President Osmani confirms that Kosovo has given positive answers to the American request to shelter Afghans

Osmani says it has been the request of the United States of America that this issue remain confidential for security reasons and the process of leaving Afghan citizens from Afghanistan

On the other hand, Osmani says the Government of Kosovo, immediately after the request and discussion of institutional agreement, “has formed the working group that deals with organisational issues along with our American partners”.

She says no one better than Kosovo knows what it is to be expelled and to leave the country where you grew up.

Her full mail:

On 16 July, a few days after the world -- and we in Kosovo -- marked World Refugees Day -- I was contacted by US Ambassador to Kosovo Philip Costet, who conveyed a request by President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken. The request involved the temporary shelter of Afghans, innocent civilians who were now targeted by the Taliban, only because they had stood on the side of our allies, on the side of peace and democracy, on the side of equality and justice. They were local workers who had worked with American forces as well as their families, including children.

Without a single hesitation or condition, I have given my consent to such a humanitarian operation, starting first by the human principle that they do not close the doors to those who, without the blame and their desire, are obliged to leave their seats to flee persecution and save lives; secondly, because as a worthy member of the community of free states, Kosovo respects international law and its commitment not to shut the door to refugees; and third, because we must stay our friends, especially in the United States, as they did to us in the good.

Afghan citizens will have all security assessments conducted by the United States, because they will stay only temporarily in Kosovo until their documentation for US immigration visas is adjusted, where they will then be established. The Kosovo government, immediately after the request and discussion of institutional agreement, has formed the working group that deals with organisational issues together with our American partners. It was the request of the United States of America that this issue remain confidential for security reasons and the process of removing Afghan citizens from Afghanistan. As such, we respected this request, but we did not stop the job.

Dear citizens,

No one better than us knows what it means to be expelled and driven away from the country where you grew up, to separate yourself from your loved ones, to escape for life. Then, many countries around the world opened their doors to us without any demands or conditions. They saved us. 22 years after that horror, Kosovo will now prove that we never lose humanity inside us.

Our wise people say: The house is God's and Miek's <x0. With this welcome, we must wait for our friends to save lives, just as we did in the democratic world, when we needed most.

Kosovo will always be on the side of humanity, peace and democracy.