This afternoon in Pristina, the National Day of Switzerland was celebrated.

This celebration has brought together many representatives of embassies in Kosovo, members of the government cabinet and non-governmental organizations.

On the 731st anniversary of Switzerland, Prime Minister Albin Kurti declared that from this country they try to learn about the dedication of the people for independence, democracy and human rights.

"We try to learn from your people's commitment to independence, democracy and human rights.

In these times of turmoil in Europe, after the brutal Russian aggression against Ukraine, as well as during the war in Kosovo, we respectfully admire the principled and unwavering stance of active neutrality of the Swiss confederation in support of the oppressed peoples.

The political and diplomatic relations between the Helvetic Confederation and Kosovo are new, however, our social and friendly ties date back six decades when the first workers from Kosovo joined the Swiss labor market.

From then until now, those Kosovar families that have no connection with Switzerland are rare", stated Kurti.

Likewise, the chief executive expressed gratitude for the solidarity of the Swiss state in the most difficult times for Kosovo.

"We will never forget and we will always be grateful to the solidarity of the people and the Swiss state in the most difficult time for the people of Kosovo, either through direct aid or through sheltering tens of thousands of refugees during the war of 1998-99 , as well as with diplomatic actions, where it was one of the first countries to recognize the independence of our country.

We are grateful for Switzerland's help in improving the economy and well-being in Kosovo.

During all these decades you have been very generous to our country", he said.

The Ambassador of Switzerland in Kosovo, Thomas Kolly mentioned the good relations with Kosovo, where according to him there are many joint cooperation projects.

Much respect for the Republic of Kosovo, for such a short period, what you have achieved, Mr. Prime Minister, you are the first to be congratulated for what you have achieved.

It's only been a few years and it's going to be a long process, I hope it won't take long, and I'm pretty sure it won't take hundreds of years like in the case of Switzerland.

I wish you all the best, at the same time I want to emphasize the close cooperation we have between countries, where we have the Swiss national football team as an example, which I can call the Swiss-Kosovo or Swiss-Macedonian team.

There is also economic cooperation, there are many investments, many of your compatriots have invested in Switzerland, creating jobs.

We have many cooperation projects, and this is a very good thing", he said.

Otherwise, the Swiss celebrate their national day today.

August 1st commemorates the creation of the Swiss Confederation that we know today.

In 1291, three mountain cantons united and signed the Federal Charter which was the basis of today's Swiss Confederation with 26 cantons.

However, this charter was discovered in 1758 and the Swiss Government officially considered it the document upon which their state was founded by the late 1800s.

For the first time, August 1 was celebrated in 1891, while from 1899 it became an annual holiday.

In 1993, the Swiss voted en masse for August 1 to be a national holiday and so from the following year, i.e. 1994, it became a day off.

August 1st is celebrated inside and outside of Switzerland with paper lanterns, bonfires and fireworks.