Prishtina, 19 March 2026
Honourable Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers of the Cabinet, Deputy Ministers,
Honourable members of the media and government staff,
Dear citizens of the Republic,
On Tuesday evening, we were all saddened and deeply shocked by the news of the tragic death of three citizens of the Republic of Kosovo at a construction site in Vienna, Austria.
On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, in these difficult moments, I express my most sincere condolences to the Bajrami, Musliu and Zeka families, as well as to all those affected by this grave event.
Pajtim, Asllan and Istref will always be remembered as workers and compatriots. Their tragic deaths, while working abroad, should serve as a moment of remembrance and reflection on the sacrifice and hard work—often insufficiently appreciated—of our diaspora; on the limits they push themselves to while striving for their families and our country.
The Government of the Republic of Kosovo is in close communication with our embassy in Vienna and, through it, with the Austrian authorities, to provide all necessary support to the families of the deceased.
And now, in honor of our citizens who tragically lost their lives while working for themselves, their families, and contributing to our country, I invite you to stand for a minute of silence.
May they rest in peace!
Honourable colleagues,
Dear citizens,
We are deeply concerned by Serbia’s unjustifiable military display with helicopters and paratroopers over Albanian-inhabited areas in the Municipality of Bujanovac, very close to the border with the Republic of Kosovo.
Such a show of military force over homes, schools, and medical centers constitutes not only pressure, incitement of tensions, and attempts to intimidate residents—who for years have faced administrative ethnic cleansing by the autocratic regime in Serbia—but also an open provocation against our independent state, the Republic of Kosovo.
These provocations near the border zone in Karaqevë by Serbia’s 63rd Parachute Brigade, through H145M helicopter exercises and low-altitude parachute maneuvers just meters from the border with the Republic of Kosovo, constitute a dangerous display of aggression.
This display becomes even more alarming when we recall that the same unit trained and supported the criminal group of Milan Radojčić, who carried out the terrorist and aggressive attack in the village of Banjska of Zvečan, killing Police Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku, a hero of Kosovo.
These military movements, combined with the provocative rhetoric of Serbia’s President, Vučić, alleging that Serbia is preparing for a possible attack by an alliance of Croatia–Albania–Kosovo, as well as the purchase of Chinese and Russian weaponry, confirm that Serbia is using its military as a tool of blackmail to keep the Balkan region under constant tension.
At a time when global security is extremely fragile due to Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine and rising tensions in the Middle East, with Iran becoming increasingly aggressive toward its neighbors, Belgrade is exploiting this moment to challenge the readiness of domestic and international security institutions and, more broadly, the stability of the Western Balkans, in line with the interests of Serbia and its allies, Russia and Iran, who seek unrest, conflict, and instability everywhere.
On the other hand, we must also note that Serbia is acting out of desperation.
First, it no longer has illegal and parallel structures in Kosovo to destabilize and undermine us internally; therefore, it circles restlessly around the border.
Second, Serbia can no longer hold our region of Southeast Europe hostage. It ranks last in international indices of democracy, human rights, and rule of law. While all others aspire to the European Union, Serbia has aligned itself with the Russian Federation.
On this occasion, our call to Albanians in Presheva, Medvegja, and Bujanovac is not to fall prey to inciting, destabilizing, autocratic, and oppressive policies.
Kosovo’s institutions remain vigilant and ready to face any threat. However, it is time for the international community to penalize Serbia’s destabilizing approach, which directly threatens regional peace and security. It is therefore high time for the democratic world to condemn such repeated actions by Serbia and to take concrete steps to protect the rights and freedoms of Albanians in Presheva, Medvegja, and Bujanovac.
Honourable colleagues,
Dear citizens,
Today, at the 5th meeting of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, we have 17 items on the agenda. Some mark new beginnings, others continue good ongoing work.
As part of our government’s continued support for the Presheva Valley, we have the proposal to cover the fees of 37 self-financing medical residents from the Valley, as well as from Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Albania.
This support eases their burden, enables continued professional development, and creates conditions for their inclusion in healthcare services.
In addition, we have another proposal from the Ministry of Health to cover the fees of 55 self-financing medical residents through the economic category of subsidies and transfers.
These professionals are already part of the healthcare system and are contributing to service delivery. Financial support aims to ensure the continuity of their specialization.
To enable employment in public institutions as an affirmative measure serving the integration of the Kosovo Serb community into the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo, the Government is extending for three months the mandate of the Commission for Verification of Diplomas of the University of North Mitrovica.
In recognition of our people’s struggle for freedom and independence, for the first time we have embedded the values of the Liberation War into the name of a ministry, to which today we will transfer an important office. The transfer of the Office for Issues of War Categories of the Kosovo Liberation Army to the Ministry of Labour, Family and Liberation War Values aims to strengthen institutional care and ensure more direct coordination of policies for war-related categories.
Pursuant to Article 17 of the Law on the Status and Rights of Martyrs, Invalids, Veterans, Members of the Kosovo Liberation Army, Civilian Victims and Their Families, this office coordinates activities for these categories, maintains the central registry of martyrs, invalids, veterans and civilian victims of war, issues official certificates based on this registry, and provides administrative and financial support to the respective Government Commission.
Saving the remaining minutes for ministers to present their agenda items, I invite you to proceed immediately with today’s agenda.
Thank you for your attention.
