Kosovo’s PM sees no need for ethnic associations, keen to talk minority rights Originally published by Euractiv on January 30, 2023. Kurti told RTK2 that the proposal for normalizing relations put forward by the EU and supported by the US, France, and Germany is a good basis for a final agreement. [EPA-EFE/ERMAL META] Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti has said he does not see the need to create an Association of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo, as per the wishes of Belgrade and international stakeholders, but stressed willingness to discuss the rights of the country’s minorities. Kurti told RTK2 that the proposal for normalizing relations put forward by the EU and supported by the US, France, and Germany is a good basis for a final agreement. “I am ready for talks on the rights of minorities, non-majority communities, I am ready for that. But you must understand that it is very important that those who want more rights than Ahtisaari’s plan gives them bear the burden of arguing why they need more,” he said. The Ahtisaari Plan, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement, was proposed by former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari and included, amongst other things, comprehensive guidelines on the rights of communities and their members. When it was put on the table in 2007, the US called it “fair and balanced” and received support from the European Commission and formed the basis of the Kosovo Constitution. In addition to calling for the respect of minority rights, the plan also specified that Kosovo Serbs must engage with local institutions and end their boycotts “ to be able to protect effectively their rights and interests,” which has continued today. It noted that Kosovo should be independent but that critical areas such as Serb rights, powers, and the protection of the Serbian Orthodox Church should be maintained. Kurti has been vocal against the establishment of the Association of Serb Municipalities, which would create a separate executive structure from those in Pristina for the benefit of the Serb minority. The Constitutional Court has ruled that this goes against the country’s Constitution. The Constitution of Kosovo, which has given many privileges to the Serbian minority and which was drafted by Ahtisaari and Albert Rohan, in its spirit does not allow mono-ethnic association. The first sentence of that plan, of that solution drafted by Ahtisaari and Rohan, says that Kosovo should be a multi-ethnic society”, said Kurti on 12 January. “It means mono-ethnic associations or institutions are not in the spirit of that plan or our Constitution. However, we offer better and greater guarantees and rights to all minorities or non-majority communities in Kosovo, and I am very committed to this. But without underestimating the constitutionality of our country”, Kurti added. In his interview with RTK2, Kurti said he hopes Serbs return to institutions in the north of the country following their mass resignation in December. “I am very sorry that they have resigned. I think the resignations are wrong. In principle, I do not exclude anyone to return, but I am not competent to decide on the criteria instead of the professional commission. I say clearly, I do not intend to fill that vacuum with Albanians. If the Serbs have resigned, the Serbs should be in those positions, and I invite everyone to apply,” Kurti underlined. He added that he wants to engage in more dialogue with ethnic Serbs but that there is a lack of trust. In addition, he detailed 123 new projects for small enterprises and startups, 48 of which are for the Serb community. The prime minister also said that he had not been invited to a meeting organized at the request of US Envoy to the Balkans Gabriel Escobar at the US Embassy in Pristina on 31 January to discuss the matter of the association. “I was not invited to that meeting, but those who were invited should go to that meeting and discuss it,” he said, noting Escobar’s previous comments that the association can be created without the prime minister’s permission or agreement. © 1999 - 2023 | Efficacité et Transparence des Acteurs Européens.

violence of Kosovo’s begetting, describing his country — one of Europe’s poorest — as “a project of peace , a contributor to peace and a guarantor of peace.”

President Donald Trump makes a 26-hour visit to Israel on 22 May to discuss the “ultimate deal” — a peace and both are in discussions with the new U.S. administration about its still nascent plans to restart peace until the next government is formed can take over half a year — in order to forestall a new Trump-led peace For his part, Trump seems determined to start a new peace process and, for now, the parties seem determined Whether Abbas and Netanyahu are any more likely to reach a peace agreement once they do start negotiations

Humanitarian aid has not entered Gaza for nearly a month due to Israel's blockade. humanitarian aid, but all we want is for the borders to open so we can work, make a living, and live in peace a job and live in peace with my family." The north of the Gaza Strip, especially Beit Hanoun, was once considered the food basket of Gaza, but We want the war to stop now and to live in peace and dignity. Copyright © 2014 - 2025 .  

compatriots, especially women, are contrary to the teachings of Islam, Afghan culture and the spirit of peace Dwindling peace process Afghanistan is considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world for The killings have increased since peace talks were launched last year between the Afghan government and Khalilzad returned to Kabul this week for meetings with Afghan leaders in a bid to revive a flagging peace

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says two-state solution is ‘humanity’s best hope’ to end suffering in Gaza cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza and with Hamas still in control of the population of Gaza. detailed and significant commitments” include the PA reaffirming it “recognises Israel’s right to exist in peace Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 61,430 people, according to Gaza’s health authorities.

States, President Trump shocked the world by proposing that all Palestinians should be expelled from Gaza “Cleansing” Gaza is a telltale indicator of Stages 4 and 8 in the genocidal process, dehumanization   Over seventy percent of Gaza dwellings have been reduced to rubble. Now President Trump proposes that the U.S. should annex Gaza. It is proof that Donald Trump is a threat to international peace and security.

The Israeli military continues to demolish structures in northern Gaza while also blocking the entry the first supermoon of the year, the ‘Wolf Moon’, rises over the Bureij refugee camp, in the central Gaza Strip, on January 3, 2026 [Eyad Baba/AFP] The Israeli army has launched more attacks into parts of Gaza Israeli drones also dropped explosives on several homes in eastern Gaza City. The Shujayea and Zeitoun neighbourhoods of Gaza City, which have also been extensively attacked during

Allow fuel into Gaza to keep hospitals running? “In Gaza, there is no hope,” she said. We were always with peace and will always be.” And now the suffering in Gaza is set to get much worse. Does Destroying Gaza Solve?

Hamas militants during the release of three Israeli hostages last month in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza President Trump has directly warned Hamas militants to immediately release all the hostages held in Gaza to Congress the night before, when he said his administration was “bringing back our hostages from Gaza separate negotiations involving Hamas and Israel over the terms of the next phase of a cease-fire in Gaza Israeli government has said that about 25 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others are still in Gaza

violence against Palestinians since October 2023 and carried out “genocidal acts” against Palestinians in Gaza These damning findings are another clear illustration of the devastating impact of Israel’s genocide in Gaza “The report exposes yet again the horrors of Israeli atrocity crimes in Gaza, and how they specifically December 2024 report which concluded that Israeli authorities committed and are committing genocide in Gaza Israel’s decision to completely block entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza for the past 12 days has already

Demonstrators carry banners and flags as a flare burns during a protest in support of Palestinians in Gaza Jordanian authorities are alarmed that Israel's bombing campaign in Gaza could broaden the popularity Authorities in Jordan say peaceful protests are allowed but they would not tolerate any attempt by mobs Many demonstrators slam perceived inaction by authorities, saying their compatriots in Gaza were being Jordan's peace treaty with Israel is widely unpopular among many citizens who see normalisation as betraying