Prime Minister Albin Kurti has welcomed the formation of the Kurti 4 government, saying that its focus will be on serving citizens and supporting families.

According to him, the new mandate aims to restore security and well-being to everyday life, while investments and productivity are expected to give greater momentum to entrepreneurial activity.

Kurti said that his government does not view social redistribution as an obstacle to the economy. On the contrary, he described it as a driver of economic development.

The prime minister said that distributing economic growth has helped reduce poverty and inequality, while also increasing demand in the economy, bringing greater turnover for businesses and further increasing wealth.

“Our government is a service to the public, not a privilege for the few. This mandate aims to powerfully restore security and well-being to citizens’ everyday lives, as well as investments and productivity to the culture of entrepreneurship,” Kurti said.

He stressed that the government’s policy does not aim to subsidize wealth, but the work that creates it, emphasizing a public and universal approach rather than individual private outcomes.

“During these five years, although we were a caretaker government for nearly a year and a half, we have built a fairer, stronger and more inclusive Kosovo,” the prime minister declared.

Kurti congratulated the Kurti 4 government and the cabinet he leads on the start of the new mandate.

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Kosovo’s Parliament has voted on the composition of the government following the constitution of Parliament, thereby formally completing the formation of the country’s institutions.

Albin Kurti has been elected prime minister for a new governing term, following the extraordinary parliamentary session held today, whose agenda included the election of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo.

Of the 70 members of parliament present, 62 voted in favor of the government. The session was held after the constitution of Parliament and Kurti’s mandate to form the new government. The composition of the new cabinet was presented to lawmakers, who then voted on the government.

Today’s developments were accompanied by political clashes, as the PDK and the Alliance announced that they would not participate in the session on the government vote, while the LDK also said it would not vote for the Kurti government.

Meanwhile, the lawmakers of the Serb List were present in the parliamentary chamber during the session.

With today’s vote, Kurti returns to the helm of the executive for a new term. The formation of the new government comes after a lengthy period of political developments and procedures for constituting the country’s new institutions.

Cabinet proposed by Kurti:

First deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and diaspora – Glauk Konjufca,

Second deputy prime minister and minister of justice – Donika Gërvalla,

Third deputy prime minister for minority affairs and cooperation – Fikrim Damka,

Minister of finance – Hekuran Murati,

Minister of labor, family and the values of the Liberation War – Andin Hoti,

Minister of defense – Ejup Maqedonci,

Minister of internal affairs – Xhelal Sveçla,

Minister of digitalization and public administration – Lulzon Jagxhiu,

Minister of health – Arben Vitia,

Minister of education and science – Hajrulla Çeku,

Minister of culture and tourism – Saranda Bogujevci,

Minister of local government administration – Elbert Krasniqi,

Minister of sports and youth – Blerim Gashani,

Minister of environment and spatial planning – Fitore Pacolli,

Minister of agriculture, forestry and rural development – Armend Muja,

Minister of infrastructure and transport – Dimal Basha,

Minister of industry, entrepreneurship, trade and innovation – Mimoza Kusari,

Minister of economy – Artane Rizvanolli,

Minister for communities and return – Nenad Rashiq,

Minister for regional development – Rasim Demiri.

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Albin Kurti, the nominee to form the new government, began his speech before the Kosovo Assembly by congratulating it on the constitution of its 11th legislature.

In his address, he also spoke about the concern that, according to him, is affecting the people of Kosovo regarding the judicial process in The Hague against former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army.

Kurti described the prosecution’s request in the case as unjust and unbelievable, saying that it contradicts the historical truth of the people of Kosovo and the justice of the liberation war.

“I congratulate you on the constitution of the 11th legislature of the Assembly. These days, we are all anxious on the eve of the verdict in the judicial process against the leaders of the UÇK, Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi,” Kurti declared.

He recalled that the position of the government he led had been unchanged and clear regarding the crimes committed during the war in Kosovo.

“The position of the government I led is unchanged and clear. War crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide were committed in Kosovo against the civilian population; they were committed by the regime of Yugoslavia of Serbia under Milošević,” Kurti said.

