Prparim Kryeziu, spokesperson for the caretaker Kurti Government, issued the first response from the executive following the statement released today by the U.S. Embassy.
The response emphasizes that the government welcomes criticism and, whenever it is concrete, strives to improve and correct its actions.
“Our government was the first to fully fulfill its mandate since the declaration of independence. This contributed to institutional stability and the socio-economic development of the country, despite all global challenges experienced since 2021, including the consequences of the pandemic, the energy crisis, and the war in Ukraine.
Our actions, lawful and constitutional, have consistently served to eliminate sources of instability to ensure sustainable and long-term stability. The stability we enjoy today is the natural result of the rule of law and public order. Kosovo has never experienced greater rule of law or more effective combatting of crime and corruption across the territory.
In the past, stability was pursued at the expense of law and order, resulting in false stability. This was most evident in the violent events and protests of May 2023, during which individuals and criminal groups did not spare KFOR and EULEX personnel in their attacks. Similarly, the terrorist and paramilitary attack in Banjskë in September of the same year, with direct involvement of the Serbian state, revealed to the world the true source of regional instability.
We firmly believe that the Republic of Kosovo is the United States’ most serious partner for stability, security, and peace in the region.
We have depoliticized the integration of Serbs into the Kosovar state. The willingness of our fellow citizens to integrate has never been lacking. However, it has often been challenged or suppressed by illegal criminal structures. We have confronted Serbia’s structures in Kosovo, not the Serbs of Kosovo. We have never equated Kosovar citizens of Serbian ethnicity with illegal parallel structures of Serbia in Kosovo. On the contrary, we have protected and continue to protect our Serbian citizens from these structures, which have long been used as mechanisms of intimidation, threat, and control. At the same time, by replacing them with Kosovo’s institutions, we ensured no service gaps. We have also committed to the sustainable integration of Serbs into our society and institutions, especially through employment and education, such as the employment measures for residents of the four northern municipalities and verification of diplomas from the University of North Mitrovica, facilitating employment for members of the Serbian community alongside many other social measures.
Regarding the Prime Minister’s public criticism of the Constitutional Court, his position is that the Court, through its decisions, has undermined the democratic character of the independent Republic and, through inefficiency in case handling, has become a co-participant in the agenda of opposition political parties, delaying fundamental reforms outlined in the government program. Currently, 18 laws await Constitutional Court decisions, some pending review for at least 9 months, including the Sovereign Fund Law, which has been without response for more than 1 year and 8 months.
We are always grateful for the contribution and engagement of the United States in our country and thank the United States for its support and assistance to the state of Kosovo and our people in so many areas. We welcome criticism. Whenever it is concrete, we strive to improve and correct our steps and actions.”
