Prishtina, 13 September 2024
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, during the morning participated online in the discussion panel “Western Balkans and the global crisis – New storms or sun?” within the framework of the Balkan Integration Forum 2024.
Part of the panel were The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Montenegro, Filip Ivanović, the member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Željko Komšić, the EU Special Representative for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue and the Western Balkans. , Miroslav Lajčak, Member of the European Parliament, Tonino Picula, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, Tanja Fajon. The moderator was the President of the European Movement of Montenegro, Momčilo Radulović.
During his address, Prime Minister Kurti stated that the challenges facing the region are intertwined with the broader context of global changes in various political and geopolitical aspects.
He added that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has revealed the dangers that come from authoritarian regimes. He continued that even in the Western Balkans, Serbia today reflects Russia’s authoritarian style. Its strategy is to create tensions in Kosovo, and seek the separation of Bosnia, using them as a negotiating tool with the West to secure concessions and avoid necessary reforms.
He emphasized that what is needed is the normalization of Serbia itself, which must come to terms with the fact that the era of territorial expansion and ethnic divisions is over.
The Prime Minister underlined that Kosovo is committed to good neighborly relations and regional cooperation and that it continues to work tirelessly towards NATO and EU membership as our strategic goals.
He added that Kosovo in the last three years has recorded the fastest growth of democratic indicators in the region and high economic growth, showing that democracy and economic development go hand in hand.
Last modified: September 16, 2024