Prishtina, 20 June 2025
Organized by the Office for Community Affairs within the Prime Minister’s Office, a conference was held today to mark the Memorial Day of the Egyptian Community. The Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, attended the event, along with the Acting Deputy Prime Minister for Minority Affairs and Human Rights, Emilija Rexhepi, the Acting Minister of Local Government Administration, Elbert Krasniqi, MP Veton Berisha, and other representatives from the Egyptian community at the municipal level and civil society.
“The Egyptian community of Kosovo, which for decades has faced prejudice, humiliation, and neglect, is not only part of our social mosaic. It is a foundation stone of the society we strive to build: an equal, just, inclusive society that cares for one another,” said Prime Minister Kurti.
He added that the Egyptian community has long served as a sign of integration in our society and as a model of continuous contribution.
As part of the government’s core principles, Prime Minister Kurti emphasized support for non-majority communities. He noted that during the government’s mandate, funds were allocated for capital investments to improve infrastructure in neighborhoods and villages, for housing construction, and for public kitchens. He especially highlighted the allocation of scholarships for youth, adding that efforts have been made to support their employment and ensure equal opportunities and fair distribution for non-majority communities.
“For the story of this community, for the reality of this society, which has been by our side in every stage—sharing hardship with us, but unfortunately not always the good—on behalf of the Albanian majority, not just as acting Prime Minister, I pledge to do more, every day, not just on June 24,” said Kurti.
He thanked the Egyptian community for their extraordinary contribution to the progress and development of our country and wished them a meaningful Memorial Day.
Full Speech by Prime Minister Kurti:
Dear Ms. Emilija Rexhepi, Acting Deputy Prime Minister for Minority Affairs and Human Rights
Dear Mr. Elbert Krasniqi, Acting Minister of Local Government Administration
Dear Mr. Veton Berisha, Member of Parliament
Honorable colleagues from the Prime Minister’s Office and Government
Honorable representatives from central and local institutions, as well as civil society
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
On June 24, the Memorial Day of the Egyptian Community, our conscience as members of the ethnic Albanian majority calls upon us, more than ever, not to forget. To remember, to understand, to look behind us, and also around us.
This is about the story of this community, about the circumstances of this society—always standing with us through hardship, Unfortunately, not always to experience the good times together as well. For this reason, on behalf of the Albanian majority, not only as the acting Prime Minister, I will do more—every day, not just on June 24.
The Egyptian community of Kosovo, which for decades has faced prejudice, humiliation, and neglect, is not merely a part of our social mosaic. It is a foundational stone of the society we seek to build—one that is equal, just, inclusive, and empathetic.
From patriots like the martyr Xhevdet Hoti, to statesmen like Xhevdet Neziraj, who signed the Declaration of Independence—without forgetting other distinguished names—I am proud to have colleagues and friends from this community: honest, hardworking, loyal, and certainly contributors to our shared Republic.
The Egyptian community has long represented integration in our society and has been a continuing example of contribution. Yet, their story has often gone unheard. Though part of our history, their perspective has seldom been acknowledged—even minimally—from their own point of view.
I often say that one of the best decisions I have made was appointing Elbert as Minister—not just for who he is, but for what he represents. In doing so, we have tried to give dignified recognition to a representative of an overlooked community.
During our mandate, we have allocated funds for capital projects to improve infrastructure in neighborhoods and villages. We have financed house construction and supported public kitchens.
We have provided scholarships for young people and assisted in their employment, aiming for equal distribution and equal opportunities for non-majority communities.
So, we have left no sector untouched, and no family from the community unsupported. This has been a core principle of our governance. Therefore, to give real meaning to the Egyptian Community’s Memorial Day, we must live together, cooperate, co-govern, and act together—every day of every month for many years to come—proving that Kosovo is a multicultural and multiethnic state, and that our society belongs to all of us, equally.
Thank you for your extraordinary contribution to the progress and development of our country, and happy Memorial Day of the Egyptian Community to all!