Kurti also stressed that no court ruling, whether by domestic or international courts, could damage the assessment of the UÇK’s war.

“No domestic or international court can tarnish the UÇK,” Kurti declared.

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Kosovo’s acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, said that the glorification in Serbia of former Republika Srpska Army commander Ratko Mladić demonstrates a lack of sincere reckoning with the legacy of the wars in the former Yugoslavia.

Kurti made the remarks during a scholarly roundtable titled “The SANU Memorandum: The role of Serbian academic discourse in fueling conflicts and violence in the former Yugoslavia,” organized by the Institute for Crimes Committed During the War in Kosovo and the “Ali Hadri” Institute of History.

Referring to the Memorandum of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, he stressed that even four decades after its publication, the document remains important to analyze, particularly because of its influence on Serbia’s political and social discourse.

According to Kurti, in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, claims that Serbs in Kosovo were under threat were turned into an instrument of political mobilization. This, he said, was followed by the revocation of Kosovo’s autonomy, the exclusion of Albanians from institutions, discrimination and state repression.

He noted that historical developments in the former Yugoslavia show that narratives formulated and supported by political and academic circles can create the conditions for the normalization of discrimination and the acceptance of violence as a political mechanism.

Kurti also devoted part of his speech to Ratko Mladić, who was convicted of genocide and war crimes. He criticized the fact that Mladić was received with honors in Serbia after his death.

“When a society publicly honors someone convicted of genocide, it is difficult to speak of confronting the past, showing remorse or distancing itself from the policies that produced those crimes,” Kurti said.

The acting prime minister emphasized that democratic societies must have independent academic institutions, accessible archives and fact-based scholarly discussion so that the past is documented and not distorted.

He also described the documentation of war crimes in Kosovo and the preservation of evidence for future generations as essential.

Kurti concluded his speech by saying that Kosovo has a responsibility to document accurately, analyze seriously and defend historical truth through facts.

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Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, held a meeting with Rudolf Scharping, former Minister of Defense of the Federal Republic of Germany during 1998-2002.

Kurti thanked Scharping for his valuable contribution and decisive role in coordinating Germany’s political and military actions with other NATO states that intervened in 1999. He emphasized that the former German minister stood by the Albanian people of Kosovo at a time when support was most needed.

“By denouncing the ‘Horseshoe’ plan, as well as the killings, massacres, ethnic cleansing and genocide by Serbia against Albanians during the last war in Kosovo, and by persistently arguing the necessity of NATO intervention, former German Defense Minister Rudolf Scharping has forever placed himself on the right side of history,” the prime minister stated.

In his book “Wir dürfen nicht wegsehen: Der Kosovo-Krieg und Europa,” which contains his diary and memoirs, Scharping has documented the suffering of Albanians, as well as the monstrous crimes of Slobodan Milošević’s regime.

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Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo Albin Kurti took part in the opening ceremony of the “AI & Tech International Summit 2026,” organized at AAB College in Pristina.

In his speech, Kurti congratulated AAB College and its partners on organizing the two-day event, which brings together representatives of government, academia, industry and the innovation community to address technology, artificial intelligence and the major changes they are bringing about.

“Artificial intelligence is developing at an extraordinary pace. Technology that was considered experimental until just a few years ago is now becoming part of our lives and affecting how we work, learn, conduct research, create businesses and provide public services. The question is no longer whether artificial intelligence will change our societies and economies, because that has already happened. The key questions are how to harness it to create opportunities, how to prepare citizens and institutions, and how to ensure that this transformation enhances human potential,” the prime minister declared.

According to him, Kosovo has significant opportunities to benefit from new technologies, thanks to its young population, dynamic technology sector and ability to adapt to contemporary developments. He said the aim should not be merely to follow technological changes, but also to participate actively in and contribute to this process.

