YouSaid · the spoken record

Citaku

lines on the record: 330
first: 2010-11-12
most recent: 2019-10-31
sittings or episodes: 17
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“But truth and reconciliation cannot be built on false narratives or on desperate attempts to establish moral parity. Every time I come here, to this Chamber, I feel compelled to remind Council members of our story, of what happened in the heart of Europe not more than 20 years ago: a brutal war that left hundreds of thousands massacred, missing or raped. All those atrocities - from Croatia to Bosnia to Kosovo - were committed by the Serbian State machinery. I am repeating these facts today, and I will continue to repeat them, because that is the only truth. It is very disturbing to hear the creative revisionist history of our northern neighbours. Their narrative is a serious attempt to rewrite the past, and as such has no place in this Chamber, or anywhere else for that matter, and it is about time that we put an end to it.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“From Meja to Cusk to Abria, in towns and villages all across Kosovo, people are united in remembering the noble sacrifices of the fallen. Approximately 30,000 young Kosovars will graduate from high school this year. They will be the first generation of graduates who have not witnessed the horrors of war. They are the first generation of Kosovars to be born in a free country, to grow up without knowing the fear of oppression and without being scarred by war. They have no fear, because freedom is all they know. They were born free, and free they shall remain. What they demand from us is a better future, better quality of education and better jobs. It is what they deserve. However, they also demand truth about the past. In order to truly move on, they require closure.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“Ms. Citaku: As always, it is an honour to be with the Security Council today. Three months ago I was in the Chamber on the eve of the tenth anniversary of Kosovo's independence (see S/PV.8176). It has now been a decade of statehood for Kosovo, and much longer than that since the end of the war. We have been through a lot, beginning with a long period of oppression and systematic human rights violations prior to the war and culminating with ethnic cleansing. Despite the dire circumstances and daunting challenges, we never gave up. With hope in our hearts we persevered, and we have managed to rebuild our lives from scratch. The past three months have been marked by the anniversary of our independence and by reminders of the steep price we had to pay for our freedom. Every day there is a commemoration. Every day a new memorial is unveiled.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“While we meet here every three months to repeat the same old stories, they are out there changing the world, fighting for a better, brighter future for their families, their country and the global community. They do not have time to listen to us argue over whether the sky is blue. They know that my speech here today will not change anything, but their actions will. They are aware that Kosovo's independence is an irreversible fact, as confirmed by the ruling of the International Court of Justice. But they also know that it is in our power to create a more prosperous Kosovo to leave behind for the next generations, so that when we celebrate the next decades and centuries of independence, there will be a lot more to be proud of.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“Normalization can be achieved only through the recognition ofKosovo, and the sooner Serbia recognizes Kosovo, the better it will be for the entire region. As I have stated numerous times, we in Kosovo believe that the appropriate platform and venue for dialogue is in Brussels. I want to reaffirm our commitment to the dialogue and to the implementation of every single agreement reached in Brussels. However, the United Nations has no role in this process. The United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo is neither a peacekeeping mission nor an administrative mission. The United Nations may choose to maintain an expensive mission in Kosovo, but we believe that its taxpayers' money could be put to much better use. Women such as Fahrije, Kadire, Doruntina, Majlinda and many more do not have time for debates such as this one.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“Time and again they empower us by inspiring us. They challenge power and authority; they fight for justice and social norms. They encourage us to dream and to dare. We are meeting today one day after the European Union published its strategy for the Western Balkans. While we in Kosovo believe that the language used to describe Kosovo's path forward should have been more specific, perhaps more concrete, there is absolutely no doubt as to where the future lies. Moreover, what is made very clear by this strategy is that Kosovo and Serbia must normalize relations and enter into a legally binding agreement. Now more than ever, it is crystal-clear that the new status quo and another frozen conflict do not represent normalization.