Prishtina, 15 February, 2023
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, participated in the Flag Day celebration of the Ashkali community.
The Prime Minister said that it was a pleasure to participate in this celebration of the Ashkali community, which, with its traditions and culture, is an added value and a valuable contributor to society and our country.
“Our government is committed to treating all citizens of Kosovo without discrimination for any of them. Therefore, we have managed to raise the dialogue with the non-majority communities to levels never seen before, as citizens and equal participants of our country”, said Prime Minister Kurti.
In his speech, the Prime Minister singled out the initiatives that have ended in favor of the communities and emphasized that there are also a number of other initiatives from our government, which directly benefit the communities, helping with integration, increasing economic and social participation, and building leadership skills.
Further, the prime minister said that all of us, before being members of a community, are members of society and citizens of the Republic. In order to achieve social progress, the continuous progress of all citizens is necessary, opening the paths of freedom and opportunities.
At the same time, the prime minister expressed his gratitude to international partners, civil society organizations and human rights activists for their work, tireless commitment and valuable contribution to the communities.
Prime Minister Kurti’s complete speech:
Dear Vice President of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, Mr. Bekim Arifi,
Dear Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, Mr. Besnik Bislimi and Mrs. Emilia Rexhepi,
Dear Ministers of our Government Mr. Nenad Rashiq, Minister of the Government for Communities and Return and Elbert Krasniqi, Minister of Local Government Administration,
Excellences ambassadors and other diplomats accredited to our country from friendly countries,
Dear chairman of the organizational council, Mr. Artan Asllani,
Dear representatives of political subjects and organizations of the Ashkali community,
Dear representatives of various international and local organizations,
Dear attendees,
Ladies and gentleman,
It is a pleasure to join you in this celebration. I thank the organizing council for the invitation, as well as many community representatives present here, for their continued cooperation.
Allow me to heartily wish you this holiday, the Day of the Ashkali Community, the Day of your Flag. The Ashkali community, with its traditions and culture, is an added value and valuable contributor to society and our country.
As a human society we must create equality where there are different things and subjects and not simply where they are identical. We cultivate diversity as an asset, we seek solidarity with everyone and equality that does not allow anyone to be discriminated against. Our society is held together by our shared values. Our government is committed to treating all citizens of Kosovo without discrimination for any of them. Therefore, we have managed to raise the dialogue with the non-majority communities to levels never seen before, as citizens and equal participants of our country.
We also approved the Strategy for the Advancement of the Rights of the Roma and Ashkali Community 2022-2026. We have also launched the National Platform for Reporting Cases of Discrimination against the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Community.
In the last two years, our government has supported all communities through implemented measures and allocated grants. We have supported children, students, expectant mothers, pensioners and various social categories. Within a year, with the Economic Revival Package and the Inflation Dealing Package, we have directly supported around 800,000 citizens of the Republic, practically almost every family.
The Office for Community Affairs in the Office of the Prime Minister has supported organizations and media for cultural activities. We have awarded 96 grants to organizations for projects that benefit non-majority communities. We have supported 123 projects for small businesses and start-ups for non-majority communities.
We have established the inter-institutional team for encouraging and promoting employment for the Ashkali, Roma and Egyptian communities in our country. Meanwhile, with the Law on Public Officials, we have created, among other things, all the appropriate mechanisms for the fair representation of communities in each category.
The Government of the Republic of Kosovo is working to create equal opportunities. And, especially in education. Higher education is provided free of charge to all students. But to support education, we have allocated 300,000 euros in scholarships for students from the Ashkali, Roma and Egyptian communities. We are supporting students from the Ashkali community at the Faculty of Education with scholarships, so that in the near future we will have teachers from this community in our classrooms across Kosovo. Because to have more Ashkali students we need more Ashkali teachers. We also allocated 300,000 euros for learning centers for Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian children.
While 100 young people, with priority to those from non-majority communities, were given the opportunity for a 6-month paid internship in government institutions.
In the last two months, I had the opportunity to have separate meetings with the Ashkali community twice. At the end of last year, when in the neighborhood of communities in the village of Gjyrkoc in Shtime, we inaugurated the park and the toy corner. Ashkali children and Albanian children are using it together. Whereas three weeks ago, at the Prime Minister’s office, I had a meeting with the students who received scholarships from the government for the communities.
We have already started the implementation of the Guaranteed Employment Scheme for Young People. Through it, the Government will subsidize 264 euros, which is the minimum wage already passed in the first reading in the Assembly of the Republic and that for the first 6 months of employment. Therefore, apply as much as possible because this is a golden chance for the youth of the Ashkali community, and I therefore encourage all Ashkali young women and men to apply on the “Superpuna” platform.
We will defeat poverty, unemployment and exclusion together, with education, employment and participation. Education is a constitutionally guaranteed right that should be enjoyed by each and every one. Children should not be on the street, and they should not be used for work, but they should be in school. Girls should be educated and brought up free. Education is the best answer to the problem of street begging, early marriage and forced labour.
There are a number of other initiatives from our government that directly benefit communities, helping with integration, increasing economic and social participation, and building leadership skills. All of us, before being members of a community, are members of society and citizens of the Republic. In order to achieve social progress, the continuous progress of all citizens is necessary, opening the paths of freedom and opportunities.
We are together in efforts to build an inclusive future, with greater opportunities for each and every one, and with equal opportunities for all without distinction. For a fair and progressive society, the government is committed, the municipalities are committed and especially the government cooperates with the municipalities.
I express my gratitude to our international partners, some of whom we have here tonight among us, civil society organizations and human rights activists for their work, tireless commitment and very valuable contribution.
Thank you and congratulations once again on the day of your community and the flag of your community.
Last modified: February 16, 2023