Osmani: The KLA is the greatest ideal of Albanians, we will never accept the narrative that equates crime with resistance for freedom

The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, during the solemn session in the parliament for the 18th anniversary of Independence, declared that Kosovo was created to protect the truth and to prevent history from being rewritten to the detriment of those who sacrificed everything for freedom.

"At the foundation of our state lies the vision of the historic president, Ibrahim Rugova, the architect of our independence. With vision, he led the people. History was shaped during the period of the war for freedom. It bears the name of commander Adem Jashari. The KLA is the greatest ideal that Albanians have built over the centuries. This war was just and always pure. Any attempt to tarnish it is unjust, historically untrue and unacceptable. The leaders of the KLA who are today in The Hague, together with thousands of fighters and our people, stood up for freedom and dignity," she said.

"Kosovo became a state to protect the truth and to never allow history to be rewritten to the detriment of those who sacrificed everything, and the people of Kosovo sacrificed everything, even their children in their cradles, so that we can enjoy freedom today. Therefore, we will never accept in Kosovo or anywhere in the world, any narrative that equates the aggressor with the victim, the occupier with the occupied, and crime with resistance for freedom," Osmani further stated.

She also commemorated Kosovo's long and arduous journey to freedom and thanked the country's allies, who she said were built with the wisdom and vision of historic president Ibrahim Rugova.

She emphasized that these alliances will be maintained and protected at all costs.

"Kosovo's path to freedom has been a long, arduous journey, filled with challenges but also with strong alliances and sincere friendships. On this anniversary, with deep gratitude, I want to thank all our allies, allies that we built with the wisdom and vision of the historic president Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, and the men and women who stood by him in building these alliances that we will protect at all costs," Osmani declared in the assembly.