Kurti: Vetëvendosje has no role in the protests in Albania; we are a governing force

Albin Kurti has rejected claims that the Vetëvendosje Movement was involved in organizing or inciting the protests held in Albania.

During the 64th meeting of the General Council of the Vetëvendosje Movement, Kosovo’s prime minister said that the political entity he leads is a governing force, not a protest movement. He also emphasized that Kosovo has not been and will not be a rival to Albania.

Kurti said he was surprised by attempts to attribute the protests in the Republic of Albania to Vetëvendosje. According to him, even when the movement was in opposition and organized protests, its representatives openly led them and did not act anonymously.

He added that Vetëvendosje had never considered the strategy of “throwing the stone and hiding the hand” acceptable, stressing that the movement had stayed away from political manipulation and had refused either to be used by others or to use others for political purposes.

“We are at the helm of the government of the Republic of Kosovo, and Kosovo is not and will never be a rival to its sister,” Kurti declared, adding that Kosovo welcomed Albania’s progress toward the European Union, as well as its successes in the economy and tourism.