Acting Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, expressed his condolences on the passing of former Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano.
“In my memory remain his passionate discussions about politics with Baci Adem, the symbol of our resistance, and with Arbën Xhaferi, such an original political leader,” Kurti wrote.
He emphasized that Nano’s name will remain distinguished in the modern history of the Albanian state and in the relations between Albania and Kosovo, including his role during the years of the Kosovo Liberation Army’s struggle.
Full Statement:
“When I received the news of Fatos Nano’s passing, I recalled memories from two meetings I once had with him. The first was in early 2002, a few months after I had been released from prison in Serbia, where I was held as a war prisoner along with over 2,000 other Albanians. Naturally, this experience became a topic of conversation with Nano during our introductory meeting.
I met Fatos Nano for the second time when he had been elected Prime Minister of Albania, and he received me together with Adem Demaçi and Arbën Xhaferi. Since then, I have vividly remembered his passionate discussions about politics with Baci Adem, the symbol of our resistance, and with Arbën Xhaferi, such an original political leader.
In the political history of Albania during the transition from the monist and communist system to the liberal democratic and pluralist system, Fatos Nano was a central figure. He served three terms as Prime Minister of Albania: from February 22 to June 4, 1991, when Albania was transitioning from communism to democracy; from July 25, 1997, to September 27, 1998, during Albania’s internal unrest and Kosovo’s war; and for the longest term from September 29, 2002, to September 1, 2005, when Albania faced the challenges of recovery from decades of communist rule and internal crises.
In his political biography, Nano played a significant role in supporting the Kosovo Liberation Army during the first year of the war, from the UÇK’s public emergence to the summer offensive of 1998, when Albanian territory became a free ground for UÇK organization. The modern history of the Albanian state and the political history of Albania and Kosovo will forever include his name among the leading Albanian politicians of the 1990s and early 21st century.
Condolences to the Nano family, his collaborators, party colleagues, friends, and relatives.
May he be remembered among the Prime Ministers of Albania for his historic role!”
