Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha has called on members and supporters of the political party to take part in the national protest being held today.

His call comes despite the slogans chanted against him during gatherings in the square and evening marches, where the demand “Rama in jail, Berisha in jail” has also been repeated.

Berisha said the Democratic Party is continuing its work in line with the directives approved at its latest Assembly, focusing on organization, digitalization and developing its vision.

“Meanwhile, dear friends, the DP is continuing its activities in line with the directives of the latest Assembly regarding organization, digitalization and vision, and intensive work is being carried out in these areas every day.

“But I want to conclude this brief greeting with a call to you: today is a very special day for the protest.

“Today, Albanians from around the world will be present on the boulevard of protest, in the hurricane of freedom. Therefore, I invite all Democrats to join this hurricane tonight, which has shaken Edi Rama’s regime and left it without hope,” Berisha said.

The post “Rama in Jail, Berisha in Jail” / Berisha Calls on Democrats to Join National Protest: Join the Hurricane That Has Shaken the Regime appeared first on Albeu.com.

Germany’s diplomatic representative in Kosovo, Reiner Rudolph, has appealed for the urgent establishment of new state institutions, emphasizing that this action is vital for political stability, the normal functioning of the state, and the advancement of key institutional processes.

In an interview, Rudolph highlighted the importance of Kosovo sending a strong and unequivocal signal about who will lead the executive in the next four years. According to him, political uncertainty and the absence of legitimate institutions undermine the trust of citizens, international allies, and investors in the country’s stability.

“I believe that now it is essential for Kosovo to send a signal about who will build the institutions for the next four years. I am aware that discussions and procedures are underway, but I honestly think it would be positive to have the institutions as soon as possible and not enter another phase of uncertainty,” said the German ambassador.

He added that although talks on establishing the institutions are still ongoing, it is important to complete them as soon as possible. Rudolph warned that prolonging this period could bring unnecessary political instability and hinder decision-making on issues of major state interest.

The German diplomat noted that the swift creation of institutions would pave the way for Kosovo to focus on key priorities, such as reforms, economic development, and international partnership. He reaffirmed that institutional stability is an essential condition for the country’s advancement and for effectively facing the challenges ahead in the coming years.

Zogaj: Germany has long been warning Kosovo to free itself from this institutional deadlock

On this matter, in a statement for “Bota sot”, journalist Skënder Zogaj spoke.

He emphasizes that the delay in establishing institutions is causing serious damage to the state, jeopardizing ties with strategic allies, and hindering the country’s integration, so the political spectrum must react without delay.

“The statement of Ambassador Rudolph about the urgent need to put the new institutions into operation should be seen as a strong warning. It is not merely a diplomatic recommendation but a clear indication that the prolongation of the process is seriously damaging the state of Kosovo.

It is absurd for a state with such great challenges to remain without functioning institutions. Kosovo has never had this luxury, not even for a single day, let alone for months. Currently, Kosovo faces dangers in many areas, but most worrying is the cooling of relations with strategic partners, whose contribution was decisive for liberation and freedom. Building and strengthening the state is the duty of Kosovars themselves, and any delay in democratic processes and on the European path weakens the country’s international position. Without functioning institutions, Kosovo cannot be an integral part of the regional and European security architecture,” he said.

Furthermore, the journalist adds that the repeated appeals of international partners, especially Germany, for the swift formation of institutions must not be ignored, as any delay undermines Kosovo’s international position and complicates the path towards Euro-Atlantic integration.

“Exactly for this reason, diplomats of friendly countries are repeatedly repeating the same appeal: Kosovo must create its institutions without delay. Every lost day generates political, diplomatic, and strategic consequences.

Germany has long been warning Kosovo to get out of this institutional impasse. It would be unforgivable if these messages were ignored. Time is not on Kosovo’s side, and every delay makes it harder to restore trust and accelerate the Euro-Atlantic journey,” journalist Zogaj stated for “Bota sot”.

