Prishtina, 25 June 2025
The Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, participated in the formal opening of the collective exhibition “The Colors of the Valley,” organized by the Albanian National Council.
“In paintings, imagination makes no compromise with silence. The Colors of the Valley is an exhibition that pulses with the rhythm of existence and cannot be masked by the statistics of injustice. In Presheva, Medvegja, and Bujanoc, Albanians face daily discrimination, oppression, exploitation, and institutional exclusion—especially through what is known as the deactivation of addresses, or cold ethnic cleansing through bureaucratic and administrative methods,” said Prime Minister Kurti in his remarks.
He emphasized that Kosovo is no longer a mere observer of this injustice, and through its decisions, it stands by you—closer than ever, and with a commitment to increase its presence year by year.
“Through this exhibition, all of Kosovo feels the Valley closer. You have brought here pieces of Valley life—felt only through the depth of your imagination and breadth of your experience. Thank you for bringing it here in such an aesthetic form! Thank you for never ceasing to create and engage! And above all, thank you for remaining connected to your identity,” said Prime Minister Kurti.
The Colors of the Valley is an artistic narrative of identity, resistance, and creative spirit of the Albanians of the Valley. The exhibition is part of a series of presentations that will travel across Albanian capitals with the aim of strengthening nationwide cultural ties. It is hosted at the Flori Gallery, at Prishtina Mall.
Full speech of Prime Minister Kurti:
Dear Mr. Enkel Rexhepi, Chair of the Albanian National Council,
Dear Professor Sabedin Hetemi,
Honorable members of the Assembly of the Republic, colleagues from the Government of Kosovo,
Honorable artists from the Valley,
Esteemed representatives of the Albanian National Council,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Brothers and sisters,
Distinguished attendees,
When art speaks, politics watches. Where art touches, few others can reach. Art often raises questions that politics eventually arrives at answering. But tonight, in Prishtina, we are gathered for more than that—we are gathered to see with our own eyes what the Valley tells us through brushstrokes.
Imagination in paintings does not compromise with silence. The Colors of the Valley is an exhibition that beats to the rhythm of existence and is not hidden by the statistics of injustice. In Presheva, Medvegja, and Bujanoc, Albanians live each day confronting discrimination, oppression, exploitation, and exclusion from institutions—especially through the so-called deactivation of addresses, a cold form of ethnic cleansing through bureaucratic and administrative means.
Kosovo is no longer a mere observer of this injustice. As you know, through our decisions we are always by your side—closer and more committed every year.
Through this exhibition, all of Kosovo feels the Valley closer. You have brought here fragments of life in the Valley that only the depth of your imagination and the richness of your experience could convey.
Our connection is no longer just symbolic; it is concrete, institutional, and financial. Through the Albanian National Council, we will support you even more strongly and more extensively in the field of culture—just as we have traditionally supported education with textbooks, scholarships for students and pupils.
So far, the Government of Kosovo has supported 28 cultural projects through the Albanian National Council and 21 projects in the Valley directly through the Ministry of Culture.
Therefore, in my capacity as Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, I tell you that the Valley is not just a cause or a topic—it is part of our thought, our heart, and our being.
Thank you for bringing it here in this aesthetic form! Thank you for never ceasing to create and engage! And, above all, thank you for remaining connected to your identity!
