Ilir Kulla praises Shiroka-Pula: Catholic faith and Shkodra roots, an asset for Kosovo

The election of Justin Shiroka-Pula as head of state of Kosovo has been positively assessed by the director of Global Crisis Group, Ilir Kulla, who highlighted her professional qualities as well as the opportunities she has to raise the country’s image before international partners.

Speaking on the “Matrix” program, moderated by Mehmet Kalisi, Kulla described the new president as a technical and impartial personality, capable of gathering around herself the most diverse political forces. According to him, her religious affiliation carries special weight for the country’s future developments.

Kulla explained that the fact that Kosovo is led by a woman of Catholic faith has both symbolic and political value, especially in the context of the accusations in The Hague, where crimes against Catholic believers in Kosovo were mentioned. This, according to him, makes the election even more significant at this stage of the road toward European integration.

The combination of Albanian roots was also emphasized in the analyst’s words, as he recalled that the president comes from one of the largest families of Shkodra, known for the artists, poets, and businessmen it has produced. He wished her success in a function that does not promise to be easy.

Beyond the figure of the head of state, Kulla also called for attention to the political and economic situation in the country, emphasizing that without institutions functioning sustainably, no progress can be achieved.

In his assessment, Shiroka-Pula will face a twofold reality: in addition to the official duties of the presidency, she must carry the weight of high diplomacy in the world, in order to recover the advantages that Kosovo unjustly lost during the two years of institutional handicap in international relations.

Securing new recognitions was listed by Kulla as one of the main priorities that the new president should put first, taking advantage of every opportunity to bring closer the states that still do not recognize Kosovo’s independence.

In this framework, he proposed that Shiroka-Pula’s Catholic faith also serve as a connecting bridge with the Catholic world, through the Vatican, with a focus on countries such as Spain, which have so far not recognized Kosovo.

According to the analyst, the diplomatic activity of President Shiroka-Pula can directly influence the improvement of the country’s international relations and the expansion of the number of states that recognize Kosovo’s independence.