Prishtina, 11 August 2025
The acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, participated in the opening and the first day of the 8th edition of the Ambassadors’ Conference, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora. This important annual event gathers Kosovo’s diplomatic representatives from around the world.
Appreciating the honor of addressing this conference, Prime Minister Kurti noted that holding this annual conference reminds us that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the only government department with a total of 53 different branches spread across six continents, except Antarctica. From Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, to distant countries such as Australia, Japan, Panama, and Senegal, he said Kosovo has 34 embassies, 12 general consulates, four consulates, two special missions, and one liaison office. Among these are newly opened representations in Poland, Colombia, Malaysia, and near the Holy See in the Vatican.
“This wide distribution of representations, the broadest in the history of our Republic, simultaneously presents both an advantage and a challenge. The advantage is that it enables our state to have 53 strong voices worldwide to advance Kosovo’s and its citizens’ most important interests,” said Prime Minister Kurti.
In his speech before Kosovo’s accredited ambassadors worldwide, Prime Minister Kurti emphasized that this conference is taking place at a particularly challenging moment for the world and our region. “Forces of fascism and right-wing extremism are growing increasingly stronger. Russia’s illegal and unjustified war in Ukraine has entered its fourth year. Above all, Serbia’s efforts to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state continue to pose a threat to our national security. With millions spent on lobbying and global communication, Serbia’s propaganda war, in close cooperation with the Russian Federation, is intensifying day by day, systematically spreading false messages against our Republic to every corner of the world,” he said, adding that the role played by the diplomatic voices abroad is not only to directly combat the disinformation campaigns against Kosovo but also to promote as much as possible the great successes of the state and its citizens.
“In this battle, we cannot close the financial gap with Serbia—amounting to many millions of euros—in lobbying and mass communication. However, what we have and what Serbia can never have is a just cause and an unwavering commitment to peace and security in the region and beyond. This cause and commitment, together with your work and passion as representatives of our Republic, cannot be bought at any price and can never be replaced anywhere,” Prime Minister Kurti stated.
In his address, he also expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the ambassadors and our representatives in diplomatic missions for their daily and tireless work, every meeting with officials of host countries, and every service rendered to Kosovo citizens scattered around the world.
Full Speech of Prime Minister Kurti
Honorable Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz,
Honorable Deputy Prime Ministers, Besnik Bislimi for European Integration, Development and Dialogue, and Ms. Emilija Rexhepi for Human Rights and Minorities,
Honorable ministers and deputy ministers, colleagues from the executive branch in general,
Honorable ambassadors of the Republic of Kosovo and other representatives in our diplomatic missions,
Honorable employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora in general,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Distinguished guests,
It is an honor and a pleasure to address you at the 8th Ambassadors’ Conference of the Republic of Kosovo.
Holding this annual conference reminds us that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the only government department with a total of 53 different branches distributed across six continents, except Antarctica. From Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, to distant countries such as Australia, Japan, Panama, and Senegal, we have 34 embassies, 12 general consulates, four consulates, two special missions, and one liaison office. Among these are newly opened representations in Poland, Colombia, Malaysia, and near the Holy See in the Vatican.
This wide distribution of representations, which is the broadest in the history of our Republic, constitutes both an advantage and a challenge. The advantage is that it allows our state to have 53 strong voices around the world to advance the most important interests of Kosovo and its citizens. Meanwhile, the main challenge is how to ensure that all these voices do not operate disconnected from each other but in perfect harmony, like a single choir, with the ministry here in Prishtina as the conductor.
In this unified project, you must cooperate as closely as possible, not only with the ministry’s leadership but also with each other. This week’s conference gives you a special opportunity to meet and discuss directly strategic and technical issues of foreign policy. However, bridges of cooperation must be built not only in this room once a year when we hold the conference but continuously throughout the coming year. I hope this conference will serve as a basis to expand and deepen cooperation once you return to your missions.
As you know, this conference is taking place at a particularly challenging moment for the world and our region. Forces of fascism and right-wing extremism are growing stronger. Russia’s illegal and unjustified war in Ukraine has entered its fourth year. Above all, Serbia’s attempts to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state continue to pose a threat to our national security. With millions spent on lobbying and global communication, Serbia’s propaganda war, in close cooperation with the Russian Federation, is becoming fiercer day by day, systematically spreading false messages against our Republic to every corner of the world.
Given this challenging global and regional climate, your activity as Kosovo’s representatives is vital both for the protection and the affirmation of our country. The role you play as our voice abroad is not only to directly combat disinformation propaganda against Kosovo but also to promote as much as possible the great successes of the state and our citizens. As the saying goes in English, “The best defense is a good offense.” This applies not only in sports but also in foreign policy.
In this battle, we cannot close the financial gap with Serbia, which amounts to many millions of euros in lobbying and mass communication. However, what we have and what Serbia can never have is a just cause and an unwavering commitment to peace and security in the region and beyond. This cause and commitment, together with your work and passion as representatives of our Republic, cannot be bought for any price and can never be replaced anywhere.
Dear ambassadors and other representatives,
We know your task is not easy at all. Being far from home and, in some cases, even far from your families, the sacrifices you have made and continue to make for our country and homeland are great. Therefore, for all these sacrifices, for every tireless working day, every meeting with officials of host countries, every effort and service rendered to Kosovo’s citizens scattered around the world as they are, we are and will always be sincerely grateful.
Thank you!
