Albanian Chief Parliamentary wishes Kosovo independence: Today, we are two-half awaiting EU membership

She said today is a historic day, both for Kosovo and for Albania and the Albanian nation.

The full declaration of the Albanian chief commander:

Today is a great day. Today is a historic day, for Kosovo, Albania and the Albanian nation.

Before we begin with the agenda, today, on the 17th anniversary of the declaration of Independence, which has entered history like the Independence Day of Kosovo, I invite you from this room, we, the Albanian Parliament deputies, to convey brotherly congratulations with a applause to the people, the Parliament and the institutions of Kosovo.

Today it is also November 1912, and February 17th of 2008, in the Republic of Kosovo.

It is the great weather that made Kosovo free, independent, and added a new flag to Europe in the family.

Never have these two dates together marked larger events, and have never again begun a new era for Albanians, leading them to freedom, independence, and determination to write our own modern common history.

Let me, on behalf of Albania's Parliament, jointly convey the brotherly congratulations to every citizen of the Republic of Kosovo, the martyrs and thinkers and all their endless sacrifices that made possible the conception of the great dream of freedom and historical justice. 17 years ago, in the Kosovo Assembly, at an extraordinary session, Prime Minister Hashim Thaci read the Declaration of Independence, as the supreme act declaring Kosovo independent and sovereign state.

That moment that marked the triumph of a people's dream and a violent nation in two parts is the first day of history of a new geopolitical reality in the region and Europe, and also the triumph of human right to self-rule, the struggle for human rights and the rights of nations to build their own destiny.

That moment was the culmination of that endless war and centuries-old aspirations of Kosovo Albanians.

Under inspiration from President Ibrahim Rugova, Kosovo's citizens peacefully resisted the vicious defeat of the former Yugoslavia and then responded to the Kosovo Liberation Army war.

Two games of unimaginable sacrifice, on a front for life and death, on a challenge between civilization, barbarity and terror, at the end of the 20th century. Endless gratitude to all the martyrs of that war for all the lives that were cut apart in the middle in exchange for freedom. In this unprecedented match, alongside the people of Kosovo and the Albanians of the region, was the largest political-military alliance, which fought and won the first anti-fascist battle in Europe since the end of World War II. Kosovo was in those dramatic, wounded months of Western civilisation, which decided to respond with the strength of law, the blind force of Belgrade's bloody regime. Endless gratitude for the United States of America, Great Britain and the EU, NATO and all other friendly countries that co-operated in Kosovo's freedom. Today, the Republic of Kosovo and Albania are two-half of the same aspirations to become a part of the European Union. There are two flags, but one nation and one language.

We remember where we came from, we know where we're going!

We, in Albania's Parliament, look forward to continuing uncut, vital and strategic co-operation with the new institutions of the Republic of Kosovo that will emerge from the February 9th elections, respecting and honouring the free expression of the will and vote of Kosovo citizens.

We support and are part of the efforts of Kosovo leaders, institutions and citizens for development, progress and prosperity, consolidation of democratic values and standards, Euro-Atlantic integrations and acceptance into international organisations in the Republic of Kosovo as the only way to ensure peace and security in the region and beyond.

God bless freedom, God bless Kosovo, Albania and all Albanians around the world.