Dear Friends,
As of Sunday, my KOSOVA is independent and I am a citizen of the newest state in the world. A new state is born, and for all of us a new life and future are born. This is the moment that we have all been dreaming, waiting, and fighting for a long long time even though it came to be known only in 1999, when the NATO air-strikes made it known to the world. We are very excited and the joy we all feel has no end.
I have spent the last three days mostly in the streets of Prishtina, and I literally felt three waves of joy taking us over during this period.
The first wave began on Friday. The very preparations for celebration, taking place all around the city brought a new look to people's faces, and the joy was already radiating from their faces. Red flags and balloons, with double-headed eagle, already began waving from the balconies of the city center, lifting up further the festive spirit. The overflow of the numerous journalists from all over the world, all going in and out of the Media Center, set at the Grand Hotel, which is located at the very heart of Prishtina's city center, ensured every one of us that the Declaration of Independence was coming; this time, for real.
On Saturday, the first wave of joy continued to gain strength with each moment. The flags, posters, and congratulation notes and posters were already taking shape in Mother Teresa Square, cars passing buy, the buses transporting people, and balconies of the surrounding buildings, displaying the people's endless creativity on making their joy and feelings known. "BAC, U KRY" (BAC, it's over) poster was already hanging from the balcony of the Illyria hotel, while on another balcony across the street one could read a huge poster saying "INDEPENDENCE: LOADING ………… 100%."
The official announcement of the government's agenda for the D-day was made during Saturday, even though the exact timing of declaration was not mentioned. Did it matter at this point? I don't think so. It sufficed to everyone of us that what's we've been fighting for all these years is finally coming true. And it sufficed to know that it was finally taking place this Sunday, as since December 10th, 2007, everyone was wondering, guessing, speculating, about the date of declaration.
In the evening of Saturday night, the festive fever was at its highest. The city streets were fled with cars, this time not only from Prishtina, but from all over Kosova, displaying the most diverse flags, paying tribute to all the countries of the world that have supported us during all these years. The national Albanian and the flag of the United States continue to dominate these days, while the flags of the Western European powers were waving along.
The celebrations have continued all night long all over the country. Bars and restaurants of Prishtina were celebrating along with their guests, and the Albanian traditional, folk, and hip hop ensured to keep everyone fully awake and highly spirited throughout the night. The special edition of Peja Beer, named Independence, added further flavor to the celebration.
The sunrise of Sunday morning opened the second wave of joy. When I got to the city center noon time, there were already thousands of Kosovars. More people had arrived from all Kosova sides, and their number was increasing each moment. The low temperature (about -5 oC) of this sunny winter Sunday could hardly stop anyone from joining the crowd and being part and a witness of this important moment in Kosova's life. Many businesses were already distributing food and drinks for free to the celebrating crowd, while at one end of the Mother Teresa Square, the set up of the stage for the later-on concert was being finalized.
While the crowd was patiently awaiting and celebrating on the streets, the Prime Minister, Mr. Hashim Thaci had invited the Parliament to an extra-ordinary session and had presented the declaration to the Kosovar Parliament, declaring Kosova an independent, sovereign, and democratic state. All the political party members were present beside the Serb representatives. When voted, all members voted pro declaration with a show of hand, and resultantly, the Parliament declared Kosova an independent and sovereign state. At that moment, I had already left the crowd on the streets and joined the one in one of my favorite Prishtina bars, the Strip Depo (the Comic Books Depot). It was already packed with celebrating youngsters, and I hardly got in. People in there were carefully following the developments in the Parliament on the TV-set, placed in one of the bar's corners. Of course, not every one could watch it at this point, but again it did not matter. The outburst of cheer and cry at one end of the bar made it clear to the rest of us what happened. And the emotions, pride, joy, and happiness I felt at this moment cannot be described. Tears were running from my eyes in the meantime. I cried, happy that our dream came true, but I also cried because I wished I could celebrate that moment in my home in North Mitrovica.
When I woke up this morning, I thought I woke up in the 'morning after,' and thought that now we are to continue our lives as each other regular day, but focusing on building our new state. In a way, this is true. But watching the news and listening to the first recognitions of independent Kosova being announced I cannot stop and not feel the third wave of joy. And at times, I feel that this one is the most powerful. This slow process of bilateral recognition is becoming as the important stamp on some important document, something that makes it valid, something without which you cannot use it. And it makes it certain to us that the bitter history that we've gone through is truly over, and that a new age for KOSOVA is being born. After decades of Serbian rule, that long chapter has just closed, once and for all.
And that's why celebrations had to continue today and tonight as well. The city continues living and celebrating as two previous days, and I have a feeling that we'll continue like this for few more days too.
By the time I am writing this email 15 states have already recognized us, while 38 of them have declared that will recognize us soon. We're aware that the full international recognition will take a while, but what matters is the fact that we've embarked on this process and there's no way back.
I feel reborn, I feel new, and I feel that a new chapter is being openned for me and my Kosovar fellows.
And now I have to go because I have to build my KOSOVA's European future.
Independent Kosovar love to all of you,
Iliriana
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