Prishtina, 30 September 2022
Our government has demonstrated during the past year that we have high regard and respect for the Bosnian community. This is shown by the fact that textbooks have been published and paid for by the Government for teaching in Bosnian language schools, Prime Minister Albin Kurti emphasized at the round table with the Bosnian community, organized by the Office of Community Affairs in the Office of the Prime Minister.
In his speech, Prime Minister Kurti also highlighted the recommendations of the Language Commissioner for the implementation of the Law on the Use of Languages, and in particular for the establishment of the Translation and Harmonization Unit within the Office of the Prime Minister, which he said ensures that the laws and bylaws are adequately translated, facilitates access to justice and ensures the rule of law not only for citizens who speak the Albanian language.
“We want to promote this multilingual approach in Kosovo, and part of our support this year has been through assistance to the Balkan Studies Programme at the University of Pristina. The Office of Community Affairs within the Office of the Prime Minister has allocated 5 scholarships for students from the communities to study Balkan languages as well as linguistics, anthropology and other similar subjects. I am happy that among those who are studying, there are students from the Albanian, Serbian, but also from the Bosnian community,” the Prime Minister added.
At this round table, where the Deputy Prime Minister for Minority Affairs and Human Rights, Mrs. Emilija Redžepi, was also present, Prime Minister Kurti said that he met young Bosnians, interns recruited by the Office of Community Affairs during the summer. Out of 100 young people admitted to the Government’s programme for practical work in institutions, 32 were from the Bosnian community.
Another opportunity to closely understand the contribution of Bosnians in our institutions was in the meetings with the Municipal Officials for Communities and Return, said the Prime Minister. He added that these officials are an important link in the chain of services for citizens from non-majority communities. He singled out the meeting held in March where he had the chance to hear about the main requests, and as one of the requests was to increase the number of trainings and networking, the Office of Community Affairs organized a very successful conference over the summer for these officials.
The Prime Minister announced that the Office of the Prime Minister will hold another conference for these officials next week.
The Prime Minister’s speech at the round table with the Bosnian community
Thank you Mrs. Sanela,
Dear Deputy Prime Minister Redžepi,
Dear Member of Parliament Balje,
Dear Deputy Ministers,
Dear representatives of political parties, Non-Governmental Organizations and central and local institutions
I was in Prizren on Saturday, together with the Deputy Prime Minister, at the solemn opening of the Cultural Bosnian Centre. It was a good start of the week when we celebrated the Day of Bosnians, and I am happy to be able to sit with you at the end of this week to talk about the priorities and main opportunities that you see for the respected Bosnian community.
Our government has demonstrated during the past year that we have high regard and respect for the Bosnian community. This is shown by the fact that textbooks have been published and paid for by the Government for teaching in Bosnian language schools, as well as the recommendations of the Language Commissioner for the implementation of the Law on the Use of Languages, and in particular for the establishment of the Translation and Harmonization Unit within the Office of the Prime Minister, which will ensure that the laws and bylaws are adequately translated, facilitate access to justice and ensure the rule of law not only for citizens who speak the Albanian language.
Those of you who speak more than one of the official languages have a great advantage compared to the majority of the young generation in Kosovo. It is an advantage for commercial and cultural connections within Kosovo, but also with our neighbours in the Western Balkan region.
We want to promote this multilingual approach in Kosovo, and part of our support this year has been through assistance to the Balkan Studies Programme at the University of Pristina. The Office of Community Affairs within the Office of the Prime Minister has allocated 5 scholarships for students from the communities to study Balkan languages as well as linguistics, anthropology and other similar subjects. I am happy that among those who are studying, there are students from the Albanian, Serbian, but also from the Bosnian community.
Our respect for the Bosnian community is also reflected in the meetings I held during the year. Last week I was at an event with the Kosovo Police and it was a pleasure to talk to Bosnian officers about their contribution to security in Kosovo. Over the summer, I had the chance to meet young Bosnians among the number of interns recruited by the Office of Community Affairs, which was organized for a period of 6 months. Out of 100 young people admitted to the Government’s programme for practical work in institutions, 32 were from the Bosnian community. Another opportunity to closely understand the contribution of Bosnians in our institutions was in the meetings with the Municipal Officials for Communities and Return. As you know, every municipality has these officials. These officials are an important link in the chain of services for citizens from non-majority communities, and I am the first Prime Minister to invite all municipal officials for Communities and Return in a meeting. We had our first meeting in March where I had the chance to hear about the main requests, and as one of the requests was to increase the number of trainings and networking, the Office of Community Affairs organized a very successful conference over the summer for these officials. The Office of the Prime Minister will hold another conference for these officials next week.
Through the Office for Community Affairs, we have also had the opportunity to help other initiatives specifically for the Bosnian community: grants have been allocated in support of projects for youth decision-making, cultural activities, promotion of the heritage of handicrafts for Bosnian women, journalism for the community, broadcasts in radio and television for the community as well as the Congress of Bosnian intellectuals of Kosovo. I am happy with the diversity of community initiatives and the great contribution you are making to civil society, to businesses and to politics in Kosovo.
I have invited you today because I wanted to hear from you about what you consider to be priorities and opportunities for cooperation and for increased support from the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, so now I will leave the floor to others to speak, hoping that this meeting becomes a starting point for even more joint achievements.
Congratulations again on the Day of Bosnians, which you celebrated recently, and I wish us all fruitful work in the future because we will do a lot of good things together.
Last modified: October 4, 2022