Acting Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti today called on the European Union to react to the systematic discrimination of Albanians in the Presheva Valley. In a meeting with political representatives and civil organizations from Presheva, Bujanoc, Medvegja and also Sanxhak, Kurti emphasized that the European principles for the rule of law and equality should also apply to these municipalities.
The visit that Serbian President Aleksandër Vučič recently made to the valley was described by Albin Kurti as an indicator of the climate faced by Albanians there.
“But the oppression by the Serbian state is not only seen in statistics. It is also seen in the language, it is seen in behavior, it is seen in the way the state reacts. Exactly one week ago, when the president of Serbia, Vučić, visited only the Serbian majority settlements in Medveđa, Bujanoc and a village in Preševo, using stigmatizing and derogatory language towards Albanians, and then Vučić promised to be employed by the BIA for 48 hours. And this contrast is severe. When the Albanian seeks employment in public institutions, he faces barriers and underrepresentation. And that’s exactly why I’m here today not only to talk to you, but to have a conversation. We have built the approach of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo towards Presheva, Bujanovac and Medvegja along this common line“, he said.
The Prime Minister of Kosovo also informed that Prishtina has approved and paid about 2.1 million euros for projects to help the Albanians of the Presheva Valley, but their transfers have been blocked by the Serbian authorities.
