Clinton gets the “Peacemaker of the Century” award, Osmani: He is the reason we have the first generation in Kosovo growing without war

She said Clinton is the reason why today in Kosovo, for the first time in her history a generation grows without war.

The first generation of our nation's existence, the first generation of Kosovo children who can go to bed without listening to the noise of weapons and shootings, the first generation that has the opportunity to go to school freely, the first generation that can speak its language freely, the first generation that sees the parent go to work without fear of being arrested or killed, the first generation that has never gone to a refugee, that has only lived in democracy, and the first generation of children in our nation's history that have not known and lived in peace. And there is a reason for this historic achievement. It's why he has united us all to honor President Bill Clinton”, Osmani said.

The president was deeply honored to be involved in this event for Clinton, which she said “has left his legacy not only in history but deeply carved into the lives of millions of people worldwide”.

It revealed little of its personal history during the war in Kosovo.

“26 years ago, in March 1999, I was hiding in the mountains of my homeland while my family sought refuge from the borders of the Milosevic regime after we were forcibly expelled from our home. I remember listening to a little radio along with other young people, listening to President Clinton's speeches, hoping that his leadership would change the course of our country. Then, if someone had told me that I would be standing here today in the name of the people of a free, independent and sovereign Republic of Kosovo, making this reputation for the man who became our savior, I would have thought of a dream impossible. But here we are today, honored and humble, with great gratitude, saying thank you. Thank you, Mr. President, on behalf of every soul in my country, from every home and every heart in all of Kosovo”, Osmani said.

For the people of Kosovo, Osmani said that Vice President Clinton and Secretary Clinton are more than allies”.

They're symbols of our freedom. President Clinton stands as a light of hope, because when our people faced the horror of genocide, he chose not to go back. He led with conviction, united the free world to stop an ongoing plan to wipe us out. This is why honoring President Clinton is not only a testament to his remarkable leadership and hard-earned efforts, but also a tribute to the values that brought us together then and to unite us today. His decision to save millions of lives in Kosovo and worldwide was, not certainly, born of political comfort, but of moral need. President Clinton realized that peace is not only a lack of war but also a presence of justice, as we all know”.

On March 24, 1999, while he was addressing the American nation and explaining why the United States was being put to rescue our country, he said we can't get out of this. We cannot allow genocide to happen again in Europe. We cannot allow a brutal dictator to violate the fundamental rights of an innocent people while the world remains silent. And as he exactly said, the risks of action were far greater than those of non-action, not just for people without protection, but more importantly, for the values we share and for global security. And thanks to President Clinton's leadership, the people of Kosovo took the opportunity not only to survive but to become a thriving people. We were given the opportunity to dream, rebuild and shape our future”, she said.

Osmani said that today “Kosovo is a testimony to what is possible when world democracies line together against oppression, when justice prevails over fear, and when the international community chooses action on indifference, and when moral and legal rights match”.

If you want to understand the real impact of President Clinton's leadership, I invite you to come to Kosovo. Children who were once forced to hide in the mountains and who ended up in refugee camps now go to school freely, carry books in hand, not the burden of war. They laugh, they learn, they dream, because President Clinton believed their lives deserved to be protected”, the president told those in attendance.

She said that “any free child in Kosovo is the living testimony he made the right decision”.

“Today, the free Kosovo Republic is the most democratic country in the region and the most pro-American nation in the world, and this is another testimony to that right decision. President Clinton's support for Kosovo has always been a reflection of values that the American people define. Since the beginning and over the years, that support has crossed the borders of the parties”, Osmani said.

Kosovo President thanked former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as did President Clinton.

Thank you. And most importantly, in the name of all the children of Kosovo, of the first generation in the history of our nation, the first generation that has not known war and lived only in peace. Thank you. Congratulations on this” award.