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“Let us not forget the one and only Majlinda Kelmendi - our golden pride, our golden champion. While Kosovo was struggling to become a member of the Olympic Committee, Majlinda often had to practice in halls without electricity or heat. Nevertheless, she turned down the millions that were offered to her to compete under a different flag. She patiently waited for her chance to represent Kosovo. And when she finally got the opportunity to compete in Rio de Janeiro, Majlinda made us all proud by winning a gold medal. In doing so, she also taught us a lesson, a lesson of integrity, perseverance and love for one's country. Although Kosovo has many obstacles to overcome, it is these women who make me hopeful. Whenever we come up short, whenever we fail to deliver, courageous women like them are there to lift us up.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“Today their products are customer favourites in stores across our country. Although Kosovo remains the only country in Europe without visa liberalization, our talented youth transcend borders and inspire their peers throughout the European continent and beyond. Just last month, Forbes published its famous 30 Under 30 List. Three amazing Kosovar women - Blerta, Dafina and Bilna - made us all proud by appearing on them. These young ladies are working hard to increase the transparency and accountability of the Government by utilizing digital platforms and novel technology. They understand, better than most, that European integration is an internal dynamic, that it is, first and foremost, about building and applying standards of transparency at home. We are all proud of these young women, and I am sure that we will be hearing more from them.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“Kadire fought tirelessly and kept her resolve even when all the odds were stacked against her. Finally, 18 years after the war, the Government has allocated the necessary funds to implement programmes for these survivors. It is because of women like Fahrije Hoti, that Krusha, a village in south-western Kosovo, is no longer known only for its tragic past. A young widow herself, living in a village where most of the adult male population was eradicated during the war, Fahrije resolved that the best way to honour the fallen was by building a better life for the ones that remain. She started by working her patch of land and, with little to no institutional support, managed to not only sustain herself, but also to help organize other women to cultivate their fields and open small farms and businesses.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“She never gave up, and neither must we. We owe it to Shyhrete and to the many others who share similar experiences to work as hard as we possibly can to improve our justice system and make sure that everyone is equal in the eyes of the law. Today survivors of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo have a legally regulated status and can benefit from pensions because of women like Kadire Tahiraj. For years, this group of survivors of painful wartime violence was completely neglected by institutions and stigmatized by society. While the rest of us were either hiding away from the truth or being both blind and deaf to it, Kadire was diligently working with the survivors, offering them all she could ~ care, medicine, shelter, at times perhaps even just a shoulder to cry on.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“In a country where there is a lot left to be done to improve the quality of education, where we still have overcrowded classrooms and overworked teachers, we also have young girls like Doruntina Sylejmani, who won medals at the International Math Olympiad. Today Doruntina is studying at Princeton, with a full scholarship, and dreams of coming back to help her country. At a time of disbelief and doubt over whether the justice system is worth fighting for, Shyhrete Berisha, who witnessed the brutal execution of her husband and her four children during the war in 1999, was exposed to yet another form of injustice. She had to battle for 18 long years just to get back the keys to her own house - the house in which she lived with her husband and children. Throughout those 18 years, Shyhrete did not lose faith.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“For the Council's information, I note that the Serbian justice system has accused and convicted world leaders such as Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac and most of the European Union Heads of State. There is no doubt that Kosovo has made progress and taken major steps forward. We just concluded a nearly flawless electoral process. Every day, the Kosovar people are demanding more accountability from their elected representatives. According to the World Bank, Kosovo's gross domestic product growth rate in 2017 was 4.4 per cent - the highest figure reported in the region. Needless to say, Kosovo is not a paradise, and many challenges still linger. Yet for every challenge, for every single institutional shortcoming, there is a success story - a role model citizen that defies the odds and pushes the boundaries.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“Take the sthk massacre, the trial which completely fell apart in Serbia, despite the public testimony of Serbian paramilitary Zoran Raskovic' about the killing of Albanians by paramilitary units, which was abundantly reported by the media. Or, consider the execution of the Bytyqi brothers, for which another witness came forward to testify just last week. Once again, no measures were taken by the Serbian justice system. Until convicted war criminals cease to be praised and promoted, the feeling of impunity is here to stay. We are pleased that INTERPOL has decided to remove Mr. Ramush Haradinaj and Hashim Thaci from its warrant list. That is a clear signal that INTERPOL will no longer allow Serbia to misuse its red notices for political gains.