Deputy Minister Ilazi attended the conference “LGBTI community in politics”

Honourable Deputy Ambassador Mrs. Bachus,
Honourable Ambassador Mrs. Meskanen,
Honourable Mr. Zhbogar,
Representatives of LGBTI community

Ladies and gentlemen

Allow me to begin by greeting you on behalf of the Minister Çollaku. My presence at this conference explains my position initially as person, then as a government official in the context of our civic responsibility to protect the rights of LGBTI community, as human rights. LGBTI community is being denied of their human rights in many countries, including developing countries.

The Republic of Kosovo demonstrated a positive approach to building parity policies, stimulating solutions which provide and promote diversity and establish a parity environment for all its citizens.

However, it is the time to shift from words into actions. The principles of our Constitution are not for image purpose only.

In this regard, anti-discrimination draft-law, awaiting its soon adoption by the Assembly, will shape a state anti-discrimination policy, including provisions and strong disciplinary measures against those who discriminate against persons of LGBTI community. However, only good laws will not resolve the problem. It requires an adequate implementation of, and above all, awareness raising of citizens and law enforcement institutions.

When we speak of human rights, one must also speak for Europe, which for many people it became a synonym of commitment to protecting human rights. For us in Kosovo, our European integration process is a state building process, a process of strengthening the values that hold Europe united, values embedded in our Constitution.

We are determined to build a democratic and open society, but an open society requires open borders because open borders will also make us people more open to diversity, which will help the human development. However, we shall enter Europe as united and not divided and categorized within our society, categories that presume our status in society to legitimize discrimination and exclusion. Therefore, LGBTI community inclusion in politics is a must, for our democracy, for the character of our society and our European future.

Kosovo State project, is a project of peace, built on the foundation of freedom, democracy, human rights and respect for diversity, as an antidote against perpetrators of bloody wars of  ’90s. Values that  hold  Europe unite, are embedded in our Constitution. Integration into the European Union is the best insurance policy for perennial  investment  of United States and EU countries in the development of a democratic and diverse, multi-cultural and multi-ethnic society.

Human rights are fundamental principles of human society and history showed that whenever we overlooked our commitment to these values, we faced the destruction.

European integration is definitely the most powerful tool for peace, security, development, economic and social progress, and respect for human rights. Therefore, it is the right time to materialize the European perspective for Kosovo by signing of the SAA and a positive recommendation from the European Commission for visa liberalization.

These two processes are essential in many respects, in the context of the theme here,  would be a confirmation of our joint investment in European values.