Prishtina, 16 June 2025
Today, the Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, welcomed a delegation from the U.S. state of Iowa to the Government building. The delegation was composed of professionals from various fields, including academia, business, and the military. The delegation was led by retired Major General Timothy Orr and the Mayor of the City of Johnston, Paula Dierenfeld.
Welcoming them to Kosovo and the Government building, Prime Minister Kurti expressed his pleasure at the broad cooperation between the Republic of Kosovo and the State of Iowa. He conveyed his gratitude and appreciation for all the support and assistance Iowa has provided to our country since the early days of liberation up to the present, as well as for its continued support.
Prime Minister Kurti emphasized the importance of the partnership with the United States of America in the fields of defense, diplomacy, and development, highlighting the exceptional cooperation with the State of Iowa in these areas.
He extended special appreciation to General Orr for his significant contribution and strong friendship, noting that it was General Orr who initiated the military cooperation between Kosovo and Iowa 14 years ago. He emphasized that General Orr’s idea for the “The Whole of Iowa for the Whole of Kosovo” program, as part of the Civil Cooperation initiative, is functioning very well and represents the best example of how civil-military cooperation can help build a functional democracy and advance the country’s economic progress, while upholding the rule of law and the principles of a free market economy.
The meeting also covered the current cooperation and new opportunities in the areas of defense, education, and local governance.
On behalf of the delegation, General Orr and Mayor Dierenfeld thanked Prime Minister Kurti and the Government of the Republic of Kosovo for their hospitality and continued cooperation.
Joining Prime Minister Kurti in this meeting were also the Acting Minister of Defense, Ejup Maqedonci, and the Acting Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Liza Gashi.