“Digital transformation is an important pillar of our national development agenda. We have invested in connectivity, digital public infrastructure, cybersecurity and the modernization of public administration. The ‘eKosova’ platform has brought together hundreds of public services in a single digital environment. We are now moving toward the next generation of our services portal, ‘eKosova 2.0,’ which will provide more integrated, user-oriented services supported by artificial intelligence,” Kurti emphasized.

He added that institutions are reshaping services around life events, strengthening interaction between systems and data infrastructure, modernizing government networks, transitioning to cloud infrastructure and investing in cybersecurity.

The prime minister said these foundations have prepared Kosovo for the next phase of digitalization, in which artificial intelligence is expected to play an increasingly important role. According to him, in public administration it can make public services more accessible, personalized and proactive, while helping institutions use information more efficiently, reduce the administrative burden and improve decision-making.

In economic terms, Kurti said artificial intelligence gives Kosovo’s technology companies the opportunity to move up the global value chain, shifting from the provision of technology services to the development of advanced products and platforms.

He underscored that education faces new opportunities and responsibilities at the same time, as young people must be prepared not only to use technology, but also to create it and compete in an economy increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.

“Technological skills, however, are not enough. The more powerful artificial intelligence becomes, the more important trust, accountability, privacy, cybersecurity, transparency and human oversight become. Our aim should not be merely its rapid adoption, but its responsible and strategic use in ways that create real value for society,” he said.

Kurti said countries such as Kosovo can leapfrog outdated technologies and traditional ways of working, but this requires investment in people, cooperation between the government, universities and the private sector, as well as an environment where young people can experiment, innovate and build.

He warned that the decisions made today will determine whether Kosovo remains merely a consumer of technologies developed abroad or becomes a creator, innovator and contributor to the artificial intelligence economy.

According to the prime minister, the use of this technology must be responsible and should not focus solely on speed, the scale of development and continuous optimization, but also on building a better society in which every individual can prosper.

In his speech, Kurti paid particular tribute to Rudolf Scharping, the German politician from the Social Democratic Party (SPD), who served as Germany’s defense minister from 1998 to 2002. He said Scharping held this position during the years of the war in Kosovo, when Slobodan Milošević’s regime in Serbia was carrying out the ethnic cleansing of Kosovo and genocide against Albanians, while 19 NATO member states were engaged in the bombing campaign against Yugoslavia.

Kurti said Scharping had played an important role in coordinating Germany’s political and military actions with the other NATO states that intervened in 1999.

He also mentioned the “Humanities and Stability in Southeast Europe” conference, held in Bonn, where on April 1, 1999, Scharping made public and condemned the “Horseshoe” plan, which he described as a genocidal project by the Serbian state to ethnically cleanse Kosovo.

“For Kosovo, our choice must be clear: we must be ambitious. We must build our policies on our digital foundations, invest in people and the technology ecosystem, and create the conditions for Kosovo to participate fully in the next technological era,” Kurti said.

He expressed hope that the summit would support this aim through the ideas, partnerships and initiatives that emerge from the discussions.

During his speech, Prime Minister Kurti also welcomed former German Defense Minister Rudolf Scharping, as well as Minister of Education and Science Hajrulla Çeku, Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship, Trade and Innovation Mimoza Kusari-Lila, and Minister of Digitalization and Public Administration Lulzon Jagxhiu.

He also addressed the ambassadors, including Kosovo’s ambassador to Berlin, Faruk Ajeti; Germany’s ambassador to Pristina, Rainer Rudolf; Albania’s ambassador, Petrit Malaj; and Montenegro’s ambassador, Bernard Çobaj, as well as AAB College Rector Blerim Olluri, keynote speakers, representatives of academia and the technology industry, international partners, students and guests.

Kurti concluded his speech by wishing the “AI & Tech International Summit 2026” a productive and inspiring event.

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On the occasion of August 29, Hani i Elezit Martyrs’ Day, the acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, paid tribute at the martyrs’ memorial complex in Puset e Nikës. The ceremony was also attended by former KLA commander and MP Rufki Suma, former political prisoners Riza Xhakli and Valon Berisha, MPs Jeton Raka and Valon Ramadani, the head of the Vetëvendosje Movement Center, Dr. Mirsad Shkreta, as well as colleagues and associates.

