On the 34th anniversary of the visit by American senators led by Bob Dole to Kosovo to witness the crimes of the Serbian regime, President Vjosa Osmani stated that August 29 marks the beginning of Kosovo’s journey toward freedom.
“The brutal Milosevic regime tried to violently suppress the protest, but it could never suppress our people’s spirit for freedom, democracy, and independence. August 29, 1990, marked the start of our path to freedom and independence, and as Senator Bob Dole himself said after the protest: ‘Freedom is coming, democracy is coming,'” Osmani said during a ceremony organized by the Municipality of Pristina.
Osmani emphasized that their visit helped amplify the call for freedom and justice and brought the truth to the international stage.
“In Pristina, they saw, documented, and, as you heard, were horrified by the brutality of the Milosevic regime. Today, this square is peaceful, the people of Kosovo are free, Kosovo is an independent and democratic state, and the United States is here with us,” President Osmani said.
The President thanked the United States for continuing to be Kosovo’s main ally and mentioned some of the key American figures who played a significant role in the liberation of the country.
“More than three decades later, this square preserves its historical memory. A commemorative plaque in front of the Grand Hotel immortalizes this date, a bust of Senator Bob Dole and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright a few meters away, and a statue of the icon of the people of Kosovo, President Bill Clinton, all encapsulate a history spanning 34 years,” she said.
During the ceremony, a brief summary documenting Dole’s visit and the protests at that time was shown.
