Albania Brings Kosovo to Security Council Focus

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Igli Hasani has headed the special meeting of the Security Council Arria format, where at the invitation of Albania, Kosovo through President Vjosa Osmani has kept his word at the highest decision-making table in the world.

Minister Hasani stressed that conflict-related sex violence is a war crime and remains a crucial challenge to global security, while underlining that the world can learn much from Kosovo on this issue.

“Sexual violence continues to be used as a strategy of war and terror. Punishment perpetuates the culture of violence and undermines efforts to eradicate it. The voice of over 20 thousand women and girls raped during the Kosovo conflict should be heard. The victims and survivors should not be denied justice. We must take concrete steps to prevent violence. To ensure the protection of individuals, the punishment of authors and the reparation of victims. Albania's commitment in this direction remains steadfast”, he said.

Albanian top diplomat in his address also stopped at girls and women kidnapped by Hamas terrorists, who are being held somewhere in Gaza under dire conditions.

“We call for their immediate and unconditional release”, the minister said.

At the meeting for “Prohibition and response to sexual violence caused by conflicts”, President Vjosa Osmani spoke of Kosovo's experience in this case as she stressed the importance of accountability.

These crimes' “They don't stop before anything. They ruin life. They do not want to destroy just nations or countries. They want to destroy our faith in mankind. They want to dehumanise people”, she said.

Participants at this meeting were representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina or Ukraine who brought their painful experiences, but also experiences of building models to protect victims of violence.