Ambassador Kosnett’s Remarks at the 9/11 Ceremony, September 11, 2019
Today is a somber day for Americans. At home and around the world, we remember and mourn the loss of the nearly 3,000 innocent people whose lives were taken.
The September 11 attacks occurred on American soil, but had a resounding impact on the entire international community. Americans were not the only victims: people from seventy-seven countries died in the attacks. This was truly an assault on civilization.
We recall the tragic deaths of the victims; the bravery and sacrifice of the first responders at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon; and the valor and spirit of the passengers of Flight 93 – ordinary Americans whose successful fight to recapture their aircraft from the terrorists prevented another, greater loss.
And Americans will always remember the support the United States received from around the world. The response from our friends in Kosovo was immediate and sincere.
After the attack, across Kosovo, people gathered to march in support of the United States, to light candles, and to donate blood. Some Kosovo citizens even volunteered to join the U.S. military to fight in the Global War on Terrorism.
This spontaneous, heartfelt outpouring of support is a confirmation of the deep connection the people of America and the people of Kosovo share. This enduring partnership transcends any political party or leader.
Kosovo continues memorials and tributes to this day. Every year in Pristina, Kosovo’s police, firefighters and other first responders gather around an American flag lowered to half-staff. A local civil society organization began an annual film festival dedicated to honoring the victims of 9/11 by “celebrating life and fighting destruction with creation.” I like that sentiment.
Every year on 9/11, as we mourn the dead and recall the past, let us also rededicate ourselves to striving for a better future. Let’s “fight destruction with creation” – by working together, here in Kosovo, in America, and around the globe, to build a world dedicated to peace, prosperity, and justice for all.
