By Sali Berisha/ Happy 18th Anniversary of Independence to Kosovo!

2026-02-17 12:25:00, Aktualitet CNA

Today, Albanians in Kosovo and everywhere else around the world celebrate the 18th anniversary of Kosovo's Independence, as the second greatest day of their freedom after the Independence of Albania. We Albanians today are proud of these first 18 years in our centuries-old history as a nation in freedom, since national freedom is one and indivisible.

Free and independent Kosovo has at its foundation, first and foremost, the invincible spirit of its citizens against the barbarities and cyclical Serbian genocide. It has the wars, the blood, the epic resistance and the sublime sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of martyrs who fought and fell to become immortal for freedom and national dignity from 1870 to 1999. It has the heroic struggle of the Kosovo Liberation Army, the commanders and freedom fighters, as the brightest page in the history of the wars of our nation after those of the eternal leader of the Albanians, Skanderbeg.

The independence of Kosovo is the work of its architect, the enlightened politician of the Albanian nation, President Ibrahim Rugova, the Gandhi of the Balkans and Europe. He weaved into the Albanians of Kosovo their most beautiful and noble dream: freedom and independence. He founded and established, under the conditions of the most savage occupation, the Republic of Kosovo, the power of the oppressed Albanians, parallel to that of the barbarian invaders. President Rugova presented and defended with determination and vision in the White House and in the largest chancelleries of the world the just cause of the people of Kosovo, transforming it into the main point of the agenda of the USA and the free Western countries. After the war, he wisely laid the foundations of today's democratic and pro-Western state.

The independence of Kosovo is the work of the Legendary Commander, Adem Jashari, who transformed Prekaz into the second Kruja of the Albanians. He left the nation the brightest crown of bravery and superhuman sacrifice. It is the work of other immortal heroes and tens of thousands of fighters who, with their courage, fought the last liberation war in Europe. Independence is also the work of Albanians in the region and everywhere in the world, who under the motto "One nation, one stance" united as a single body, where Albania, after liberation from the Hoxha dictatorship, played its irreplaceable role.

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

Today, on this 18th anniversary, Kosovo makes us proud with its amazing achievements. It is a functioning democracy and an example for the region, with consolidated institutions and high standards for human rights. It rose like a Phoenix from the ashes left by the invaders; today it has a solid economy and the most modern infrastructure in the region. Kosovo has become world-renowned through the rare talent of its daughters in music and its "queens" in sports. Even though it has faced blackmail from Belgrade and their vassals in Tirana, it remains a key factor of peace and stability.

Dear friends, with heartfelt congratulations to Kosovo and its citizens, its state authorities, I invite you to bow with the greatest respect before the sacrifice of our martyrs. Boundless gratitude to President Ibrahim Rugova, Commander Adem Jashari and deep thanks to the USA and NATO.

Happy! God bless Kosovo! God bless the Albanians and their friends!

Long live Kosovo!/ CNA