“The blood of the martyrs lies at the foundations of the Republic, and therefore it is the duty and obligation of all of us who enjoy a free and independent Kosovo to strengthen and develop the state for which entire generations of Albanians contributed and sacrificed themselves,” the acting prime minister stated.

Glory to the 15 martyrs of this municipality and the entire nation!

Honor to the freedom fighters!

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Although Serbia continues to create obstacles in the process of clarifying the fate of missing persons, Kosovo will not give up its pursuit of truth and justice, acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti has said.

Writing on the X platform about the start of excavations at a mass grave in the village of Kalludër in Zubin Potok, Kurti said the remains of 23 intellectuals from Mitrovica are believed to be located there. They included doctors, professors and human rights activists who were abducted and disappeared on April 19, 1999.

“Despite Serbia’s continued obstruction of efforts to clarify the fate of these innocent people, the Republic of Kosovo will not stop seeking truth and justice,” Kurti wrote.

He stressed that Kosovo’s institutions remain determined to find every missing person, uncover every hidden grave and bring those responsible to justice, so that the families of the missing may finally find some measure of peace and solace.

According to Kurti, although more than a quarter of a century has passed since the end of the 1998-1999 war, the families of 1,565 people who were forcibly disappeared, including more than 100 children, are still waiting to learn what happened to their loved ones.

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The European Union’s Special Envoy for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Peter Sorensen, was received today in a meeting by Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister, Albin Kurti.

During the talks, the parties addressed current relations with the European Union, dynamics in the Western Balkans region, and the progress of the dialogue process. Special attention was paid to the current state of this process and the prospects for the next steps.

In this context, Prime Minister Kurti underlined Kosovo’s commitment to a constructive approach, highlighting the aim for sustainable peace, security within the Euro-Atlantic framework, long-term stability, and good neighborly relations according to European standards.

When addressing the issue of the return of Serbian judges and prosecutors who resigned, raised by Envoy Sorensen, the caretaker Prime Minister stated that the Government of Kosovo strongly relies on constitutional and legal principles, seeking equality for all citizens and inclusion of communities. He emphasized that personnel in the Republic’s institutions must reflect ethnic diversity and be guided by professional competence and ethical integrity, whether in the police, the judicial system, or the prosecution.

Kurti recalled that the collective resignations that occurred four years ago in the north of the Ibër River aimed to undermine the multiethnic character of the country’s democratic system. According to him, the way forward is determined by the Constitution and laws of Kosovo, which for the judicial system mean simultaneously preserving multiethnicity and guaranteeing the independence and quality of justice.

Also during the meeting, other current dialogue issues were discussed, with a special emphasis on the necessity of fully respecting the Basic Agreement of Brussels and the Ohrid Implementation Annex, without any violations.

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Kosovo’s acting president, Albulena Haxhiu, announced several days ago that the constitutive session of the new Assembly legislature, resulting from the June 7 elections, is expected to be held in early August.

However, there are still no concrete signs that the political parties are close to a compromise. For this reason, it remains uncertain whether the institutions will be formed within the deadline or whether Kosovo will enter another political crisis, with consequences for the functioning of the state.

Speaking to “Bota sot,” Albanian-American activist Agim Aliçkaj described the formation of new institutions as urgent and called on the parties to find a solution as soon as possible. He also referred to the invitations the acting prime minister has extended to opposition leaders for meetings.

According to Aliçkaj, after three rounds of elections that he considers entirely unnecessary, efforts to establish state institutions have become a matter that can no longer wait. He said that swift results must be achieved this time, as otherwise the functioning and very existence of the Republic of Kosovo would be at risk.

He said Prime Minister Kurti appears to have understood the importance of his role by respectfully inviting the leaders of the PDK, LDK and AAK to serious and proper talks on establishing the governing institutions. However, according to him, the statements and conduct of opposition leaders during the initial contacts do not indicate that they have properly understood the seriousness of this emergency.

