Yesterday in Vienna, during the conference “Kosovo in the EU,” President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani was awarded the “Dr. Erhard Busek” prize. The event was organized by Andreas Minnich, Vice Chairman of the Foreign Policy Committee in the Austrian Parliament and head of the Austria–Kosovo Friendship Association, marking the 27th anniversary of the NATO intervention in Kosovo.
According to the announcement, the award was granted to President Osmani for her outstanding leadership and exceptional commitment to freedom, democracy, and Euro-Atlantic integration.
In his speech, Minnich expressed high appreciation for Osmani’s contribution, describing her as a unique advocate for Kosovo’s integration into the European Union and a rare “bridge-builder” both within Europe and across the Atlantic.
In a video address, President Osmani thanked the organizers, calling the award a special recognition. She emphasized that the NATO intervention 27 years ago demonstrated what is possible when justice finds its voice and the world stands on the right side of history.
She also expressed deep gratitude to Austria, describing it as a steadfast and principled partner of Kosovo, and thanked the Austrian Parliament for hosting the conference commemorating the intervention that stopped genocide against the people of Kosovo.
Osmani stressed that freedom is not given but earned, protected, and carried forward through generations. She added that Kosovo’s future path is clear—toward membership in both the European Union and NATO—not only as political goals but as a continuation of the values the country embodies: peace, freedom, justice, rule of law, and strong partnerships with democracies worldwide.
She also extended thanks to Austrian officials and supporters of Kosovo, including Beate Meinl-Reisinger, Helmut Brandstätter, Reinhard Kloucek, and Lukas Mandl, as well as the Kosovar diaspora in Austria.
The “Dr. Erhard Busek” award is presented by the Austria–Kosovo Friendship Association and is named after Erhard Busek, a former Vice Chancellor and Minister of Education of Austria, a key figure in the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, and a strong supporter of Kosovo and a united Europe.
