Sali Berisha: Happy Kosovo 18th anniversary of Independence!

Full wish:

Dear friends,

Today Albanians in Kosovo and wherever they are around the world celebrate the 18th anniversary of Kosovo's Independence, as the second biggest day of their freedom after Albania's independence. We Albanians today take pride in the first 18 years in our centuries-old history as a nation in freedom, since national freedom is one and undivided.

Free and independent Kosovo has the foundation, first of all, the invincible spirit of its citizens towards the barbarians and the Serbian cyclical genocide. It has wars, blood, epic resistance and the subliance of hundreds of thousands of martyrs who fought and fell to become immortal for national freedom and dignity from 1870 to 1999. It has the heroic war of the Kosovo Liberation Army, commanders and freedom fighters, as the greatest site in the history of our nation's wars after those of the Albanian permanent leader, Skenderbeu.

Kosovo's independence is the work of its architect, mind-minded politician of the Albanian nation, President Ibrahim Rugova, Gandhi of the Balkans and Europe. He set up their most beautiful and noble dream among Kosovo Albanians: freedom and independence. He founded and established, in terms of the worst occupation, the Republic of Kosovo, the power of oppressed Albanians, in parallel with that of barbarous invaders. President Rugova presented and defended it with determination and vision at the White House and in the world's largest Chancellors the right issue of the people of Kosovo, turning it into key points of the US agenda and Western free countries. After the war, he wisely laid the foundations of today's democratic and pro-Western state.

Kosovo's independence is the work of Legendary Commander Adem Jashari, who turned Prekazin into the second Kruja of Albanians. He left the nation the finest crown of bravery and superhuman sacrifice. It is the work of other immortal heroes and tens of thousands of warriors who courageously fought the last liberation war in Europe. Independence is also the work of Albanians in the region and throughout the world, who under the motto “A nation, a <x1) stance, joined as a single body, where Albania, after its liberation from the Hadzite dictatorship, played its irreplaceable role.

But Kosovo became free and independent thanks to strong support and the defining role of the US, American Congress, President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush, as well as the major West countries and NATO members.

Today, on this 18th anniversary, Kosovo makes us proud of its amazing achievements. It is a functional democracy and an example for the region, with consolidation institutions and high standards for human rights. It rose like Phoenix from the ashes left by the invaders; today there is a more modern economy and infrastructure in the region. Kosovo has become internationally recognised through the rare talent of her daughters in music and her <x0-kings” in sports. Although faced with blackmail from Belgrade and their vassals in Tirana, it remains a key factor of peace and stability.

Dear friends, with the heartfelt wish of Kosovo and its citizens, I invite you to humble ourselves with the greatest honour before the sacrifice of our martyrs. Infinitely grateful to President Ibrahim Rugova, Commander Adam Jashari and deep thanks to the US and NATO.

Cheers! May God bless Kosovo. God bless Albanians and their friends!

Long live Kosovo!