Gashi: Kosovo must finally roll up its sleeves and build stable institutions

Meanwhile, political affairs expert Eduard Gashi, in a conversation with “Bota sot”, assessed that the German ambassador’s warning should be taken as an important diplomatic signal, as the institutional blockade is weakening Kosovo’s international position, while the political class is giving priority to party interests over state interests.

“The esteemed German ambassador rightly notes concern about the course of events in Kosovo. His word is not simply a call for the establishment of institutions, but a diplomatic signal. In diplomacy, especially when it comes from a state like Germany, words are weighed carefully and are not spoken casually.

The prolonged institutional blockade is seriously damaging Kosovo’s relations with international partners. Kosovo has diplomatic representations in many countries of the world, where important work is done and contacts with friendly countries are built. However, this work must be continued and finalized by functional and legitimate institutions in Prishtina. If these do not function, even the best diplomacy loses its power.

Unfortunately, today many political actors are more focused on preserving or increasing their power than on the state interest. They forget that politics does not exist to serve parties, but to move the state forward and improve the lives of citizens,” he said.

The political expert further argues that the excessively prolonged institutional blockade is reducing Kosovo’s credibility and international weight, at a time when Western partners demand functional states, risking political, economic, and consequences for the European integration process.

“Today Kosovo finds itself in a completely different geopolitical reality from the first years of independence. Europe is undergoing major security changes, and Western partners demand reliable, predictable, and functional states. Nobody demands perfection, but everyone expects institutions that make decisions and implement them.

Naturally, this long period of institutional blockade will have consequences. No state can indefinitely afford the lack of normal institutional functioning. This is not a party issue, but an indicator of the state’s political maturity. In international politics, justifications and blame are not valid. What is valued are results. Excuses may buy time, but only results build trust.

For this very reason, Kosovo risks losing political weight and international credibility. In diplomacy, trust is capital. A state that for a long time fails to make strategic decisions begins to be perceived not as part of the solution, but as part of the problem.

Even more painful is the comparison with the past. There was a time when Kosovo’s leaders were welcomed at the White House, held high-level meetings in European capitals, and Kosovo was one of the priorities of Western policy. Today we mostly see symbolic photos with handshakes, while Kosovo’s real political influence on the international stage has shrunk considerably.

This will cost Kosovo politically, economically, and in the European integration process. Populist rhetoric will not change this reality,” Gashi explained.

The journalist finally emphasizes that all political forces bear responsibility to create functional institutions through dialogue and compromise, because only a stable, serious, and reliable Kosovo can maintain the support of allies and strengthen its international position.

“Even the call to respect the will of the people is not enough. Democracy does not only include winning elections. Democracy also means the ability to build functional institutions, to reach compromises, and to take responsibility for the state. Democratic mechanisms are designed to ensure institutional stability, not to produce endless blockades.

All political forces have responsibility. The election winner has a stronger democratic mandate, but precisely for this reason also bears the greatest responsibility. A true leader is not measured by ideological stubbornness, but by the ability to create majorities, to build bridges of cooperation, and to find solutions. At the same time, the opposition also has obligations to the state and must not turn political disagreement into institutional paralysis.

Kosovo must not fall into the illusion that the support of allies is eternal. In international relations, friendships are built on shared values, but also on shared interests. Support is not a blank check; it is earned continuously through seriousness, stability, and reliability.

Therefore, Kosovo must finally roll up its sleeves, create stable institutions, keep them functional, and move forward with concrete work and results. In a rapidly changing world, a state that stands still does not stay where it is – it falls behind. Only by being a functional, serious, and reliable state can Kosovo regain its international weight and the respect of strategic partners,” concluded political affairs expert Eduard Gashi for “Bota sot”.

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The German diplomat in Prishtina, Reiner Rudolph, has called for the immediate establishment of new state bodies in Kosovo, assessing that this action is vital for preserving political stability, the normal functioning of the state, and advancing key institutional processes.

During an interview, Rudolph stated that the country must send a clear and convincing message about who will take the helm for the next four years. According to him, political clarity and the existence of legitimate institutions are indispensable for strengthening the trust of citizens, international partners, and investors in the country’s stability.

