Prishtina, 25 July 2025
The Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, together with members of the government cabinet, last night welcomed members of our diaspora community who are spending their holidays in Kosovo, during a ceremony that has now become a tradition and takes place at the Open Balcony.
In his welcoming remarks, the Prime Minister wished everyone a warm return to their homeland and a pleasant stay with their families. He noted that the diaspora is not only rich in ideas but also countless in action. Although we have yet to do enough when compared to the strength and potential of our diaspora, the results are visible to all those who are willing to see and hear.
On this occasion, the Prime Minister recalled meetings held with the diaspora both inside and outside the country, emphasizing that the Citizen Diplomacy Program has played a transformative role in connecting young professionals with their homeland beyond familial ties. Today, thanks to this program, he noted, more than 50% of its participants continue to live and contribute in Kosovo’s institutions. “We have aimed for our compatriots, when they return home for vacation, not only to visit family and relatives but also to visit state institutions—institutions to which the diaspora has contributed so much and which once served as our embassies even when we had no independence,” he added.
Prime Minister Kurti also emphasized the importance of establishing and fostering interaction among associations, organizing professionals, and especially promoting education and the teaching of the Albanian language. On the other hand, you are better positioned to strengthen the nationwide diaspora — with Albanians from Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, as well as Cham Albanians, those from Preshva, and the Arbëresh. In other words, you are our infra-historical bridge, in addition to being a transnational one.
“Today, Kosovo needs people like you more than ever—not just as guests staying for a few days, but as development partners, as co-creators of our future. We no longer speak of a ‘brain drain’—we speak of hearts that never forget and intelligence that is discovered. Of those who, despite building successful lives abroad, have preserved a longing, a bond, and a responsibility to the land they come from.”
He wished all compatriots health, luck, successful work, and joy in life wherever they go and in whatever they do.
Full Speech of Prime Minister Kurti:
Distinguished guests,
Welcome to your homeland and to tonight’s gathering.
The Open Balcony initiative began with this very reception for diaspora members back in 2021.
During this term of ours, which seems determined to never end, we have held over 300 dialogues with diaspora at home and abroad. The Dialogue with the Diaspora has acted like a traveling caravan, reaching as many parts of the world as possible where Albanians live.
Some elements of the Dialogue with the Diaspora have turned into our flagship programs—such as Citizen Diplomacy, Made in Kosovo, Taste Kosovo, and Culture Week Abroad—within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora.
The diaspora is boundless in ideas and countless in action. Yet we haven’t done enough compared to the potential and possibilities of our diaspora. Still, the results are visible to all who are willing to see and listen.
The Citizen Diplomacy Program has played a transformative role in connecting young professionals with their homeland, beyond family ties. Today, as a result of this program, over 50% of participants live and contribute within Kosovo’s institutions. We have tried to ensure that when you return home, you don’t just visit family and relatives, but also our state institutions—institutions for which our diaspora has contributed immensely and functioned as an embassy even at times when we did not yet have independence.
Let me mention just two examples of those who have returned:
Fjolla, who returned from Geneva (Switzerland), is now a young diplomat in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora.
Ariana, who returned from Denmark, now works successfully in the private sector in Kosovo.
These represent a rare experience – the experience of living between two identities, which serves as an example for all of you, because each of you, through your life and experiences, have embodied this way of living. One part of your experience and way of life was born and rooted in the homeland; the other is integrated into another society—into the political cultures and institutions of others that have also become your own. It is only through your broad presence that the Republic of Kosovo becomes as great as it ought to be. We now know that there are no small countries or peoples. There are only peoples who forget themselves, and states that do not respect themselves—but our people and our state are not among them. This is something we have learned from you.
You, who have acted and contributed abroad, have become cultural bridges, translators of meaning, and mediators between different realities.
So, your role is that of a citizen diplomat—an informal ambassador and consul in a transnational era. A 21st-century citizen is no longer only part of a local community or their country of origin, but a bridge between states, peoples, societies, cultures, and economies. And you know how much our government loves bridges. Bridges connect two shores—they are not built for just one side. The citizen diplomat is that bridge, and you are that citizen diplomat.
We have continuously highlighted the importance of creating and connecting associations, organizing professionals, and especially education and Albanian language instruction. On your end, you can more easily strengthen pan-national diaspora ties—with Albanians from Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and even the Cham Albanians, Presheva, and Arbëresh communities. You are both our infra-historic and transnational bridge.
Today, Kosovo needs people like you more than ever—not just for short visits, but as partners in development and co-creators of our future. We no longer speak of “brain drain”—we speak of the heart that remembers and the mind that returns. Of those who, despite building successful lives abroad, retain their longing and responsibility for the land they came from. A person lives where their thoughts dwell and their heart beats.
The League of Prizren, the Congress of Manastir, the project “What Albania was, is, and will be,” the declaration of independence—all these events that shaped our nation were made possible by Albanians who made no distinction between those compatriots abroad and those residing here. The Homeland Calls and the Kosovo Liberation Army were also the result of a people who do not divide themselves.
Dear friends,
Our message is our shared question: What comes next?
How can we make this cooperation more consistent, more creative, and more powerful?
First, the new generation must master their own language—Albanian. As much and as well as possible. We are not a nation of refugees. We are a proud people with a sweet and beautiful language.
Second, for us, the diaspora is not just an economic actor—but a political one. A political actor because they understand the world’s reality and their homeland’s urgency because they know and do not forget where they come from. Living between two worlds is a challenge—but one that strengthens rather than disappoints. It is a rare gift for people with broad horizons, deep sensitivity, strong awareness, and the ability to see beyond the ordinary.
It seems human beings are not made to live in just one place or speak only one language. And what better proof than you—our esteemed compatriots—who live outside the homeland but always remain within the nation.
This evening here on the Open Balcony of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo—this shared space of ours—shows that this is your balcony, too. This is our way, as the executive of Kosovo’s independent state, to thank you:
For every support, every helping hand, every project you started and carried, and every voice you raised in defense and affirmation of Kosovo—and for everything you continue to do.
Kosovo is stronger—much stronger—with you by its side.
Thank you once again, and I wish you health, good fortune, success in your work, and only joy in life—wherever you go and whatever you do.
