Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has responded to the student protests in Tirana against the government, Prime Minister Rama and the political class. According to Albin Kurti, young people must have reason to believe in their future in Albania.
Emphasizing the students’ voice, he said that a democracy that loses the trust of young people stifles renewal and social change.
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“Young people in particular must have reason to believe in their future in Albania. They must live with dignity through their work, have a say in decisions and have the state as a source of support. We hold young people, and students in particular, in very high regard. A democracy that loses the trust of young people stifles renewal and social change. We want an Albania where democracy survives every government, where institutions are stronger than the forces of injustice, where justice is a social action and where national freedom finds meaning through social justice,” Kurti said.
Speaking about the clashes during the protests, Kurti said that violence and injuries inflicted on citizens are a shared concern, but according to him, beyond determining criminal responsibility, the causes that lead to the escalation of disputes must also be analyzed.
“On the other hand, violence and injuries inflicted on people, as well as direct confrontations in the streets, are everyone’s concern. But it is not enough merely to determine those criminally responsible for the violence. Its roots, the conditions that fuel it and the reasons that turn disputes into clashes must also be understood. Public order and the freedom to protest must be protected at the same time,” Kurti said.
Kurti: We are not rivals of Albania
He also emphasized that Kosovo is not, and will not be, a rival of Albania, mentioning as well the desire to deepen cooperation between the two countries in various fields.
“We are at the helm of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, and Kosovo is not and will never be a rival of its sister. We are pleased with Albania’s progress toward the European Union, as well as with the achievements of Albania’s economy and tourism. With all our hearts, we want and desire for these achievements of the Government of Albania and the Albanian people to be consolidated and expanded through joint infrastructure, economic, educational and military projects between Kosovo and Albania, and beyond,” the prime minister declared.
Vetëvendosje’s involvement in the protest?
At the 64th meeting of the General Council of the Vetëvendosje Movement, Kurti said that they are now a governing force rather than a protest movement, and therefore do not allow themselves to be instrumentalized. Kurti emphasized that developments in Albania are being followed with concern and responsibility, describing its democratic progress as a historic national responsibility for Albanians.
“We always love Albania, regardless of the circumstances. It is an inseparable part of our national being. That is why we follow developments there with concern, care, responsibility and love. Albania’s democratic progress is also a historic national responsibility. It is of vital importance that we Albanians prove to ourselves that we know how to build a democracy that can withstand the pressure of capitalism, and a government that does not bend to the oligarchy,” he said.
Regarding Vetëvendosje’s participation in these protests, Kurti said that they had not had time to discuss them because of developments in Kosovo, adding that they had never considered the tactic of “throwing the stone and hiding the hand” to be worthy.
“We have not had the opportunity to speak about them, as we have been occupied with the campaign and the June elections, and afterward with the almost dramatic tension that accompanied us until the election of the president. I was surprised to see various voices trying to attribute these protests to Vetëvendosje as well, but today we are a governing force, not a protest movement, and even when we were a protest movement, we led the protests ourselves and never remained anonymous. We have never considered the tactic of ‘throwing the stone and hiding the hand’ to be worthy, and we have stayed away from instrumentalization; nor have we allowed anyone to instrumentalize us, nor have we instrumentalized others,” Kurti said, according to media reports in Kosovo.
