4 December 2019 President Meta praises Kosovo Security Forces and the specialized search and rescue units: Thank you Kosovo! Thank you saviors!
Pristina, Kosovo
The President of the Republic of Albania, H. E. Mr. Ilir Meta praised today the Kosovo Security Forces, Police Operational Unit, Kosovo Firefighting Team, K9 Unit and all specialized teams that through a high readiness, distinguished professionalism and unsparing sacrifices during search and rescue operations, showed an unprecedented sense of fraternal solidarity following the November 26, 2019 earthquake.
During the solemn ceremony held in the Military Barracks of the Kosovo Security Force “Adem Jashari” in Prishtina, in the presence of the acting Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, Deputy Prime Minister Behgjet Pacolli and KSF Commander Lieutenant General Rrahman Rama, President Meta, in a high appreciation and a deep state gratitude for human solidarity and inspiring humanity honored the Kosovo Security Force Combined Task Force and awarded them with the “Gold Medal of the Eagle” “For the high readiness, distinguished professionalism and the unsparing sacrifices demonstrated during the search and rescue operations after the earthquake of November 26, 2019. In high appreciation and with deep state gratitude for human solidarity and inspirational humanism.”
President Meta also awarded the Special Operations Unit of the Kosovo Police with the title “Knight of the Flag Order”: “On the readiness, professionalism and bravery demonstrated during the search and rescue operations following the November 26, 2019 earthquake. In appreciation and with state recognition for the humanistic sacrifices as well as the unparalleled inspirational acts of the highest civic solidarity ”.
While with the title “For Special Civil Merits” the President of the Republic expressed his gratitude and state appreciation for brotherly heroism and solidarity, and in appreciation and gratitude for the unparalleled sacrifices made during the search and rescue after the November 26, 2019 earthquake. The President awarded also the Team of Kosovo Fire Brigade, KSF Unit K9, Energy Corporation Team, Artana Mine Rescue Unit and Trepca Mine Rescue Unit.
In his greeting speech, President Meta stated:
“Very honorable Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Mr. Ramush Haradinaj, Very honored Deputy Prime Minister Pacolli, Distinguished Ministers, Members of Parliament and representatives of institutions, Very dear General Rama!
Dear rescuers of the Kosovo Security Force, the Kosovo police and all the other teams, who appeared in the early hours, at the forefront of a battle between life and death!
There is no better name and no better estimation than saviors, for all of you. We wish we had celebrated November 28 with all the greatness that this blessed day deserves for our entire nation.
We owe this day to Ismail Qemali and Isa Boletini and to all our patriots, who would have wished to celebrate, as we have always celebrated in Vlora, Tirana, Prishtina and Prizren, Skopje and New York. But I was not meant to be!
And yet this November 28th that we just left behind has found us as united as never before in our history. All Albanians everywhere came together to face the catastrophic consequences of the devastating November 26 earthquake in Albania.
In this battle, already with a heavy toll of war, Albania was not alone. Many friendly and partner countries did their best to be near us as quickly as possible.
But Kosovo was the first to be there immediately in the struggle to save the lives of every Albanian in the wake of the disaster.
Your teams were not only there physically and professionally, but first of all humanely, fraternally and in the Albanian spirit, risking their own lives to save many more lives.
The Albanian people will be forever grateful to the Kosovo Security Forces, Kosovo Police, Search and Rescue Team, Medical Team, Company for Civilian Operations, Team for Chemistry, Military Police, Communication Unit, Support Team Assessment of Buildings and Risk Assessment, Trepca and Artana Rescue Team, Fire Department, Kosovo Energy Corporation, which showed the highest of solidarity, professionalism and exceptional willingness and readiness.
Kosovo should be proud of its Security Forces, but also of the Police, who demonstrated an extremely high and contemporary professionalism that would honor even the most developed countries in the world!
I am sure that every NATO country would be proud of what you have demonstrated throughout the days and nights, without interruption, with the sole purpose of saving as many lives as possible and helping the injured and the affected by this severe natural disaster.
‘Who saves a life saves an entire world,” said Saint Mother Teresa.
You saved many lives. You helped a lot of the hurt and got us through the most difficult moments and for that we are deeply grateful!
All of our citizens express the deepest and most heartfelt gratitude of all our people, and especially of the hardest-hit communities for this exemplary solidarity and this brotherly assistance.
With this unparalleled courage you gave strength to us all.
I take this opportunity today to express my deep gratitude to all the people of Kosovo for their generous support and unparalleled readiness, proving once again the great heart that has always characterized it.
I thank President Thaçi and Prime Minister Haradinaj for the immediate mobilization! I would like to thank all the political leaders: Mr. Albin Kurti, Mr. Isa Mustafa, Mr. Kadri Veseli and all others for their messages of solidarity, as well as the Government of Kosovo for its work and readiness, but also for the first financial contribution that the state made. Kosovo provided, thereby fostering tremendous support within Kosovo and around the world.
Our relationship with Kosovo is strong and firm both in good times and in dramatic moments.
Kosovo has a generous heart!
In this disaster, even the most modest and with least economical provisions of people expressed their willingness to support the Albanian brothers and sisters with the help of their various means and their housing, even sharing their poverty.
Kosovo has a big heart, it has brave sons and daughters, dedicated and professionals like all the teams, which I have the privilege of meeting and honoring here today.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Your work and solidarity will never be forgotten!
It is true that the earthquake of November 26 shook the foundations of thousands of buildings in Albania, as never before, and even destroyed many of them very badly. But it is also true that it proved that the foundations of our nationwide and Albanian-nwide solidarity are stronger than ever.
Thanks again to the state of Kosovo and all the citizens of Kosovo for their extraordinary solidarity!
I kiss in the forehead the hero dog of Kosovo!
Afterwards, at the conclusion of the solemn ceremony, the acting Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj expressed his special gratitude to the President of the Republic, H. E. Mr. Ilir Meta, for his extraordinary contribution in strengthening the relations of cooperation between Kosovo and Albania, emphasizing that: “On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, I have the honor to award you the medal” Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg “.
“Wishing you health, success and prosperity, I express my readiness to cooperate in the future for the benefit of the peoples of our two countries,” said Prime Minister Haradinaj.