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“Something is tremendously wrong with that fact. Secondly, no court can rewrite history or artificially impose moral parity. The oppressor and the oppressed are clearly defined in our recent tragic history. Thirdly, people in Kosovo want justice. They want justice for all of the victims, regardless of their ethnicity. The sentiment has been displayed most powerfully in various forms over the past few weeks. As a point of reference, 80 members of Parliament voted to establish the special court. Forty-three signatures to have a debate about that court in the Parliament cannot, and will not, undo that. However, while we are on the topic of war crimes, let me talk about crimes that the special court will not be dealing with nor, for that matter, will any other court.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“In fact, local citizens and politicians and the media - both Albanian and Serbian - agreed that organized crime in northern Kosovo was to blame for the murder. Of course, Mr. Ivanovie himself was a controversial figure. Nonetheless, we will leave no stone unturned until the perpetrators of that crime against him are brought to justice. Allow me to also briefly address the debate surrounding the Specialist Chambers. First, Kosovo has an exemplary record with regard to cooperating with international and local war crimes tribunals. Not a single Kosovar Albanian indicted for war crimes has ever attempted to escape justice. However, that is not the case with any of the former Yugoslav republics. In fact, if one looks at the numbers, they show that more Albanians have been prosecuted and convicted for war crimes in Kosovo than Serbs.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“That remarkable achievement is entirely attributable to those Kosovar journalists, who never bow to power, surrender to threats or compromise the truth. In Kosovo we have a vibrant civil society that, independent of the Government, rallies around issues ranging from war crimes committed during the war in Kosovo and special courts, to air pollution and energy costs. Although our institutions may have their flaws, the irrefutable truth is that our society has matured. All one has to do is observe the manner in which Kosovar society and media reacted to the unfortunate assassination of Oliver Ivanovie. Unlike what would have probably occurred in the past, Mr. Ivanovie's assassination was a murder that did not incite ethnic hatred in Kosovo.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“Yet he somehow managed to bring our people together and establish a United Nations administration in Kosovo. Sergio may no longer be with us, but he will always be remembered. Ten years of statehood have taught us that survival and independence cannot alone sustain us alone. They are not our sole concerns. Freedom and food on the table are not the only things that people require. They require education, health care, respect and dignity. In Kosovo we have come to learn that statehood is not only about building Government and institutions. Civil society, the free press and the non-governmental sector are equally as important, and often a driving force for growth. According to international organizations, Kosovo enjoys greater freedom of speech today than any other country in the region.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“How much has our society evolved, and, most important, what is the legacy that we will leave behind? Ten years later, Kosovo has been recognized by the overwhelming majority of the free nations of the world. Today Kosovo is a member of dozens of regional and international organizations. We are also very much aware that we would never have made it this far without States Members" unwavering support. The United Nations was there for us in our darkest hour of need, and for that we will be forever grateful. Today I must pay tribute to one great man in particular - Sergio Vieira de Mello - who was the first Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Kosovo. When Mr. De Mello arrived in Kosovo he found a country in ruins, a nation torn apart and devastated by the pains and horrors of war.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“Ms. Citaku: It is an honour to be here today. This month is very special for me and my fellow citizens. On 17 February, just 10 days from today, Kosovo will celebrate its first double-digit birthday. As I sit at this table and in this revered Chamber, together with representatives of States with their admirable centuries-old traditions of statehood i representatives of nations that have given so much to humankind, from science and technology, to arts and sports - I cannot help but reflect on our journey as an independent republic and wonder what Kosovo will look like in 10, 20 and 100 years from today. I wonder: How well have we done as a young democracy in meeting the rightful expectations of the Kosovar people? How well have our institutions performed?”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“We owe it to them and to future generations to leave behind a Kosovo that is not only at peace with itself but also prosperous and at peace with its neighbours. That is a dream worth fighting for.”
