Kosovo commemorates the 17th anniversary of its independence this Monday with a series of events, while Western leaders extend their congratulations alongside reminders of key conditions for European integration—normalization of relations with Serbia and fulfillment of dialogue commitments.

The official program commenced this morning with a solemn session of the Kosovo government. The day-long celebrations, set to last over 12 hours, began with the raising of the Kosovo flag and a tribute at the “Monument to the Missing and the Memorial of Murdered Children.”

Following this, tributes were paid at the graves of former Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova and activist Adem Demaçi. At 10:15 a.m., officials visited the “Adem Jashari” memorial complex in Prekaz, while a Kosovo Security Force (KSF) parade was scheduled for noon in Pristina. Later in the afternoon, at 4:00 p.m., a scientific conference on “war crimes committed in Kosovo” is set to take place, Kosovo government announced.

The day will conclude with a reception hosted by the Kosovo President, Speaker of Parliament, and Prime Minister at 6:00 p.m., followed by a gala concert by the Kosovo Philharmonic at 8:00 p.m.

For the second consecutive year, the Municipality of North Mitrovica is also marking February 17 with a special assembly session at 10:00 a.m. In contrast, other Serb-majority municipalities—Zubin Potok and Leposavic—chose not to hold similar sessions, while there was no information available regarding Zvecan.

Ahead of the anniversary, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani received congratulatory messages from prominent Western leaders, emphasizing continued support for Kosovo while underscoring the necessity of dialogue with Serbia.

Meanwhile the U.S. President Donald Trump highlighted Kosovo’s resilience and commitment to democracy.

“The anniversary of Kosovo’s independence is a moment to honor the achievements of the past as well as to look forward to a brighter future and deeper relations between our nations,” he stated.

Trump reiterated Washington’s support for Kosovo’s integration into the Euro-Atlantic community and praised its solidarity with Ukraine amid Russian aggression.

A message was given even by the Britain’s King Charles III expressed satisfaction with the close relations between the United Kingdom and Kosovo, voicing hopes for deeper cooperation, particularly on environmental and climate issues.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008, a move not recognized by Serbia, which continues to consider Kosovo as part of its territory under its constitution.

Over the years, the Brussels Agreement and subsequent technical agreements have led to the dissolution or integration of Serbian institutions into Kosovo’s administrative framework, although Serbian-run healthcare and education institutions remain operational.

In 2023 and 2024, Kosovo Police conducted operations leading to the closure of dozens of Serbian institutions, with at least 59 entities shut down in 2024 alone.

The exact number of countries recognizing Kosovo remains disputed. Kosovo claims recognition from 117 nations, with Israel being the latest to acknowledge its independence in 2021.

However, Serbia contests these figures, asserting that fewer than 100 countries recognize Kosovo, citing 28 withdrawals of recognition and promising further diplomatic efforts.