The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development said in a statement that during this visit, two cooperation agreements were signed between the two respective ministries. Their aim is to strengthen institutional coordination, advance joint policies in the agri-food sector, and raise standards in food safety, veterinary services and phytosanitary measures.

The statement emphasizes that these agreements also include expanding cooperation in rural development, supporting farmers through agricultural policies and financial schemes, as well as alignment with European Union standards and practices.

Another priority of this cooperation will be the modernization of the sector through the digitalization of agricultural services, strengthening capacities in scientific research, innovation and the transfer of contemporary technologies, with the aim of increasing the sector’s efficiency and competitiveness.

According to the ministry, this cooperation represents an important step in strengthening the strategic partnership between Kosovo and Albania, helping the sustainable development of agriculture, increasing food security, and improving the well-being of rural communities in both countries.

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In a Facebook post, he said the executive had refused to implement the Washington Agreement, while accepting the Ohrid Agreement, which, according to him, is now being treated as an international obligation for Kosovo.

Hoti underlined that the Washington Agreement remains unimplemented even six years after it was signed, including the American gas project.

“The Washington Agreement has not been implemented for six years now. Even today, when all of Europe is up in arms to completely eliminate any dependence on Russian gas, Kurti and his henchmen are rejecting the American gas project while rambling about other energy supply alternatives,” he wrote.

According to Hoti, the approach has been entirely different when it comes to the Ohrid Agreement.

“But they did not hesitate to accept the Ohrid Agreement, which according to Sorensen now constitutes an international obligation for Kosovo,” he added.

He also attached to his post a photo from yesterday’s statement by Peter Sorensen, the European Union envoy for the Kosovo–Serbia dialogue. During the Dubrovnik Forum, Sorensen stated that the Ohrid Agreement constitutes an international commitment and remains in force even though it has not been signed.

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According to the MFAD, the newly signed agreement establishes the right of family members of diplomatic and consular personnel to engage in gainful employment during their period of service abroad, providing better conditions for diplomats of both states.

The document was signed by Kreshnik Ahmeti, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of the Republic of Kosovo, and Nikolaus Marschik, Secretary General of Austria’s Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs.

The MFAD also announced that, after the signing ceremony, a bilateral meeting was held during which the parties discussed deepening relations between the two countries, economic and institutional cooperation, as well as political and security developments in the Western Balkans and in Europe.

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In a statement to RFE/RL, Haziri said that LDK’s votes could come together only if the presidential candidate came from within the party and not from outside it.

“If that name is Lumir [Abdixhiku, the party chairman] or my name, then we can unify. Lumir would come first, by virtue of his official duty, because he is the chairman. After Lumir, I have the broader consensus [within LDK],” Haziri said.

He also stressed that at present there is only one main address Vetëvendosje can turn to for a possible agreement with LDK.

“Only with Lumir Abdixhiku. He is the chairman. We have not convened the Assembly [of LDK]. If the Assembly is convened or there is an act of resignation, then we have a new situation. Until then, there is only one address and there is no second address,” Haziri said.

In the June 7 elections, LDK entered the race with Vjosa Osmani as its candidate for president and Lumir Abdixhiku as its candidate for prime minister.

This political force managed to win 18 seats in the Assembly of Kosovo, but according to Haziri, in Osmani’s case, the party would not be able to secure the full support of all its lawmakers.

“It could be like last time, meaning two or three votes could split off, but in Lumir’s case or in my case, we can unify,” he explained.

Regarding these statements by Haziri and how credible such a political scenario is, what both sides would gain from such an agreement, what this says about internal relations within LDK and Osmani’s current position toward the party, as well as whether this would be a step toward a broader governing coalition or merely limited institutional cooperation, political analyst Eduard Gashi spoke to “Bota sot.”

According to him, Haziri’s latest statements signal the opening of a new phase of political pragmatism in Kosovo, while the scenario remains feasible, but with potentially existential consequences for LDK itself.

“The latest statements by LDK deputy leader Lutfi Haziri have opened a new chapter of political pragmatism in Kosovo, signaling a possible willingness for an agreement with the Vetëvendosje Movement (LVV) in exchange for the post of President. If we analyze this move without diplomatic gloves, this scenario highlights a golden rule of our political scene: the Vetëvendosje Movement can never be trusted in long-term agreements. Trading the post of President: What lies behind the bargain?

The scenario in which LDK offers its 18 votes for quorum and the election of the president is entirely real, but it carries existential risks for LDK itself.

On the one hand, LDK aims to return to the center of decision-making through a figure like Lumir Abdixhiku or Lutfi Haziri, trying to portray itself as the ‘savior of the state’ from constitutional crises. On the other hand, Albin Kurti buys absolute comfort. By securing the quorum, he eliminates the risk of snap elections and keeps the executive without giving ground on the key ministries. However, Kosovo’s political history has proven that VV uses partners only as tools to get past the next obstacle. For Kurti, every agreement is tactical, not principled. The moment LDK hands over the votes and cements Kurti in the prime minister’s office, it loses the only pressure card it has in its hands,” Gashi said.

According to the analyst, Haziri’s statement that LDK can unite around Lumir Abdixhiku or around himself also constitutes a clear signal about internal party relations and the political future of the former president.

He assesses that this clearly shows that the clashes of 2020, when Osmani left LDK, have still not been overcome.

“The isolation of Vjosa Osmani and the settling of old scores!

Haziri’s statement that LDK can unify around Abdixhiku or himself, but ‘not necessarily around Vjosa Osmani,’ is a clear message about internal relations and the political fate of the former President. This shows that the wounds of 2020 — when Osmani left LDK and created the ‘Guxo’ list to become president with VV’s votes — have not healed. Today’s LDK has no interest whatsoever in investing political capital to keep Osmani in office. Today, Vjosa Osmani is more isolated than ever: her relations with Albin Kurti have clearly cooled, her party ‘Guxo’ has dissolved under VV’s shadow, and LDK has just finally closed the door on her return. The message is blunt: if there is a bargain, LDK benefits, not those who abandoned it,” he emphasized.

In conclusion, Gashi says that even if an agreement on the president is reached, it should not be seen as an entry point toward a broad governing coalition.

“Governing coalition or simply an institutional transaction? If this agreement is realized, it will never be a step toward a broad and sincere governing coalition. Albin Kurti does not want to share executive power, the budget, or ministries with a partner that could obstruct him tomorrow. For VV, the ideal partner is one that sets no conditions. Therefore, this cooperation would be concluded as a limited ‘service contract’: LDK does the work in the Assembly for the President, VV governs alone. By entering such an agreement without strong guarantees, LDK risks being seen by its voters simply as a ‘crutch’ for Vetëvendosje. In the game of political chess, Kurti is known for sacrificing other people’s pieces to protect the King. If LDK believes that a signature on paper obliges VV to respect the agreement for the next five years, they are repeating the same naive mistake that cost them dearly in the past,” Gashi concluded.

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