2017-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8100 (2017) · source
“Just last week, for example, the World Bank announced that Kosovo is among the top 10 global economies displaying the most notable improvement in carrying out business reforms. Nonetheless, we are fully aware that we have much more to do in order to meet the rightful expectations of all people in Kosovo. They deserve better education, better health care and more opportunities to prosper. Our young people deserve that as they make us increasingly proud every day with their selfless dedication and accomplishments. With little or no institutional support, our young women and men are becoming shining examples and inspirations. They have taken Kosovo to the Olympics, bringing home gold medals from competitions ranging from mathematics to judo and raising our flag in places where politics still cannot land.”
2017-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8100 (2017) · source
“Besides that, there was international intervention in Kosovo to stop ethnic cleansing. The United Nations Interim Administration Mission was deployed in Kosovo, and President Martti Ahtisaari was appointed by the Secretary-General to head a United Nations-led process, proposing an initially supervised independence for Kosovo. The International Court of Justice then issued a ruling clearly stating that Kosovo had not broken or violated any international law, and that its case was sui generis. Any attempt to draw a parallel between Kosovo and other situations around the globe will fail. As we approach the tenth anniversary of our independence, we have a lot to be proud of.”
2017-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8100 (2017) · source
“I want to assure everyone here that Kosovo remains strongly committed to dialogue with Serbia, and I reaffirm that we will implement all the agreements reached in Brussels, in line with our Constitution. It is true that our electoral processes have caused us some delays, but our commitment remains. We know better than anyone what happens when we stop talking to each other, even if we disagree. However, we do not want a farce, or a process conducted merely for the sake of obtaining compliments or favours for anyone. We want a genuine process that will lead to the full normalization of relations between the two States. I would like to add that Kosovo's independence is not a product of a secessionist movement but of the dissolution by consensus of the former Yugoslavia. We had borders long before we had statehood.”
2017-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8100 (2017) · source
“Kosovo's army will be exactly the same - a modern, defensive army that will reflect Kosovo's desire to join the Euro-Atlantic family. We will do our utmost to make that process as inclusive and consensual as possible, but no one will have veto power over it. Furthermore, after many years of unnecessary delays, we can now say that Kosovo's Constitution and Kosovo's laws can now be applied throughout Kosovo's territory, since 40 new judges and 13 new prosecutors from northern Kosovo took an oath of office on 24 October. That is important not only in constitutional terms but because, after many years of being denied justice, Serbs living in northern Kosovo will finally start receiving the services that they deserve from their own State.”
2017-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8100 (2017) · source
“That would not be a victory of Kosovo over Serbia; it would only be a just victory over the unjust, and the right and smart thing for the international community's investments for peace and stability in the region. The host country of this year's meeting of the INTERPOL General Assembly did not allow members of the Kosovo delegation to obtain visas, which was another unnecessary obstacle that our shaped final decision to withdraw our application this year. Meanwhile, in Kosovo just yesterday, five members of the non-majority communities - Serbs - were promoted to higher officer ranks in the Kosovo security forces. As President Thaci stated during the promotion ceremony, "once again the Kosovo security forces show that it is a force in the service of all citizens of Kosovo and in every corner of Kosovo".”
2017-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8100 (2017) · source
“Again, I do not mention this because I want to talk about the past; I am raising this point because I simply see no way to build peace and reconciliation if we deny the truth or bury it. Furthermore, if our neighbour declares victory because we are not able to join INTERPOL this year, it is not only wrong, but also irresponsible. We all know that the challenges we and the rest of the world face are borderless, and that they can be won only if we share information and work together. From terrorism to cyberthreats, we cannot win by excluding Kosovo and declaring that a Victory. Quite the opposite is true. Again, we are not giving up. I believe that Kosovo will soon secure its place within all the relevant international bodies, in coordination with our partners.”
