Prishtina, 30 March 2026
After the 7th regular Government meeting, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, together with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, Donika Gervalla, held a press conference.
Full Speech by Prime Minister Kurti:
Members of the media and journalists present,
Dear citizens,
Today, we had a Government meeting of the Republic of Kosovo that was as important as it was productive, in which we made a series of good decisions for the country, decisions that directly affect the lives of the citizens of our Republic.
We began the meeting with the vote, now for the second time in Government, on the Draft Law on the State Bureau for Verification and Confiscation of Unjustifiable Assets. This draft law had been challenged by the opposition in the Constitutional Court. They delayed us, but they did not stop us. Just as we had pledged that the processing would be done swiftly, so it was done. This draft law, which Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Donika Gervalla-Schwarz, who is here with me today at this press conference, will speak to us about, is of extraordinary importance and represents one of the core reform initiatives within the framework of the deep reforms that we have spoken about at length and to which we have committed ourselves greatly.
Although the process for the affordable and social housing project has begun in seven municipalities, while in four of them construction has already started, the draft law related to this very important project had also been challenged in the Constitutional Court.
After all that delay, as soon as it returned from the Constitutional Court, we also proceeded with the corresponding amendments to this draft law, which will give an even stronger impetus to the extension of this project to all municipalities of the country, so that the citizens of our country, young couples and families in need may benefit from this major project.
Another important decision was the one we took today, at the request of the Ministry of Defence, to deploy the Kosovo Security Force on a mission to Gaza, as part of the International Stabilisation Force.
We are ready to take part in the International Stabilisation Force and help the people of Gaza. This decision constitutes the finalisation of the process launched last year at the time of the Conference in Doha, Qatar, by the Minister of Defence, Ejup Maqedonci, and the Commander of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), Lieutenant General Bashkim Jashari.
And it is precisely from there, then, that what we decided today on participation in the International Stabilisation Force begins. The matter now passes from the Government to the Assembly of the Republic.
Also at today’s meeting, as we had pledged earlier, we approved the allocation of a reward of 500 thousand euros for our national football team, for the extraordinary result shown in the match against Slovakia. We hope and believe that this performance, which made us all proud, will be repeated with even more motivation and energy in tomorrow evening’s match against Turkiye, as the departure point for America, in the first World Cup in football for the Republic of Kosovo.
And before I give the floor to the Deputy Prime Minister, I would also like to mention one piece of good news and one equally important decision. The good news is that the children’s orchestra “Amadeus”, made up of children aged 10 to 17, took first place, won the “Grand Prix” in Spain, and 11 days ago, specifically on 19 March, at the meeting of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, we had financed their trip, supporting these talents who are making us proud all over the world. Thus, the Republic of Kosovo, first place in the world, the children’s orchestra “Amadeus” of children aged 10 to 17.
Meanwhile, the important decision concerns employees who receive salaries from the state budget. The decision at today’s meeting therefore also constitutes one of the first five pledges that we promised in our election campaign in December of last year. This month, employees who are paid from the budget of the Republic of Kosovo will have the 13th salary in their accounts. So, the 13th salary comes not at the end, but at the beginning, now immediately after the state budget was passed. So, tomorrow, all employees in the public sector will receive the 13th salary. As we have said before, whoever has worked 12 months receives 13 salaries, and not only that. Those who have not worked 12 months will also receive it proportionately, according to how long they have worked. For example, if someone has not worked 12 months in the past 12 months, but only 6 months, they will receive the 13th salary at half rate. Likewise, those who have worked reduced hours will also receive the 13th salary proportionately, in line with the reduced hours they have worked.
Congratulations to everyone, and may they enjoy it together with their families and loved ones!
And now, before we move on to your questions, I give the floor to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, Donika Gervalla-Schwarz.
