Citaku: Kosovo is a success story for which all Americans should be proud

Kosovo's ambassador to the US, Vlora Citaku, has said Kosovo is a success story for Americans to be proud of.

She has written an opinion in the Washington Times as a response to an American football player Michael Walter, who said the KLA is an Islamic terrorist organisation and that Kosovo's most famous export is jihadists. In his writing published in the same newspaper, the US reportedly has no interest in Kosovo and that American taxes are wasted, Klan Kosova reports.

But Chitaku countered by starting writing with the 1992 Christmas holiday, which, according to her, Kosovo received the best gift from the US.

“was the Christmas party in 1992, when the people of Kosovo received the best gift anyone could wish for. United States President George H. A Bush sent a message to Serbia saying that: “in case of conflict in Kosovo caused by Serbian actions, the United States will be willing to use military forces against Serbs in Kosovo and Serbia.” When few people could see Kosovo on the map, it was Bush who drew the red line and the United States since then have stood by the people of Kosovo”.

The 1990 “was a dark time for the Western Balkans. When most people think of the Balkans, they remember the thrilling wars of the 1990s. However, what is often overlooked is decades of oppression, systematic division and systematic exploitation conducted by the Serbian regime. Years of untold suffering when the people of Kosovo were deprived of their rights and subjected to dehumanizing treatment. The horrors of the 1990s culminated in the brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing, which was carried out by Serb forces. One million Kosovars were expelled from their country, more than 10,000 were killed, nearly 20,000 women were violated, and 1,600 are still missing”.

On March 24th, 1999, the United States led the humanitarian intervention of NATO air strikes, which ended the reign of terror in Kosovo. President Bill Clinton announced: “if we and our allies would allow this war to continue unanswered, President Milosevic would read our hesitation as a license to kill”. Once again, they were our American friends who came to our rescue. When American troops arrived in Kosovo in 1999, they were at home. They greeted themselves with smiles, cheering, and flowers. Since then, Kosovo has been a host of countless Americans, military and civilian. They are our friends, our mentors, our family”.

Chitaku wrote that the war <x0Ws are not easily healed and they never really disappear. But freedom has healing powers. Thus, slowly but certainly, the people of Kosovo were rebuilt. We took strength from each other and had hope because we were not alone in our fight. America was on our side. When the time came for us to complete our struggle for independence, it was President George W. Bush said that in 2007: “It is unnecessary to say, Kosovo declared its independence on February 17th 2008”.

“Democracy is not easy, but Kosovo has proved it is for this task. With the help of the Obama administration, our country made great efforts to integrate more into the international community. Kosovo has worked hard to demonstrate its readiness to meet the responsibilities of full membership in the European Union. However, no one was surprised that when Kosovo was willing to switch from a consumer to a security contributor by establishing its armed forces, it was the Trump administration that led this” effort.

Since its transformation, KSF has already made remarkable progress in building capacities, modernising and harmonising with NATO standards. Whether to fight I SIS or Hozbo God, Kosovo is always in line with the United States. As a sign of commitment to lasting peace and long-term prosperity in the region, NATO continues to maintain a presence in Kosovo. Today, its mission is to serve as a preventive and capacity-building centre”.

Kosovo is a secular and multiethnic country that is rich in its diversity. In Kosovo, you will find cities where the Catholic Church, Orthodox Church and Muslim mosque all share the same courtyard. The tolerance and religious harmony that we have cultivated over the centuries is a symbol of honor, which we proudly wear. Kosovars value their history and heritage, but it is without question that Kosovo's most famous social export of pro-Americanism”.

“A media freedom champion country, the centre for internationally recognised innovation, Kosovo to some extent lives in its true reputation. I have no doubt that one day, the professionalism of our institutions will comply with the integrity of our media, the success of our artists and athletes, the strength of women and the resistance of our civil society”.

Kosovo wants peace with its neighbours and is willing to continue dialogue with Serbia. Nevertheless, we are alert to our hard - won freedom. It's an ideal we're prepared to die for and we'll fight for it. We owe those who paid the final price. The White House has claimed responsibility and has appointed two special envoys who have injected the region with new energy. Ambassador Green is now fearlessly leading the unfinished century conflict between Kosovo and Serbia with a final agreement. As unstable forces try to underestimate this process, President Donald Trump has defined the way by making it clear that the United States sees mutual recognition as the foundation of the normalised relationship and the basis of any comprehensive agreement”.

Kosovo has always enjoyed two-party support in the United States. A popular expression in Kosovo says: If you don't know U.S. policy, you're going to lose to”. In Pristina, we have a statue of Bill Clinton. Immediately near the “George Bush” boulear “Madeline Albright” is 5 minutes away from “Bob Dole”. When it comes to navigation, Kosovars know exactly where the star of the north is, and this is on the flag, right next to the” lines.

Kosovo and the United States have a really special connection built on the history that unites us and the shared vision that leads to the future. This agreement is the basis of our democracy. That's exactly why at the time of COVID-19, when the world is surrounded by uncertainty is one thing I can say for sure, Kosovo is a success story for which all Americans can be proud”, Citaku concludes.