped fighting and continue to fight for their well-deserved well-being. For that right that in modern times we take for granted once and for all — freedom — thinking of it as a common good.

   But that is not the case at all. History reminds us that, in some cases, freedom is a goal that must be won at all costs, and when it becomes difficult or almost impossible, it becomes more precious than life itself.

   We are now celebrating our eighteenth anniversary, with a Kosovo that guarantees equal rights for all its citizens and that aims to become a member of the European Union as soon as possible. These very days we have elected the new government of Prime Minister Albin Kurti and this guarantees us another step towards the stability and normality of the country. We are constantly working to strengthen the security and justice institutions. With determination and foresight, we are fighting corruption, promoting freedom of the press and media, and we are pleased to announce that the country's economic development is growing every year.

   Since mid-2024, when I was modestly charged with representing the Republic of Kosovo in Italy, I can say with conviction that I have been committed to improving relations with this country. We consider Italy one of our most important allies. Currently, around 40,000 Kosovars live here, who are our pride, because with their dedication, they make a valuable contribution to Italian society.

  The Arbëresh also live here, our history and our common blood, with whom we will organize the Kosovar Film Festival in Arbëria, hopefully in the spring… I mean, we hope for good weather, but if we have managed to form a government, we will surely manage to stop the rain.

  With great joy, I announce that, this year too, we will be represented at the Venice Biennale with our pavilion, where art, tradition, and talent come together, hoping to represent and affirm our contemporary artists in the international arena.

  I can also highlight the agreement in the field of public administration, the agreement in the field of justice, the agreement in agriculture, in culture, and the Friendship Pact between the two capitals, Pristina and Rome, for which we continue to work and which will be a priority for our Embassy.

  With the beginning of the implementation of the agreement on the recognition of patents between our two countries and the one on the elimination of double taxation, we can finally say that the need for economic cooperation is ever-increasing.

   Therefore, we are ready to await with great confidence the arrival of Italian entrepreneurs in Pristina and also our return to the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, events for which I am personally committed.

    Finally, I invite you to visit Kosovo, which shines with gold medals in judo, and see the natural beauty that our small country offers, but with a great sense of hospitality.

   Starting in September, thanks to the cooperation with Rome Airport, it will be even easier, because direct flights will begin from Rome to Pristina and vice versa.

    I invite you now to raise a toast together to the Republic of Kosovo.

    Long live Kosovo — and long live the friendship between Kosovo and Italy.