Kurti: The result of Albanians in Serbia demonstrates the need for a new approach toward Kosovo

Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, described the result achieved by Albanians in Serbia’s parliamentary elections as historic. According to him, the Albanian Coalition received 27,670 votes and won two seats in parliament.

During a meeting of the General Council of the Vetëvendosje Movement, Kurti said the result was made possible by cooperation among Albanian political entities. He stressed that, despite their differences, these entities placed their shared interests above party interests.

Kurti said that in the October 25 elections, the Albanian Coalition secured 27,670 votes, or 1,233 more than in 2020. He described this as the highest result achieved by Albanians since 2000, while emphasizing that two parliamentary seats had been won.

Speaking about political developments in Serbia, Kosovo’s prime minister said the October 25 elections had brought about a reshaping of the political scene in the neighboring state. According to him, it is now known who has lost power, but it remains unclear who will take it.

He said the Student List came first, Aleksandar Vučić’s coalition lost its parliamentary majority, while Ivica Dačić’s list failed to enter parliament.

Kurti expressed hope that the political changes in Serbia would be accompanied by a more positive approach from official Belgrade toward the Republic of Kosovo and the Albanians in Preševo, Bujanoc and Medvegjë.

According to him, the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia must be preceded by confronting the past, shedding light on crimes against Albanians, locating mass graves and clarifying the fate of missing persons.

The prime minister stressed that the denazification of political discourse, institutional decriminalization and internal democratization, together with confronting the past, must create the basis for normalizing relations with neighboring countries.

“Without the truth about the past, trust for the future cannot be built,” Kurti said, adding that Kosovo seeks good neighborly relations, peace and cooperation based on equality and mutual respect.

Kurti concluded his speech by expressing hope that the new political developments in Serbia would create opportunities for the full normalization of relations between the two countries through mutual recognition.