Minister Krasniqi proposes Sepp Blatter, Jerome Champagne and Marius Vizer to be awarded a “Presidential Medal of Merit”

08.04.2014

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Memli Krasniqi has sent proposals to President of the Republic of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, whereby Joseph “Sepp” Blatter, President of International Football Federation Association (FIFA), Jerome Champagne, former senior official of FIFA and candidate for president of FIFA, and also Marius Vizer, President of International Judo Federation (IJF), to be awarded with “Presidential Medal of Merit” for their extraordinary contribution to the sport of Kosovo.

Proposal of Minister Krasniqi is based on Article 4, point 3, Article 7, point 1.7 of Law No. 04/L-070 for the Conferment of Decorations by the President of the Republic of Kosovo

In his justification for Mr. Blatter, the Minister said that as a President of FIFA, he has had a proactive approach to the advancement of the position of Kosovo Football Federation (KFF) in relation with FIFA within the frame of our mutual engagements for the internationalization of the football in Kosovo.

“Thanks to the engagement and work of Mr. Blatter, today the representative teams and clubs of Kosovo are entitled to play international official friendly matches and KFF is on its way for full membership in FIFA. We believe that the role of Mr. Blatter shall be crucial also in this very important process, knowing that he supports the fundamental principle of sport, which consists of the right of all athletes to have equal opportunities, including also the opportunity for international competition, which our football players have missed until now”, said Minister Krasniqi in his justification for Mr. Blatter.

For Mr. Jerome Champagne, Minister Krasniqi said that he is the personality who has strongly supported the affirmation of the football of Kosovo in the international arena, as well as breaking the international isolation on this sport, standing beside the Kosovo Football Federation (KFF) and relevant institutions of our country in fulfilling these noble intentions.

“Since 2010, he has been the Special Counselor of KFF in the process of internationalization and development of football in Kosovo. Thanks to its concrete contribution, KFF has achieved to advance its agenda for the membership in international mechanisms of football, highlighting in this regard the permission of organizing international official friendly matches, upon approval by Football International Federation Association (FIFA). He remains our main supporter also in the further stages of the internationalization process, up to the membership of KFF with its full rights in FIFA”.

Whereas, for Marius Vizer, President of International Judo Federation (IJF), Minister Krasniqi justified that he was and remains to be one the main supporters of Kosovan judoists.

As for the justification for the President of International Judo Federation (IJF), Minister Krasniqi said that he was and remains to be one the main supporters of Kosovan judoists.

“Furthermore, despite many obstacles, he enabled our judoists to participate in international competitions, as well as he was the key person who made possible the acceptance of Kosovo Judo federation in IJF.

Thanks to his enormous contribution, our judoists have the opportunity to present as equal at all levels of international competitions, decently representing the Republic of Kosovo.

In many of these important competitions they won medals, among which the golden medal by Majlinda Kelmendi in the World Champion is distinguished, which was held in Rio de Janeiro of Brazil in 2013.

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