2017-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8100 (2017) · source
“It is regrettable that at a time when we should be concluding the dialogue with Serbia, its political representatives persistwiththeirhatred andunacceptable declarations, followed by all sorts of attempts to rewrite history, including by choosing war criminals, such as General Ljubisa Dikovic', who committed war crimes in Kosovo, to teach cadets at the military academy. What is a man who is responsible and convicted for the death of thousands, including children, the rape of thousands of women and the deportation of hundreds of thousands going to teach young Serbians today? In the words of the Human Rights Watch official Fred Abrahams, "this is a dangerous refusal of the truth about the war. It is the same as if we were to appoint a thief to protect our banks".”
2017-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8100 (2017) · source
“In the absence of a Serbian embassy in Kosovo, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe mission administers the process. According to data from the last two rounds of elections, 106,094 voters in Kosovo were eligible to vote. Obviously, the numbers do not match up. Either the Serbian Election Commission inflated the number of Serbian voters in Kosovo or the number of Serbian displaced persons is inflated. We will get the full picture only when we organize the next census, and we will spare no effort to create better living conditions for all Serbs who decide to return.”
2017-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8100 (2017) · source
“At the same time, we must also remember that not all Serbs that fled Kosovo after the war were actually citizens of Kosovo. When the war erupted in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, entire neighbourhoods were built in several locations in Kosovo to accommodate Serbs who used to live in those parts of the former Yugoslavia. Some decided to stay in Kosovo, as was the case of the Marevie family, which came to Kosovo in July 1995. One member of that family was a minister of the local Government in the previous Government of the Republic of Kosovo. In addition, in line with our Constitution, dual citizenship is allowed. Kosovo Serbs who are also citizens of Serbia have a constitutional right to vote in the Serbian parliamentary and presidential elections.”
2017-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8100 (2017) · source
“However, I must reiterate that the claim that 200,000 Serbs were displaced from Kosovo after the war is factually incorrect. If that had been the case, there would be no single Serb living in Kosovo today. According to the census organized in 1991 by the then- Yugoslav authorities, the number of Serbs living in Kosovo was 194,000. Unfortunately, to date we still do not know the accurate number of the Serbs living in Kosovo. That is because when the Kosovo institutions organized a census in 2011, the Government of Serbia unleashed a very aggressive campaign to discourage the participation of the Serb community. The smear campaign went so far as to label registration for the census as an act of betrayal. For us, it is not about numbers. Even if just one Kosovo Serb cannot return, that is one too many for us.”
2017-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8100 (2017) · source
“Often, Belgrade officials were responsible for such intimidations. In fact, I can say that the only Government that exercises pressure on the local Serbs is the one that sits in Belgrade. Yes, there is discrimination against minorities in Kosovo, but it is of a positive nature. Kosovo institutions have gone to great lengths to accommodate the rights of non-majority communities. In today's Government, the Serbian community is represented by one Deputy Prime Minister, three Ministers and six Deputy Ministers. As the saying goes, we have put our money where our mouth is. Between 2008 and 2017 alone, the Kosovo Government has spent over â‚¬51 million for the repatriation and reintegration of minority communities in Kosovo; that is a public record.”
2017-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8100 (2017) · source
“Instead, it prefers to continue with routine reporting and keeps a Mission that reinvents its mandate without any real need, when we should be talking about downsizing and withdrawing the United Nations Mission in Kosovo in the light of the situation on the ground. In less than six months, Kosovo organized both national and local elections. The turnout was especially high in the Serb-majority areas. The new Government, with Mr. Ramush Haradinaj as Prime Minister, was voted in on 9 September. It is important to note that according to international observers, both electoral processes met the highest international standards, with the exception of few Serb-majority areas where the local population was subjected to different kinds of pressure and intimidation to vote in a certain way.”