“I think what is needed now is a signal from Kosovo about who will form the Kosovo institutions for the next four years. I know that discussions and the process are ongoing, but I really think it would be good to have the institutions very soon and not enter another round of uncertainty,” the German ambassador declared.

Rudolph noted that, although negotiations for the creation of institutions are still ongoing, they must be concluded as soon as possible. He warned that delays could bring unnecessary political uncertainty and hamper decision-making on issues of high state interest.

The German diplomat added that the swift establishment of state bodies would allow Kosovo to focus on key priorities, such as reforms, economic development, and international cooperation. He reiterated that institutional stability is a prerequisite for the country’s progress and for successfully confronting future challenges.

Publicist Skënder Zogaj, in a statement to “Bota sot”, has warned that the delay in forming Kosovo’s institutions is seriously damaging the state, endangering relations with strategic allies, and hindering the country’s integration, therefore the political class must act without wasting time.

He stressed that Ambassador Rudolph’s statement should be seen as a serious warning and not merely as diplomatic advice. According to him, it is a clear signal that the dragging out of institution formation is causing severe damage to the state of Kosovo.

“It is absurd for a state facing major challenges to remain without functional institutions. Kosovo has never had this luxury, not even for a day, let alone for entire months. Today Kosovo faces risks on many fronts, but most worrying is the cooling of relations with strategic allies, whose engagement was decisive for its liberation and freedom. The building and consolidation of the state is the responsibility of the Kosovars themselves, and every delay in democratic processes and European integration weakens the country’s international position. Without functional institutions, Kosovo cannot be a full part of the strategic architecture of regional and European security,” Zogaj stated.

Zogaj added that the continued appeal of international partners, especially Germany, for the rapid creation of institutions must not be ignored, because every delay damages Kosovo’s international standing and makes the path toward Euro-Atlantic integration more difficult.

“Precisely for this reason, diplomats of friendly countries are constantly repeating the same appeal: Kosovo must build its institutions without delay. Every lost day produces political, diplomatic, and strategic consequences. Germany has long been warning Kosovo to emerge from this institutional gridlock. It would be unforgivable for these messages to be ignored. Time does not work in Kosovo’s favor, and every delay makes it harder to restore trust and accelerate the path toward Euro-Atlantic integration,” publicist Zogaj told “Bota sot”.

Meanwhile, political affairs expert Eduard Gashi, in a conversation with “Bota sot”, emphasized that the German ambassador’s warning should be taken as a serious diplomatic signal, because the institutional blockade is weakening Kosovo’s international position, while the political class is prioritizing party interests over state interest.

Gashi assessed that Rudolph’s statement is not simply a call for the formation of institutions, but a diplomatic signal, underlining that in diplomacy, especially when it comes from a state like Germany, words are weighed carefully and are not spoken casually.

He warned that the ongoing institutional gridlock is seriously damaging Kosovo’s relations with international partners. Kosovo has embassies and consulates in many countries around the world, where important diplomatic work is done and contacts are made with friendly states. However, this work must be continued and finalized by functional and legitimate institutions in Prishtina. If they do not function, even the best diplomacy loses its strength.

Gashi added that many political actors are more focused on preserving or expanding their own power than on the state interest, forgetting that politics does not exist to serve parties, but to move the state forward and improve citizens’ lives.

Furthermore, he argued that the prolonged institutional blockade is weakening Kosovo’s credibility and international clout, at a time when Western partners demand functional states, risking political, economic, and European integration process consequences.

“Kosovo today finds itself in a completely different geopolitical reality from that of the early years after the declaration of independence. Europe is undergoing major security changes, while Western partners demand states that are reliable, predictable, and functional. Nobody expects perfection, but everyone expects institutions that make decisions and implement policies.

Naturally, this long period of institutional blockade will have consequences. No state can indefinitely endure the absence of normal institutional functioning. This is not a party issue, but a matter of the state’s political maturity. In international politics, justifications and blaming do not matter. What counts are results. Explanations may fill the time, but only results build trust.

