Mitrovica, 3 December 2025
At the “Muharrem Qena” Theater in South Mitrovica, the theatrical performance “Culture Without Barriers” was held to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Before the performance began, the Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, delivered a short address in which he stated that “Culture Without Barriers” produced with passion and dedication by persons with disabilities and by Albanian, Serbian and Bosniak artists, is a living example of what we can achieve as a country when we do not divide people into categories but unite them through values.
“In these four years, as a government we have made great efforts to ensure that social justice, equality and inclusion are not merely aspirations, but concrete policies. Throughout almost 5 years of our governance, I as Prime Minister together with my colleagues in the Cabinet, have made it a priority not only to provide the appropriate financial support to persons with disabilities, but also to contribute to a society-wide shift in how they are perceived and treated by others,” the Prime Minister said.
He added that as a government, we have always been guided by the principle that all citizens should be considered equally and have equal opportunities.
“From this perspective, persons with disabilities should not be seen as victims or passive beneficiaries of assistance. On the contrary, they must be respected as contributors and active participants in all spheres of the social, cultural and economic life of our country. The state has a duty not only to help them survive, but to live — in the fullest sense of the word,” the Prime Minister said.
Among the initiatives undertaken by the Government during this mandate, he mentioned the dignified state support for the Paralympic Committee and Special Olympics; creating more opportunities for local and international sporting activity for athletes with disabilities; offering on-the-job training and employment support for 239 persons with disabilities, 120 of whom are women and girls; awarding 70 university scholarships for students with disabilities; employing 422 assistants for children with special needs in schools across Kosovo; and, most recently, increasing pensions for persons with disabilities.
“Dear artists whom we eagerly look forward to watching, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. With your talent, energy and courage, you remind us what truly matters in this country: people and dignity, coexistence and dreams. You are the best example that Kosovo is stronger when we cooperate and create together. And I am proud of the path we are taking. Tonight’s performance is a call to leave no one behind — to remember that every person in this country has a place, because they have rights and freedoms, a role and value,” the Prime Minister concluded.
Full Speech of Prime Minister Kurti:
Honourable Ms. Sebahate Hajdini Beqiri, Executive Director of Down Syndrome Kosova,
Honourable Ms. Ivana Rakic, Director of Podrzi Me,
Honourable artists,
Honourable attendees,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Tonight, we have gathered here to experience one of those moments that remind us why it is so important to live together, work together and create together. The performance we are about to watch — realized with passion, dedication and, above all, by persons with disabilities, by Albanian, Serbian and Bosniak artists — is a living example of what we can achieve as a country when we do not divide people into categories but unite them through values.
Over these four years, as a government we have made great efforts to ensure that social justice, equality and inclusion are not merely aspirations but concrete policies. Over nearly five years of our governance, I as Prime Minister together with my colleagues in the Cabinet have made it a priority not only to provide the necessary financial support to persons with disabilities, but also to contribute to a society-wide reorientation in the way they are perceived and treated by others.
Just as in the project “Culture Without Barriers”, we have always been guided by the principle that all citizens should be treated equally and have equal opportunities. From this perspective, persons with disabilities should not be seen as victims or passive beneficiaries of aid. On the contrary, they should be respected as contributors and active participants in all spheres of social, cultural and economic life in our country. The state has a duty to help them not only to survive, but to live — in the fullest sense of the word. Some of the initiatives we have undertaken as a government in this regard include:
· The Paralympic Committee and Special Olympics are, for the first time, receiving dignified state support. We have created more opportunities for local and international sports activities for athletes with disabilities;
· We have offered on-the-job training and employment support for 239 persons with disabilities, 120 of whom are women and girls;
· We have awarded 70 university scholarships for students with disabilities;
· 422 assistants have been employed for children with special needs in schools across Kosovo;
· And finally, we have increased pensions for persons with disabilities.
Dear artists whom we eagerly look forward to watching,
I thank you from the bottom of my heart. With your talent, energy and courage, you remind us what truly matters in this country: people and dignity, coexistence and dreams. You are the best example that Kosovo is stronger when we cooperate and create together. And I am proud of the path we are following.
Tonight’s performance is a call to leave no one behind — to remember that every person in this country has a place, because they have rights and freedoms, a role and value.
On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, I want to assure you that we will always stand by you: by the communities, by the artists, by persons with disabilities, by youth, and by every citizen who strives, contributes, creates and dreams of a better Kosovo.
Thank you for the art and the message — thank you for bringing us together.
