On the occasion of the United States of America’s Independence Day, Kosovar imam Labinot Maliqi raised the American flag in the yard of the “Bedri Kamberi” mosque, located in the Hospital neighborhood of Pristina.

Maliqi said that the U.S. is an irreplaceable friend and ally of Kosovo.

This ceremony, organized today for the third consecutive year, Maliqi said, is not simply a protocol act but a public expression of gratitude for the incomparable historic contribution of the United States.

Maliqi expressed that the U.S. is more than a strategic ally for the people of Kosovo.

According to him, it is an inseparable partner.

“Today, on this special day of July 4th, I had the honor to raise, with deep respect, the flag of the United States of America, in tribute to the 249th anniversary of the independence of this nation — a friend and irreplaceable ally of the Republic of Kosovo. This is the third consecutive year we organize this symbolic ceremony in the yard of our mosque in Pristina. It is not merely a protocol act; it is a public expression of our eternal gratitude for the historic and incomparable contribution of the United States in supporting the freedom, peace, and state-building of Kosovo. The United States is for our people more than a strategic ally. It is a sincere friend, an inseparable partner, a country that stood by us more than anyone else, at a time when our people were facing the risk of extermination, when our freedom, identity, and very existence were on the brink of extinction,” Maliqi said.

Maliqi also expressed gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump, saying he “promotes peace and stability throughout the Western Balkans.”

“On this day, we also remember with deep gratitude the role of President Donald Trump, who in decisive moments stood firmly in defense of the Republic of Kosovo, stopping Serbia’s efforts to reoccupy Kosovo, as well as affirming sovereignty, peace, and stability throughout the Western Balkans region,” Maliqi emphasized.

The flag-raising ceremony was accompanied by the American national anthem.

Today, on July 4, the U.S. celebrates the 249th anniversary of the declaration of independence.