Prizren, 17 November, 2023
On the occasion of the manifestation of November 5, the International Day of the Romaan Language, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti took part in this part, as from the Office for Community Affairs, within the Office of the Prime Minister, which was held in the city of Prizren.
In this organization, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo for Minority Affairs and Human Rights, Emilija Rexhepi, the Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Sylejman Elshani, Erxhan Galushi, MPs in the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, as well as the commissioner for Languages was also present, Slavisha Madenović.
Addressing those present, Prime Minister Kurti expressed his happiness that he is among them in marking this important day such as the World Day of the Romaan Language – November 5.
He said that he is proud to contribute to this language, with the Law on the use of languages and with the mechanisms for linguistic rights, stressing that in the whole world only three municipalities where the Romaan language is in official use. He underlined that one of them is in Macedonia, while the two in the North are in Kosovo: Graçanica and the cities are from Prizren, where the manifestation of this important day and date was also held.
As the Prime Minister of Kosovo pointed out, the Government of the Republic of Kosovo is committed to the education of young and professional generations, which have invested 20,000 in learning centers for the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities, as well as have 500 scholarships for the students of these communities in secondary schools. Then the prime minister emphasized that funds have been allocated for 100 scholarships for some of the communities in the faculty.
“In the year 222, we do not have the number of members of these communities who are in the center of professional attention, and 35 start-up businesses from the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities have received grants from the Ministry for Communities and Return. This year, also 35 Businesses and farmers from these communities have received grants.
Prime Minister Kurti said that he feels happy about the cases when the Romaan language is used at the central level, on this occasion he singled out for the first time that the Strategy for Roma and Ashkali, as well as the Strategy and Plan for Youth, have been translated into Romaan and Turkish, concluded the prime minister.
At the end of his words, Prime Minister Kurti said that for a language to be alive with official documents, it must be so in daily use, for communication between neighbors, for sharing family news, for moments of happiness, for the articulation of dreams, for love.
Prime Minister Kurti’s complete speech:
Dear Deputy Prime Minister for Minorities and Human Rights Affairs, Emilija Rexhepi,
Dear Members of Parliament,
Dear Mr. Erxhan Galushi, deputy in the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo,
Dear colleagues from the Government of the Republic,
The honorable Mr. Sylejman Elshani, Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports
The Honorable Commissioner for Language, Mr. Slavisha Mladenovic,
Dear Roma citizens,
Ladies and gentleman,
Llaqi rat! Dobro veče, and good evening
The history of the Roma language is long, as is the path full of challenges for its survival. As the Republic of Kosovo, we are proud to contribute to this language, with the Law on the Use of Languages and with our institutional mechanisms for language rights. In the whole world there are only three municipalities where the Roma language is in official use. One of them is in North Macedonia, while two others are here in Kosovo: Graçanica and the beautiful city of Prizren, in which we are together tonight.
The Government of the Republic of Kosovo is committed to the education of young generations and professional growth. We have invested 200,000 euros in learning centers for the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities, and we are offering 500 scholarships for students from these communities in secondary schools. We have also allocated funds for 100 scholarships for students from these communities at the faculty.
In 2022, we have tripled the number of members of these communities who have been trained in our Vocational Training Centers, and 35 start-ups from the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities have received grants from the Ministry of Communities and Returns. This year, 35 businesses and farmers from these communities have received grants. We have partnered with the police to ensure greater community recruitment in the last round. So greater participation both in the private economy and in public institutions. This month we have organized Open Days to encourage young people from non-majority communities to have a job and a career in the Kosovo Security Force, as well as in security agencies.
For these and other opportunities offered by the Government, which may be of interest to the communities, a newsletter is sent every two weeks from the Prime Minister’s Office with a summary, and this important information, in addition to the Albanian and Serbian languages, is also sent in the Turkish and Roma languages.
I am happy about the cases where the Roma language is used at the central level. The Strategy for Roma and Ashkali has been translated for the first time into the Roma language, and now the Strategy and Plan for Young People is also being translated into the Roma language – and into the Turkish language – as part of our initiative for the widest possible consultation on this initiative.
I thank language activists, political advocates, the Commissioner for Languages, as well as international partners for their commitment.
Despite the importance of keeping a language alive with official documents, it should also be used in daily use, for communication between neighbors, for sharing family news, for moments of happiness, for articulating dreams, for love. And for that we don’t just need legislators and commissioners, politicians and activists – we need poets too!
So, for that reason, it is a pleasure for me to be here tonight on a night dedicated not only to the Roma language, but to Roma poetry. And I have chosen the poem entitled
“Guha” by Kujtim Paçaku, to read before you:
Language
Language that knows
Poverty
Happiness
Pain
Language that has faced Death
Never stopping the song
Roamed the streets of the world for centuries
From the source
Never leaving as for a step
So many times killed
Knocked down, trampled, cut
Burned, closed, broken, drowned
Expelled, lost, distorted, narrowed
Despised, banned, rejected…
My Roma language
It’s still alive!
Last modified: November 20, 2023