Thaci in the United States: The Future of Friendship With America Is Safe

Many representatives of the American State, political and cultural personalities, were invited to attend this evening.

The head of state, while expressing thanks to Ambassador Chitaku for organising this event, thanked the other audience, as he said. They are here to celebrate a very special day for the people of Kosovo.

Before many diplomats, President Thaci has recalled the day of Kosovo's declaration of Independence, describing it as exciting.

I became Prime Minister several months ago and did not sleep all night, because I was preparing to read the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Kosovo. I was ready to declare my homeland as free, democratic and independent. That day was not a regular day”, he stressed.

He said that as never before, people throughout the country and many others coming from around the world filled the city's narrow streets and squares, adding further that most of them were happy for the new chapter and the new beginning, but many were sad, remembering the sacrifice we gave for independence.

According to him, thousands of people died, tens of thousands of women who had been raped lost all to our freedom and independence.

I was also thinking about my father and my mother, and many other generations who had lived under apartheid, without education in their own language, without the three elements that Americans had named the most important in the American Declaration of Independence: freedom, life and happiness<1>.

Citing this moment as the happiest and most important in his life, the head of the country said, “was the happiest and most important moment of my life. It was the happiest moment for my people and was a special moment for all of Kosovo's friends. It was a difficult and long journey”, followed by President Thaci.

He has remembered American soldiers who gave their lives for Kosovo's freedom and independence, as well as for peace in the Balkans, friends of Kosovo here in America who believed in us.

According to him, they offered light in darkness, and they offered comfort in times of sadness.

People like Congressman Engel, Senator Dole, Congressman Lantos many, many others who believed in us. When it came to Kosovo it didn't matter whether you were a Democrat or a Republican, and I am happy to see that it doesn't matter now” he stressed.

President Thaci said Kosovo is the only country where President Clinton's boulevard crosses with President Bush's boulevard, as well as expressing thanks for the diaspora.

The head of the country, among other things, said that we will never forget the right nature of war, the pure purpose of war, and the blessed outcome of our efforts.

“I am convinced now, more than I was convinced when I read the Declaration of Independence ten years ago that Kosovo's future and the future of our friendship with America is certain”, the president followed.

Adding further that Kosovo will remain a trusted partner of the international community, and in particular the United States.

Kosovo is a country with the newest population in Europe and our intention to become an EU member, NATO and the UN will be reached”.

“Bota is a better place today because of Kosovo's independence ten years ago”, President Thaci said in the end.