A memorial plaque honoring the Government-in-Exile of the Republic of Kosovo (1995–1999) was officially unveiled on Thursday in Bonn, Germany.
Kosovo’s Ambassador to Germany, Faruk Ajeti, emphasized that the act of unveiling this plaque was not merely symbolic, but a gesture of deep gratitude and historical recognition.
“It is an act of gratitude and respect—first for our history, for our people, for the institutions that operated under extraordinary conditions, and for the friendly state of Germany, which was the only country at the time that allowed the government-in-exile to function on its territory,” Ajeti wrote on Facebook.
Former German Minister of Defense Rudolf Scharping also delivered a message to mark the occasion, stressing the importance of remembering the exiled government’s presence in Germany as a reminder of the need to protect threatened minorities and ensure their visibility.
“The representation of Kosovo’s government-in-exile in Germany between 1995 and 1999 is not just a memory—it is a reminder. A reminder that a threatened minority, whether in collapsing territories or in other states, needs protection and visibility,” Scharping stated in a video shared by Ajeti.
The ceremony concluded with a minute of silence in honor of Bujar Bukoshi, the former Prime Minister of the government-in-exile, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 78.
