Political Quotes

“I wish briefly to note that Saturday, February 17th, marked the 10th anniversary of the independence of Kosovo. I want to congratulate the people of Kosovo on reaching their aspirations for statehood 10 years ago and to support their current aspirations to be part of a democratic, integrated, and peaceful Europe. I urge the government and people of Kosovo to use this anniversary as an occasion to strengthen their commitments to democracy and human rights, to seek reconciliation with their neighbors, and to undertake and fully implement the reforms necessary to move forward in these areas. In 1998, the situation in Kosovo was markedly different. Still a province of Serbia, with its autonomy unilaterally revoked and its ethnic Albanian majority harshly repressed, Kosovo erupted in conflict. After years of passive resistance to Serbian rule, the people of Kosovo had enough and began to clamor for their rights. Early international efforts to restore peace were unsustainable, and with U.S. leadership, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, Alliance was compelled to intervene militarily the following year, placing Kosovo under the administration of the United Nations, UN, and opening the question of its status.…”