Aliçkaj criticized the opposition parties’ responses to Kurti’s invitation, saying that they were showing no willingness to compromise. In his assessment, the AAK is avoiding dialogue, while the PDK intends to remain in opposition and is counting on the possibility of new elections.

Speaking about the AAK, he said its leader, Ardian Gjini, had rejected talks by presenting six demands, even though he claims they are not conditions. According to Aliçkaj, Gjini feels secure because he believes the party has nothing more to lose and that its loyal voters guarantee its presence in Parliament. He claimed that preventing the winner from governing is more important to the AAK leader, even if the state is weakened, adding that a party with such an approach does not deserve to cross the electoral threshold.

Regarding the PDK, Aliçkaj said its leader had merely made public the decision of those he called the party’s real bosses that it should remain in opposition. According to him, this amounts to a boycott of the process of establishing the institutions, in the hope that LVV and the divided LDK will be unable to secure a quorum for the election of the president and that the country will be forced to hold elections again.

He claimed that the PDK’s interest in a new electoral process is linked to what he described as deceptions by Serbian lobbyist and former US ambassador Richard Grenell regarding the release of Thaçi and Veseli from the Hague Court. Aliçkaj added that even if they were released, their impact on the vote would be minimal. According to him, the party’s real problems are corruption, subservience to foreigners and concessions to Serbia, and without apologizing for past mistakes and changing, it cannot secure new votes.

As for the LDK, Aliçkaj said the party is gripped by major internal uncertainty and that it is unclear who controls it. He recalled that leader Lumir Abdixhiku and former President Vjosa Osmani had begun talks with Prime Minister Kurti on the possibility of a coalition on a positive note, but claimed that Abdixhiku was forced to suspend them quickly after his position came under threat.

According to Aliçkaj, the LDK leader must now resolve his disagreements with fellow party members, some of whom, he claimed, sympathize with the Serb List, some with the priests of the Patriarchate of Peja and others with the PDK.

The Albanian activist further warned that the protracted political crisis is creating a dangerous situation for the state of Kosovo. He said there is no longer any room for boycotts, blockades or excuses and that blaming other parties serves no one.

Aliçkaj emphasized that only the people of Kosovo can determine who is to blame and that a people who have suffered so much and shown such patience cannot be deceived. According to him, responsibility for forming the institutions rests with all the parties that participated in the elections and, in particular, with the lawmakers elected by the people, regardless of who won and who lost.

He called on the losing parties to accept the result, act as a constructive opposition, change and work hard toward a possible victory in the regular elections four years from now. According to him, the citizens’ vote has designated Kurti as the leader.

Aliçkaj said everyone must respect the popular will expressed through the vote and understand that without a state they represent nothing. He said that, for the third consecutive time and by a decisive vote, citizens had expressed their desire for Kosovo to be led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti and his coalition.

According to him, if the lawmakers elected by the people follow the path of God rather than that of the devil, a solution can easily be found. He said Mr. Kurti could form the government and Parliament through a simple coalition, as needed.

For the presidency, Aliçkaj proposed putting forward three capable, independent and nonpartisan candidates. According to him, lawmakers should remain in the chamber and vote, as this is an obligation arising from the mandate for which they were elected, while the president should be elected by a majority vote.

Finally, he described Kosovo’s Constitution as highly complex and drafted for educated and conscientious people, but said it had granted excessive privileges to minorities. According to Aliçkaj, the Serb List is abusing these provisions with the aim of destroying the state.

He also criticized the decision of Kosovo’s Constitutional Court, saying that the election of the president had been complicated by what he called the unnecessary requirement for a quorum of two-thirds of lawmakers. Aliçkaj called for ways to be found to change these rules in order to create a normal situation and prevent the state from being blocked.

Concluding his remarks to “Bota sot,” Agim Aliçkaj said that establishing the institutions constitutes a state and national obligation. He warned that boycotting and blocking them for an extended period, regardless of the reasons, could turn into hostility and treason against the state and the nation.

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