Content of Kosovo Declaration of Independence

On the occasion of marking this anniversary, we bring the full declaration of Kosovo independence.

Delarata was read by then Prime Minister Hashim Thaci.

Kosovo Independence Declaration

Meeting at extraordinary meetings on February 17th 2008 in Kosovo's capital, Pristina,

In response to the call of the people to build a society that respects human dignity and affirms the pride and intentions of its citizens,

Pledged to face the painful legacy of the imminent past in the spirit of reconciliation and forgiveness,

Dedicated to the protection, promotion and respect of the diversity of our people,

Reconfirming our desire to fully integrate into the Euro-Atlantic family of democracies,

Noting that Kosovo is a special case stemming from Yugoslavia's nonconsensual dissolution and is not presedinal for any other situation,

Recalling years of conflict and violence in Kosovo that disturbed the conscience of all civilized peoples,

Grateful that the world intervened in 1999, thereby removing Belgrade's governance over Kosovo, and placing Kosovo under the provisional administration of the United Nations,

Proud that Kosovo has since developed functional, multiethnic institutions of democracy that freely express the will of our citizens,

Recalling the years of internationally sponsored negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina on the issue of our future political status,

Expressing regret that no acceptable results were achieved for both sides in spite of the real commitment of our leaders,

Confirming that the recommendations of the UN special envoy, Martti Ahtisaari, offer Kosovo a comprehensive framework for its future development, and are in line with the highest European standards for human rights and good governance,

Determined to see our status resolved in order to give our people clarity on their future, to move beyond past conflicts and to realise the full democratic potential of our society,

By honoring all the men and women who made great sacrifices to build a better future for Kosovo,

We, the leaders of our democraticly elected people, through this Declaration declare Kosovo independent and sovereign state. This declaration reflects the will of our people and is in full compliance with the recommendations of UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari and his comprehensive proposal for the Kosovo Status Resolution.

We proclaim Kosovo a democratic, secular and multiethnic republic, guided by the principles of non-discrimination and equal protection under the law. We will protect and promote the rights of all communities in Kosovo and create the necessary conditions for their effective participation in political and decision-making processes.
We fully accept the obligations for Kosovo contained in the Ahtisaari Plan, and welcome the framework it proposes to lead Kosovo in the years ahead. We will fully implement those obligations, including the prior adoption of legislation included in its Anex XII, especially what protects and promotes the rights of communities and their members.

We will adopt as soon as possible a constitution that embodys our pledge to respect human rights and the fundamental freedoms of all our citizens, especially as defined by the European Convention for Human Rights. The constitution will administer all relevant principles of the Ahtisaari Plan and will be adopted through a democratic and careful process.
We welcome the international community's continued support for our democratic development through international presences founded in Kosovo under UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999). We invite and welcome an international civilian presence to oversee the implementation of the Ahtisaari Plan and a mission of the rule of law led by the European Union.

We also invite and welcome NATO to retain the lead role in the international military presence and implement the responsibilities granted to the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and the Ahtisaari Plan, until the Kosovo institutions are able to assume these responsibilities. We will fully co-operate with these presences in Kosovo to ensure peace, prosperity and stability in the future in Kosovo.
Because of culture, geography and history, we believe that our future is in the European family. For this reason, we declare our intention to take all necessary steps to ensure full membership in the European Union once possible and to implement reforms required for European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

We express gratitude to the United Nations organization for the work it has done to help us restore and rebuild the post-war environment and build institutions of democracy. We are committed to working constructively with the United Nations Organization as it continues its work in the coming period.

With independence comes the task of responsible membership in the international community. We fully accept this task and will adhere to the principles of the United Nations Charter, Helsinki Final Act, other acts of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, international legal obligations and principles of good international relations marking relations between states. Kosovo will have its international borders as envisioned at Annex V III of the Ahtisaari Plan, and will fully respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all our neighbours. Kosovo, too, will refrain from threatening or using force in any way that it is uncompetitive with the UN's intentions.

We, through this statement, receive Kosovo's international obligations, including those achieved in our name by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), as well as obligations of treaties and other obligations of the former Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia to which we are tasked as a former part of the framework, including Vienna conventions for diplomatic and consular relations. We will fully co-operate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. We aim to seek membership in international organisations, in which Kosovo will aim to contribute for the purposes of international peace and stability.

Kosovo declares its pledge to peace and stability in our Southeast Europe region. Our independence brings to the end the process of the violent breakup of Yugoslavia. While this process has been painful, we will work constantly to contribute to a reconciliation that would allow Southeast Europe to go beyond past conflicts and forge new regional co-operation ties. For this reason, we will work together with our neighbours to advance our common European future.

We express, in particular, our desire to establish good relations with all our neighbours, including the Republic of Serbia, with which we have historical, trade and social relations, which we aim to further develop in the near future. We will continue our efforts to contribute to neighbourly relations and co-operation with the Republic of Serbia by promoting reconciliation among our peoples.

We, through this, clearly, specific and irrevocable affirm that Kosovo will be legally obliged to meet the provisions contained in this statement, including its obligations by the Ahtisaari Plan. In all these issues, we will act on compliance with the principles of international law and UN Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 1244 (1999). We publicly announce that all states have the right to rely on this Declaration, and appeal to offer their support and support.