Prishtina, 30 July 2008
Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi personally issued in a solemn ceremony today the first passport of the Republic of Kosovo to the citizen named Teuta Begolli. On this occasion, the Prime Minister assessed that this is a historical day and a new era for our country. Deputy prime ministers Hajredin Kuçi and Ramë Manaj and the Minister of Internal Affairs, Zenun Pajaziti, participated in a ceremony organized at the Municipal Assembly of Prishtina,
"This is a historical day, a new era for Kosovo. From now on, our citizens have their own identity. They are citizens of the Republic of Kosovo for which we have sacrificed for years," said Prime Minister Thaçi adding that the state identity will be further advanced and shaped in the safe path towards integration in NATO and EU.
These passports will prove the state identity of the citizens of Kosovo, while issuing this document to the people of Kosovo is another proof of our path and engagement to build up the state, said Prime Minister Thaçi, and went on saying: "We are fully completing the build-up of our state. Today starts a new era of ultimate parting from other identities that our citizens have had. From today on, the citizens of Kosovo have their own state identity; they are citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, for which we have sacrificed for years.”
The citizens that received the new passports of the Republic of Kosovo expressed their happiness to be amongst the first ones to receive the document that proves their state identity.