Prishtina, 27 August 2025
The Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, attended the presentation of the annex to the Methodology of the Institute for Crimes Committed During the War (ICCW) for the documentation and investigation of economic crimes committed during the war in Kosovo.
In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Kurti stated that this process, beyond being an institutional and professional duty, is also a moral obligation toward the victims and a national obligation for our Republic. It serves us in confronting the past, in living the present with dignity, and in building a fairer and more sustainable future for our society.
Since the war in Kosovo was a project of destruction and annihilation, of plunder and abduction by the forces of Serbia, carried out through organized and premeditated crimes, the documentation of these crimes is vital. During the war, the people of Kosovo endured immense suffering: killings, enforced disappearances, mass expulsions, destruction of property, and systematic plundering. In addition to the extraordinary human loss caused by Serbia’s genocide, Kosovo also suffered incalculable economic damages, including the burning of private and public property, the demolition of infrastructure, the destruction of cultural and educational institutions, and the looting and destruction of spiritual and national heritage. Prime Minister Kurti added that documenting these economic crimes is an integral part of historical truth, and that through a clear, professional, and comprehensive methodology, we can build a reliable archive that will serve as collective memory for generations to come.
The Government of the Republic of Kosovo has strongly supported the Institute for Crimes Committed During the War, which, since its establishment in November 2023, has marked significant progress, preserving in its archives over 345 linear meters of physical material and 23.6 terabytes of digital material. To this end, Prime Minister Kurti emphasized that the Government of the Republic of Kosovo remains committed to supporting this process, through which we give voice to the victims and weight to the testimonies of our painful past. Every document collected, every testimony preserved, is an act of honor for the fallen, and a promise that the crimes committed during the war—war crimes, crimes against humanity, and Serbia’s genocide in Kosovo—will never be forgotten, he said.
He expressed his gratitude to the Institute for Crimes Committed During the War for its work and commitment to date, as well as to all those who have contributed to this vital process, convinced that through dedication, cooperation, and professionalism, we will establish solid foundations for justice and lasting peace in our country.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the ICCW, Atdhe Hetemi, emphasized that based on the work carried out so far, the Institute’s archive contains physical and digital materials collected from 11 different countries, thanks to the trust built with institutional partners, victims’ families, and surviving victims themselves. Speaking about the work of the Institute, beyond the establishment and completion of the archive, he stated that the Institute has also served as a platform of memory that generates scientific facts and fosters remembrance. He highlighted the organization of the first scientific conference in February 2025, with the participation of dozens of world universities, whose proceedings have been accepted for publication by the prestigious Routledge publishing house, as well as the forum Voice in Memory, which, through discussions and exhibitions, has brought attention to grave historical phenomena, such as the Albanian soldiers killed in the Yugoslav Army, and which will soon address the poisonings of Albanian students in the 1990s.
Regarding economic crimes during the war, he noted that these were not merely financial damages, but instruments for destroying the vital basis of the population, damaging public and private infrastructure, and erasing our cultural heritage. Therefore, their accurate documentation is essential for transitional justice, for compensation of damages, and for a history grounded in facts.
Full Speech of Prime Minister Kurti:
Honorable Minister of Economy, Ms. Artane Rizvanolli,
Honorable Executive Director of the Institute for Crimes Committed During the War in Kosovo, Mr. Atdhe Hetemi,
Honorable Ms. Leonora Vranja, Senior Officer for the Research of Economic Crimes,
Distinguished academics, professors, researchers, representatives of local institutions,
Honorable Major Bashkim Spahiu from the Directorate for War Crimes in the Kosovo Police,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Welcome to this consultative meeting, where the methodology for documenting and investigating economic crimes committed during the war in Kosovo is being presented.
This process, beyond being an institutional and professional duty, is a moral obligation toward the victims and a national obligation for our Republic. It serves us in confronting the past, in living the present with dignity, and in building a fairer and more sustainable future for our society.
The war in Kosovo was a project of destruction and annihilation, of plunder and abduction by the forces of Serbia, carried out through organized and premeditated crimes. Therefore, their documentation is vital.
During the war, the people of Kosovo endured immense suffering: killings, enforced disappearances, mass expulsions, destruction of property, and systematic plundering. In addition to the extraordinary human loss caused by Serbia’s genocide, Kosovo also suffered incalculable economic damages, including the burning of private and public property, the demolition of infrastructure, the destruction of cultural and educational institutions, and the looting and destruction of spiritual and national heritage.
The documentation of these economic crimes is an integral part of historical truth. Beyond its archival and academic function, it is also an instrument of justice and transparency. Through a clear, professional, and comprehensive methodology, we can build a reliable archive that will also serve as the collective memory of generations to come.
The Government of the Republic of Kosovo has strongly supported the Institute for Crimes Committed During the War, which, since its establishment in November 2023, has achieved important milestones. Today, we have a consolidated institution, with its central headquarters in Prishtina and six regional offices. This has enabled a wide network for collecting, verifying, and preserving materials related to the crimes committed during the 1998–1999 war.
The results speak for themselves: more than 345 linear meters of physical material and 23.6 terabytes of digital material are already preserved in the Institute’s archives—an extraordinary achievement for both the Institute and our Republic, and a notable increase compared to last year. Likewise, extensive cooperation has been established with more than 500 sources, who have provided materials of great documentary value.
Today, with the annex to the methodology for documenting economic crimes, we are together taking another important step. This document will serve as a guide for the collection of facts, ensuring that the final work is both accurate and unified.
The Government of the Republic of Kosovo remains committed to supporting this process, through which we give voice to the victims and weight to the testimonies of our painful past. Every document collected, every testimony preserved, is an act of honor for the fallen, and a promise that the crimes committed during the war—war crimes, crimes against humanity, and Serbia’s genocide in Kosovo—will never be forgotten.
Distinguished participants,
Truth is the foundation upon which justice is built, peace endures, and democracy flourishes. Therefore, an approach based on facts, documents, and accurate historical memory is essential.
On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, I would like to thank the Institute for Crimes Committed During the War for its work and commitment to date, as well as all of you who contribute to this highly important process. We are convinced that with dedication, cooperation, and professionalism, we will succeed in laying strong foundations for justice and lasting peace in our country.
The memory of our war for liberation and freedom is sacred. Our duty is to preserve it, document it, and pass it on from generation to generation. Thus, the sacrifice of our people will shine as light for the future of the Republic of Kosovo.
Thank you!