Precisely for this reason, Kosovo risks losing political weight and international credibility. In diplomacy, trust is capital. A state that for a long time is unable to make strategic decisions begins to be seen not as part of the solution, but as part of the problem.

Even more painful is the comparison with the past. There was a time when Kosovo’s leaders were received at the White House, held meetings at the highest levels in European capitals, and Kosovo was one of the priorities of Western policy. Today we mainly see symbolic photographs with handshakes, while Kosovo’s real political weight on the international stage has visibly shrunk.

This will cost Kosovo politically, economically, and in the European integration process. Populist rhetoric will not change this reality,” Gashi explained.

In conclusion, Gashi underscored that all political forces bear responsibility for forming functional institutions through dialogue and compromise, because only a stable, serious, and credible Kosovo can preserve the support of allies and strengthen its international position.

“Even the call to respect the citizens’ will is not enough. Democracy does not only mean winning elections. Democracy also means the ability to build functional institutions, to reach compromises, and to take responsibility for the state. Democratic mechanisms are designed to guarantee institutional stability, not to produce endless blockades.

Responsibility lies with all political forces. The election winner has a stronger democratic mandate, but precisely for this reason also bears the greatest responsibility. A true leader is not measured by ideological stubbornness, but by the ability to create majorities, build bridges of cooperation, and find solutions. At the same time, the opposition also has a responsibility toward the state and must not turn political disagreement into institutional paralysis.

Kosovo must not fall into the illusion that the support of allies is guaranteed forever. In international relations, friendships are built on shared values, but also on shared interests. Support is not a blank check; it is continuously earned through seriousness, stability, and credibility.

Therefore, Kosovo must finally roll up its sleeves, create stable institutions, keep them functional, and move forward with concrete work and results. In a rapidly changing world, a state that stands still does not stay where it is—it falls behind. Only by being a functional, serious, and credible state can Kosovo restore its international weight and the respect of its strategic partners,” concluded political affairs expert Eduard Gashi, for “Bota sot”.

The post German Diplomat’s Appeal for Swift Institution Formation – Experts Warn of Severe Consequences from Delays appeared first on Albeu.com.

A nationalist organization in Serbia has publicly called for the arrest of former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army. Alongside this call, it published lists containing the names and personal details of individuals it claims served in KLA brigades.

The Serbian movement “Heart of Heroes,” which is headquartered in Kraljevo, issued a statement on July 18 addressed to Serbia’s War Crimes Prosecutor’s Office and the War Crimes Department in Belgrade. It called on these institutions to review the lists and, based on the organization’s claims, determine the criminal liability of the individuals included.

The lists published along with the statement contain the names and dates of birth of individuals identified as former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army’s 111th Brigade and 121st Brigade.

The nationalist organization also called for the materials to be sent to police authorities in European Union countries so that measures could be taken to arrest the listed individuals outside Serbian territory as well.

This initiative comes as Serbian authorities continue to detain Albanians at border crossings over alleged suspicions of war crimes.

Hysni Gucati, chairman of the KLA Veterans’ Organization, responded to the developments. In a statement to RTK, he urged his former comrades not to travel through Serbia, saying this is a reality that the Serbian state could use against them at any time.

Gucati said that an organization had recently called for the arrest of KLA veterans in Serbia and beyond, including individuals who belonged to these two brigades.

Both the KLA War Veterans’ Organization and the “Octopus” Institute view such actions as part of an organized strategy against Kosovo and former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army.

Gurakuq Kuçi of the “Octopus” Institute said that while Kosovo is addressing war crimes and the crimes Serbia committed in Kosovo, the Serbian side is constantly trying to create a counterweight through false accusations. According to him, lists of KLA soldiers who took part in the war are being used for this purpose, with those soldiers being accused of being criminals, while various actions of a state-sponsored nature are also being undertaken.

The most recent case involving an arrest by Serbian authorities at a border crossing with Kosovo on suspicion of war crimes was that of Osman Selmani. He was detained on July 1 at the Mutivoda border crossing while returning to his birthplace. The High Court in Serbia ordered him held in pretrial detention for 30 days.

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