2017-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8100 (2017) · source
“Regardless ofthe difficulties, we will never give up our aspiration to make Kosovo an equal member of the family of the free nations of the world. We are not asking for shortcuts; we are just asking for fair treatment. We believe that it is fair to ask for the mandate of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to be redefined to match the reality on the ground. UNMIK is not a peacekeeping mission, Kosovo is at peace and there is no conflict to be contained or civilians to be protected. UNMIK is not an administrative mission; Kosovo has its institutions. Did its mandate not expire more than a decade ago? Although the main purpose of the Council has been to maintain stability in Kosovo, the Council has not pronounced itself since 2008, when we gained our independence.”
2017-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8100 (2017) · source
“Hundreds of thousands of refugees and hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons returned to their homes to find everything in ashes. But we had much more than only hope and determination; we had the help of the United Nations, and for that we will be forever grateful. Therefore, for us, this Chamber is too important and too valuable to see it being misused in a projection of images that do not match reality. Our northern neighbour insists on projecting an alternative universe where time has not moved a second since the 1990s. Kosovo is free and independent, and that will never change. A steep price was paid for it. On that cold day in February 2008, we knew that our struggles would continue and that there would be twists and turns. But the clock of history is not going backwards.”
2017-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8100 (2017) · source
“Ms. Citaku: As always, I am honoured to be here in the Council on behalf of the Republic of Kosovo, although, I must admit, I fear we are not showing the Chamber the respect it deserves when we come here every three months, taking members' valuable time, to stage a theatre for purely domestic consumption. The intention is to somehow artificially instil the idea that the status of Kosovo is not resolved, and that Kosovo is akin to a war zone where minorities are expelled and persecuted. That is simply not true. Furthermore, that is Offensive not only to us Kosovars but, frankly speaking, to the United Nations and its agencies, which have put so much effort into reviving Kosovo in the immediate aftermath of the terrible war of 1999.”
2017-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8100 (2017) · source
“In the four northern municipalities, there were 58,138 such votes. All together, there were 123,774 votes, and we all know that people over 18 vote. So if we have this number of voters, what is the number of citizens? Again, I am not saying that all Serbs were bad, but the numbers that were cited here are simply not real. Finally, to conclude, I urge everyone to come and visit Kosovo, and they will see with their own eyes what Kosovo is. The meeting rose at] pm.”
2017-08-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8025 (2017) · source
“We have much more to do in terms of the rule of law, fighting organized crime and corruption and in creating better opportunities for all of our citizens, but these are not challenges unique to Kosovo. One finds these challenges in most of the countries of the Western Balkans. Frankly speaking, Kosovo is no longer even in the top 30 countries in terms of asylum- seekers in Europe. Serbia is way ahead of us. Does that mean that Serbia is a failed country? No. Again, in terms of Serbians living in Kosovo, I would ask the Council to bear with me for just one minute. These are the Central Election Commission's numbers from this year's elections. In the municipality ofNovoberde, there were 9,617 Serb votes; in Shterpce, 13,902; in Ranillug, 5,689; in Partesh, 4,664; in Kllokot, 5,689; and in Gracanice, 21,411.”
2017-08-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8025 (2017) · source
“Fifth, as to the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, there was a long process of negotiations under the auspices ofthe United Nations, and there was a proposal by former President Martti Ahtisaari for Kosovo to declare independence. Sixth, there was a ruling from the International Court of Justice, upon Serbia's request, to verify the legality of Kosovo's declaration of independence, and the ruling was unambiguous and crystal-clear. Kosovo was within its rights when it declared independence. That is according to the International Court of Justice, not me, and I suggest that Mr. Dacie go back and read it because apparently he has forgotten it. Seventh, Kosovo is not a perfect place. I am not trying to say that Kosovo is a perfect place. We have lots of problems.”
