Prishtina, 13 August, 2024
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, participated today in the closing ceremony of the NewBorn Kosova festival. During his speech, the Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the organizers and participants in this year’s edition of the festival, which takes place for the third time and was held over the last four days, from August 9 to 13.
“We have all witnessed the talent and cultural exchange between about 350 performers from over 10 different countries, including Ukraine, Mexico, Spain, Croatia, Italy, North Macedonia, Panama and so on, who have brought to Kosovo their heritage and cultural wealth through songs and dances. This festival is more than a competition – it is an opportunity to connect with each other beyond politics, to come together and show the power of art and cultural diversity,” said Prime Minister Kurti.
He added that this international festival is a good opportunity for the participants to become more familiar with our country, which is also known worldwide for its different talents from sports and music, but is also making strides and efforts towards membership in international institutions.
“Since January of this year, citizens of Kosovo are free to travel around Europe without restrictions, since we have visa liberalization in the Schengen area. This step has been especially important for our artists, who no longer have to wait in long queues for visas to participate in events like the NewBorn Festival. We hope and believe that the connections you are creating with local artists will be deepened through mutual visits in the future”, said the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Kurti’s complete speech:
Dear organizers,
Dear participants of the NewBorn Festival,
Dear attendees,
First, I want to congratulate the leaders of the NewBorn Festival for their excellent organization of the third edition of this great event. I am honored to be present here today together with you on the closing night of a festival that not only promotes Kosova’s culture and art but also brings hundreds of diverse international artists here to Kosova. Welcome again and it has been such a great pleasure and honor to have you here throughout these four days.
We have all witnessed the talent and the cultural exchange among approximately 350 performers from over 10 different countries, including Ukraine, Mexico, Spain, Croatia, Italy, North Macedonia, Panama and so on, who have brought to Kosova their cultural heritage and richness through song and dance. This festival is more than a competition – it is an opportunity to connect with one another beyond politics, to unite, and to show the power of art and cultural diversity.
I hope that all of you who have had a chance to visit different cities in Kosova, tasted our traditional food, and learned about our ancient and recent history, have taken beautiful memories with you. By being part of this festival, you have also become part of our history. Kosova is increasingly recognized around the world as a place that produces internationally renowned artists and athletes, since we have just been following Olympic Games in Paris 2024. From Dua Lipa and Rita Ora to Majlinda Kelmendi, Nora Gjakova, and Distria Krasniqi, Kosova has demonstrated that it is a hub for culture and sports in Europe and beyond.
We are also continuously making strides towards joining international institutions. As of January of this year, the citizens of Kosova are free to travel across Europe without restrictions, since we’ve gotten visa liberalization in the Schengen zone. This step has been especially important for our artists, who no longer have to wait in long lines for visas to participate in events similar to the NewBorn Festival. We hope and believe that the connections you are making with local artists will only deepen through mutual visits in the future.
Today, as we gather to honor you, let us also celebrate the cultural exchange that this festival represents. Regardless of awards and trophies, I hope you all leave Kosova feeling that you have contributed to something truly special and with the desire to return as soon as possible.
As we conclude the New Born Festival, I want to express my sincere gratitude to all of the performers, organizers, and supporters who made this event possible. Each of you has played a role in showcasing the cultural wealth and potential of our respective cultures.
Thank you for sharing your talents with us. Thank you for being part of our celebrations. And thank you for bringing a piece of world to Kosova. I hope we have the occasion to meet again soon in another event that brings Kosova and its international friends together, under the banner of cultural and artistic exchange. I wish best of luck to you all!
Last modified: August 14, 2024