New York, 22 September, 2026
At the start of the High-Level Week proceedings of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, met with the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Prime Minister Kurti thanked President Erdoğan for Turkey’s continuous support throughout all stages of Kosovo’s state-building and development—spanning diplomacy, the strengthening of our military capabilities, cooperation in laying the foundations of our defense industry, and support for NATO membership.
He also expressed gratitude for Turkey’s long-standing role in KFOR and its continued significant contribution to security and stability in Kosovo, highlighting the professionalism demonstrated by Major General Özkan Ulutaş during his two terms as commander of the NATO force in the country.
Kosovo and Turkey have continued to strengthen and expand trade relations, with the volume of trade reaching $1 billion and an aim for further growth in the future. Investments in Kosovo have also increased; recent examples include the launch of a new ammunition factory in Gjakova and a wind energy park in Rahovec, both developed in cooperation with Turkish companies. During the meeting, Prime Minister Kurti also discussed the verdict—legally and morally unjust, as well as historically and factually inaccurate—handed down last week by the Specialist Chambers in The Hague against former KLA leaders Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi, and Jakup Krasniqi; a ruling that must undoubtedly be rectified on appeal.
Another issue raised by Prime Minister Albin Kurti and the Mayor of Preševo, Ardita Sinani, was the ongoing and systematic discrimination by the Serbian state against the local Albanian community—ranging from the deactivation of residential addresses and the non-recognition of diplomas to underrepresentation in every state institution. The Prime Minister emphasized that the symmetry of community rights in the respective countries is the necessary approach for ensuring fair and equal treatment.
Kosovo and Turkey will continue to deepen their friendly relations, while also expanding and strengthening economic and trade ties. At the conclusion of the meeting, Prime Minister Kurti invited President Erdoğan to visit the Republic of Kosovo.