2017-08-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8025 (2017) · source
“I am ethnic Albanian and a proud citizen of Kosovo, and these identities coexist very well within me; one does not exclude the other. Third, Kosovo had borders long before it had statehood. We were a federal unit in former Yugoslavia until Milosevic came to power, and our borders were set long before we declared our independence. Fourth, our independence is not a product of a secessionist movement. Our independence is the product of the consensual dissolution of Yugoslavia. It is not only Kosovo; there are also Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia. So there is no secessionist movement.”
2017-08-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8025 (2017) · source
“Ms. Citaku: Again, I sincerely apologize for taking the Council's time, but some things should not be left unsaid. First we are very proud that in our political landscape we do not have descendants of Milosevic. We have people, young leaders, who fought Milosevic and Seselj, who were the worst criminals in Europe after the Second World War. We are proud of the background of our leadership, unlike some others. Second, this is not the venue to discuss ethnic and national civic identities and how they intertwine. This is not the venue to discuss who was in the Balkans first, who came in the seventh century, where they came from or whom they found there. We can have those discussions if we decide to organize a seminar. Historians can come together. They can fight, agree or disagree.”
2017-08-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8025 (2017) · source
“The only reason why Serbs did not participate in large numbers in the census is because the Serbian Government called on them not to participate in the census. There was a massive campaign on the part of the Belgrade Government, calling on Serbs not to participate in the census. We have the census data, but we agree that it needs to be revised. We also have election data. Who is voting on behalf of the Serbs in Kosovo? The numbers do not add up. In the last election alone we had around 70,000 Serbs voting inside Kosovo, and that was just in the north. So, please, let us be realistic. Come and visit Kosovo, and you will see that this debate here does no justice to it.”
2017-08-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8025 (2017) · source
“Each year, Dokufest grows larger and brings people together to work and collaborate with not only the best producers and artists from the region, but from across the world, placing Kosovo where it belongs: on the world stage. As the slogan of this year's edition of Dokufest suggests, the future is not dead for Kosovars. It is very much alive, and this future is alive for all of its citizens: Albanians, Serbs and the rest. It is unfortunate that this Chamber is being misused to promote narratives and to fuel hate in our own domestic audiences. It is true that some Serbs left Kosovo after the war. In the same way, Serbs left Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia itself. But to wave numbers here that are simply not true is not correct.”
2017-08-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8025 (2017) · source
“I would be remiss not to mention that Kosovo has emerged as a place where young people excel in many fields on a daily basis. Just last month, six youngsters from Kosovo - three girls and three boys from Bonevet, a makerspace - constructed Europe's first teen-built electric car in Gjakova. This extraordinary example of ingenuity not only makes us proud of our youth, but of these teens themselves, who, through their innovations, educate all of us, helping us to become aware of our surroundings and environment. Dokufest, the biggest cultural event in Kosovo, took place last week in the beautiful city of Prizren. Even though Kosovo - because of the circumstances - did not have a film school for many years, it managed to develop and host one of the top 10 international documentary and film festivals in the world.”
2017-08-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8025 (2017) · source
“Allow me to state, Kosovo's independence, as declared in 2008, is a compromise. President Ahtisaari's proposal was a difficult and painful compromise. Now, all of a sudden, has the compromise become our position? That will not stand. Renewing the ideas of solutions along ethnic lines is dangerous for the entire region. If we reject multiculturalism and ethnic diversity within our own States, within our own borders, then how on Earth do we plan to exist and coexist in the European Union, much less in an ever-interdependent and -interconnected world? Allow me to say it loud and clear - Kosovo and its independence are not a temporary project. Kosovo is here to stay, forever. Normalization and reconciliation cannot be achieved through partition and subjugation. This debate does not do justice to what Kosovo is today.”
