Jakup Krasniqi's Confession of Independence

 He says that apart from the mixed emotions of reaching the act that many generations have fought for, he also felt fear of whether everything would go well. That is because there was an important role, the leadership of the session in which, after centuries of efforts, Kosovo's independence was being declared.

In a confession to Kosovo Press, former Kosovo Parliament Speaker Jakup Krasniqi, as he tells of February 17th 2008, says he had never thought he would be among the people who would declare Kosovo's independence.

At this moment I felt, I never thought that maybe I would be the one to be in the composition of the people who would proclaim Kosovo independent state, but we had fought for the freedom of Kosovo, yet the moment came and fate came to us, but also for our generation to have the chance to really shape that desire and aspirations of generations. Of course, it was difficult for a person to relate, but it was a special pleasure, a desire that we had committed to more than 30 years ourselves. All of this had its own importance and its own will, but it was also the fear of how events would follow, says Krasniqi.

Now in filling a decade of state, former Parliament Speaker Jakup Krasniqi remembers the fears he had within him because he had a huge burden, to conduct the most important session of the Kosovo Assembly.

There were elements of fear, but I think it went better than I thought, and that did, the atmosphere that was created not only inside, but also the atmosphere that was created outside, a holiday atmosphere is certainly easier to act on. We may have had much more complicated sessions, but they didn't have the weight of that hearing, but the atmosphere itself created inside and outside the hearing made it easy to run and conclude that session”, the former head of the Assembly points out.

Being one of the three leaders of the country's three main institutions, Krasniqi also relates talks prior to the appointment of the independence declaration date. Says everything about declaring independence was done in co-ordination with the international factor, especially the American Office in Kosovo, which played the role of the embassy and its representative, Tina Caidanow.

Krasniqi also shows his desire and that of other leaders of institutions for the time when independence should be declared.

Our “Deservation has been that Kosovo's independence would be held in the spring, with regard to events both the Jasharaites' era and the events of the spring of 1981. In this conversation, however, it seemed distant, and the proposal was more international than ours and agreed that the declaration of independence should not be made on a working day, but on weekends. It was also found short because of the weather that might have been the most appropriate time to be the greatest calm and weekend, someone who doesn't know who, but who has had more knowledge of security matters, set February 17th and Sunday, and I think all things went well”, he added.

It was on February 17 at the hearing where the declaration of independence was read that the flag, which will be the youngest state, was extended. Krasniqi says it was difficult, even though he knew which flag he would be, but the fact that he had sworn several times under the black and red flag made it difficult to learn with another flag.

But now it feels good with the Kosovo flag, since two states cannot have a flag. As long as, not rationally calling the rejection of the Kosovo flag, Krasniqi calls on citizens not to speak up against the two flags, but to be seen as something that unites them, not divides them.

For me it wasn't even easy, why I'm saying this, because after all I've sworn two times before that flag, even in the illegal organization of the last of the KLA, and he's been and he's the only flag that gives me emotion, but one thing we need to understand, that flag would be ours and it would represent us everywhere if we joined Albania. As long as Kosovo had to be an independent state it has to have its own symbols and I actually think it's all not rational, all that noise is made today after ten years for the flag. The national flag no one takes us, it's ours, what is of every citizen of Albania, but Kosovo must have its own symbols and has its own symbols”, Krasniqi says.

The former head of the Parliament stresses that he has fought for the unification of Albanian lands, but that independent Kosovo is a major victory. According to Krasniqi, the flag is Kosovo's smallest problem. He expresses disappointment with the integration of the two countries in many areas, which, according to him, could happen but are not happening. Krasniqi says nobody prevents them from having a common market, so that the border does not create barriers, but here they are blocking themselves.

In the first jubilee of the state of Kosovo, Krasniqi also talks about Kosovo's achievements and its impasses. He says they've waited longer, but that's all they could give the country at this time.

And we've all been expecting more, and especially those of us who've had a long experience in politics, we've all been expecting more, but as a whole we've been able to give the country at this time. I believe Kosovo has both intellectual and political and economic potential to be better, but I have to change the way people are selected in state institutions. What we've been suffering over these years and suffering is the way we and whom we've gone back, the way we give people political power there”, Krasniqi stressed.

However, former Parliament head Jakup Krasniqi also mentions the achievements he marked for ten years as a state. The biggest achievement recognises the declaration of independence on February 17th itself, until, the building of state institutions, such as the Constitution, the Councils of State, Parliament, the institution of the president, the Government and the justice system, are the ones that need to be praised, as they were not.

According to Krasniqi, Kosovo today is no match for 10 or 20 years ago, with present-day construction in cities and villages, with roads it has and has, is no match for schools that are much more built, even though students are half less.

Krasniqi says that Kosovo institutions now need to focus very much so that the prospect of turning life, work, job security and life back to Kosovo, not outside Kosovo.