Haxhiu commemorates the 25th anniversary of September 11 and the solidarity of Kosovo’s citizens with the American people

Albulena Haxhiu, acting president, commemorated the attacks on the Twin Towers on the 25th anniversary of September 11, an event in which many American citizens lost their lives.

According to Haxhiu, the morning of September 11, 25 years ago, remained forever as the moment that divided time into the period before and after that date.

She said that September 11, as described at the beginning of the U.S. investigative commission’s report on the event, began as a completely ordinary morning. Millions of people were preparing to go to work; some were heading to the Twin Towers in New York, others to the Pentagon, while visitors were waiting in line to enter the White House. At that time, President George W. Bush had gone out for his morning run.

At 8:46 a.m., the first airplane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. In Kosovo, the time was 2:46 p.m., and just two minutes later, television stations began broadcasting images of the towers engulfed in flames. As the broadcast continued live, at 9:03 a.m. New York time, the second airplane crashed into the South Tower.

Haxhiu stressed that people, from New York to Pristina, remained in front of their screens, following the same tragedy. The American morning, which had begun with clear skies and citizens heading to work, turned within minutes into the morning that defined the period before and after September 11.

She also recalled the immediate reaction of Kosovo’s citizens, who expressed their support for the American people in various ways, including volunteering to donate blood.

According to her, although the September 11 attacks targeted the United States, the pain immediately crossed American borders. In Pristina and other cities across the Republic of Kosovo, citizens turned out to show solidarity with the American people, lit candles, organized gatherings and marches, and came forward to donate blood. The streets filled with people carrying American flags and banners bearing the words: “America, we are with you.”