2017-08-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8025 (2017) · source
“Does that mean that I have to go live in Albania? Kosovo is a State that belongs to all of its citizens - Albanians, Serbs, Montenegrins, Roma, Turks, Bosnians. It belongs to all of us and no one will ever tell me again that just because I am an Albanian I do not deserve to live there. We have lived there for centuries. I am sure the Council is not here to listen to a history lesson, but I invite members to find a book on the subject if they visit during summer holidays. There are many such books, written by professionals and academics, that tell the story of Albanians in the Balkans. In the last couple of days, a new debate has been generated in Serbia - one initiated by the Serbian President, calling for a historic deal between Serbia and Kosovo, calling for a compromise.”
2017-08-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8025 (2017) · source
“The Kosovo Liberation Army is not a terrorist organization. It is the most successful liberation movement in recent history. Sami Lushtaku and Ramush Haradinaj did not travel to Belgrade to fight. They fought in their homes, in their country with the aim of protecting civilians and liberation a nation. Even as we fuel those kinds of fake narratives, it is difficult to imagine how one is being sincere about the past. Serbia needs to deal with its own past, not only because of Kosovo, as Kosovo has its own path now - we are free, we are independent and that will never change - but for the sake of their children and their future. Denying Kosovar citizens their right to exist as a State because I am Albanian is a notion that I have heard before. There was actually an entire operation to deport us from Kosovo because we were Albanians.”
2017-08-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8025 (2017) · source
“"I truly hope that you read this book, share it with your friends and family, ask your Government to punish the perpetrators and call for reconciliation with your neighbours. We shall not let anybody hold us hostage to the past. The victims of these crimes will never be able to find peace unless the perpetrators are brought to justice. This is a precondition for long-lasting peace, good neighbourly relations and a stable future for the next generations. The future of our countries lies in our hands. Let it be a future of reconciliation and peace." No trial, no allegation, no insinuation and certainly no statements today can change history. The war in Kosovo happened as the world watched, as the Chamber watched. That is why the world decided to take action. Any attempt to rewrite history will fail.”
2017-08-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8025 (2017) · source
“They are stories of the cruellest form of torture. These are stories of rape used as a tool of war. These are stories of a truth that has been attempted to be concealed, hidden and buried. Over the years, I have met hundreds of survivors of sexual violence during the war, in different parts of my country. Carefully and patiently, I have listened to their stories; I have cried for those who needed me to cry with them, and I have stayed strong for those who needed me to be strong. I have heard the story of a woman from the Drenica region who was gang-raped continuously by Serbian paramilitaries for over six months. I have spoken to a woman in Dakovica whose body was mutilated while she was raped. Just recently, I met the child of a war rape victim who died without receiving the justice she hoped for, for so many years.”
2017-08-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8025 (2017) · source
“We always talk about normalization, but normalization cannot be unilateral. Normalization and reconciliation cannot be achieved at the expense of truth and justice. One of the latest shameful actions from Serbia was banning former Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga from entering Serbia to participate at an event in Belgrade that was meant to boost the dialogue between the two countries. Madame Jahjaga was intended to attend the promotion of a book containing testimony from women that were tortured and raped during the 1998-99 Kosovo war. Acknowledging the truth about war crimes in Kosovo is the only way for both societies to move forward. Former President Jahjaga was not able to read her speech in Belgrade, therefore I want to read out a part of it here. "The stories presented in the book are not only stories of torture and abuse.”
2017-08-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8025 (2017) · source
“Others have been disrupted in different phases of implementation, such as the agreement on cadastre, civil protection dismantlement, the revitalization of the Mitrovica bridge, the revitalization of the main street in North Mitrovica and the full dismantlement of Serbia's parallel structures in Kosovo. Sabotage continues, and of greatest concern is Serbia's duality in pretending to implement agreements and simultaneously continuing to support its parallel structures in Kosovo, including the illegal municipalities in the north and in other parts of Kosovo. Let me reassure the Council that Kosovo, for its part, will implement all agreements reached in Brussels and, in line with recommendations from our constitutional court, we will establish the association of the Serbian municipalities.”
2017-08-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8025 (2017) · source