Pristina, 23 June, 2026
The Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, participated in the eighth edition of the Multicultural Festival “Celebrating our Similarities”.
After saying that this is now a consolidated event with a platform of intercultural dialogue, coexistence and mutual respect, the Prime Minister added that the festival has a special personal meaning because he has followed it from the first step.
“The festival is not just a celebration. It is a reflection of the way the Republic of Kosovo understands and builds itself as a democratic, open and inclusive state. Cultural diversity is part of our identity and one of the great assets of Kosovo. It is an asset that we must preserve, promote and pass on to the new generations”, said Acting Prime Minister Kurti.
Full speech of Acting Prime Minister Kurti:
If we complain too much about the hot sun, it might even rain.
Honorable Mr. Isak Skenderi, Director of the Voice of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian organization,
Honorable Ms. Saranda Bogujevci, Minister of Culture and Tourism,
Honorable representatives of local and international institutions,
Honorable guests,
Honorable citizens,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I have the special pleasure of being here with you today at the eighth edition of the Multicultural Festival “Celebrating Our Similarities”, a consolidated event with a platform of intercultural dialogue, coexistence and mutual respect in the Republic of Kosovo.
For me, this festival also has a special personal meaning. Eight years ago I was here when it was opened, and I had the honor of being present at the first edition. Back then, the festival was only organized for one day. It was an initiative with a big vision, but with small dimensions. Today, after eight years, we see that that vision has grown, expanded and become an important tradition for our country.
The journey of this festival is proof that good ideas, when built on commitment, cooperation and trust in shared values, can have a long life and a wide social impact. From a one-day event, the festival has today become a space where cultures, communities, generations, professions and different forms of creativity meet.
It has created a place for artisans, local businesses, women entrepreneurs, poets, young artists and representatives of all communities. This makes the festival not only a cultural event, but also an important space for social participation, economic empowerment and the promotion of our talents.
The festival is not just a celebration. It is a reflection of the way the Republic of Kosovo understands and builds itself as a democratic, open and inclusive state. Cultural diversity is part of our identity and one of Kosovo’s great assets. It is an asset that we must preserve, promote and pass on to the new generations.
Our Republic is built on the principle that all citizens, regardless of ethnicity, language, culture, religion or origin, have an equal place in public, social and institutional life. Therefore, the advancement of equality and inclusion of all communities remains an inseparable part of our institutional commitment. This is reflected in concrete policies and measures that aim to expand opportunities in education, employment, social support and participation in public life for all citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, because we are a state that is built on and believes in human rights, which combine universality and equality.
In this regard, the Government of Kosovo has followed and continues to follow a sustainable approach to advancing equality and inclusiveness of communities. This approach is not limited to declarations, but extends to concrete policies in education, employment, social support and institutional participation.
The results of this commitment are already visible. In the field of education, around 2,000 scholarships worth 625 thousand euros have been allocated to Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian students in secondary schools, with the majority of beneficiaries being girls. Also, during the years 2021–2025, close to 1 million euros have been allocated to learning centers supporting around 2,000 children from these communities.
In the field of employment, we have established the Inter-institutional Group for the Promotion of Employment of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians, while from 2022 to 2023 there was a 31 percent increase in the number of jobs provided for members of these communities through the Employment Agency.
A concrete example of this approach is the Superpuna project, for young people aged 18-29, where the minimum wage is guaranteed by the state for 6 months, through which we as the Government have aimed to open up more opportunities for young people to enter the labor market, for professional experience and for economic independence. The inclusion of young people in work is not only an economic issue; it is a matter of dignity, equality, education and active participation in society.
The Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities are an inseparable part of the Republic of Kosovo. They are not only part of our social reality, but also active contributors to the construction and development of the country. Their contribution is present in the culture, in the community, in the economy and in the overall development of our state. This is increasingly reflected in the representation in public institutions. During the last mandate, we had seven rounds of recruitment in the Kosovo Police, among which 7 generations were recruited and graduated, including 9 Roma, 13 Ashkali and 20 Egyptians.
This festival is concrete proof that communities in Kosovo can cooperate, create and celebrate together. It is shown in this way that culture can be a bridge of unity, that art is a common universal language and that mutual respect is the foundation on which coexistence is built.
In this sense, the festival “Celebrating our similarities” is directly related to our vision for a European Kosovo: a democratic state, with human rights, open, inclusive and proud of its cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity.
Dear citizens,
Let us continue to strengthen this direction. Let us continue to build a Republic where differences do not divide, but unite; where similarities do not separate us, but rather bring us closer; and where each citizen has his or her place, voice, and dignity.
Thank you for your presence. I congratulate the organizers for their work and dedication, and I wish you a successful festival.
