The morning of September 11, 2001, is etched in the memories of people around the world. This date marks the tragic event in which 2,977 people lost their lives in a series of terrorist attacks in the US, including three Albanians: Mon Gjonbalaj, Simon Dedvukaj, and Rrok Camaj. Thousands more were injured.

On the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attacks, known as the “Twin Towers Attack,” Kosovo institutions and citizens paid tribute.

Among various commemorations, Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Deputy Prime Minister Donika Gërvalla, and Deputy Ambassador of the United States to Kosovo, Alyson Grunder, paid their respects at the Kosovo Remembers memorial plaque, placed in the courtyard of the Government building. 

“Both the USA and Kosovo believe in the same democratic and civilizational values and share the same geopolitical positions and geostrategic attitudes as allied and friendly states,” said PM Kurti on Monday. 

In an obituary for the victims of 9/11, PM Kurti cited the German philosopher Jürgen Habermas, who said: “Even if Europe does not wake up to play its civilizing role properly, the rising power of China and the declining power of Russia do not fit within the American peace model [Pax Americana] so simply. Instead of the kind of international police action that we had hoped to see during the war in Kosovo, there are wars again—conducted with state-of-the-art technology, but still in the old style.”

“This visionary remark […] has an even greater force of truth today, both for the example given by the role of the USA during the war in Kosovo, and for the need of cooperation between Europe and the USA, in the context of “the rising power of China and the declining power of Russia,” the PM concluded. 

Kosovo’s President, Vjosa Osmani, stated that on the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attack in the US, efforts to defend freedom and democracy—values that define the enduring friendship and partnership of Kosovo with the US—are reaffirmed.

“Today, alongside our American allies, we honor the 3,000 victims of the terrorist attacks against the United States while reiterating our ongoing efforts to defend freedom and democracy, values that define our enduring friendship and partnership,” Osmani wrote on Facebook.

The Friends of America Association in Kosovo, along with firefighters from Prishtina and units of the Kosovo Police, also paid their respects near the statue of former US President Bill Clinton, by lighting candles.

Agim Rexhepi, the president of this association, emphasized that Kosovo stands by the US. Rexhepi also requested the assistance of the US in lobbying for Kosovo among non-recognizing states.

“We acknowledge your significant economic, political, and military support, but on behalf of the people, we ask you to do more and urge the five non-recognizing countries to acknowledge the state of Kosovo,” Rexhepi said.

The 9/11 attacks were a series of airline hijackings and suicide attacks committed in 2001 by 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda against targets in the United States. These were the deadliest terrorist attacks on American soil in US history. Among the perpetrators, 15 were from Saudi Arabia, two from the United Arab Emirates, one from Egypt, and one from Lebanon.

At that time, the US administration under President George W. Bush had vowed that terrorism would never prevail.

Following these attacks, President George Bush declared a global war on terrorism. In October 2001, America led the invasion of Afghanistan, joined by other countries. At that time, Afghanistan was ruled by the Taliban, who had an alliance with Al-Qaeda.  After 10 years, they succeeded in ousting the Taliban from power and killing the leader of Al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden. Later, in 2021, US troops withdrew from Afghanistan, and the Taliban took control of the country again.