Following 12 months in a caretaker position, Albin Kurti was confirmed as the Balkan nation’s new prime minister after his Vetëvendosje (Self-determination) party had won a snap election in December.
Delivering his speech to parliament ahead of the vote, Kurti set out his legislative agenda, highlighting the economy and increasing investment in defence at its core.
“During these years, as we have all witnessed, we have faced constant attacks and threats from Serbia,” he said of his country’s northern neighbour, which has never recognised Kosovo’s independence. But he promised to “pursue normalisation of relations” with Belgrade.
“Normalisation is a matter of regulating relations between two states, that is, as a bilateral external relationship and not interference or meddling in internal affairs,” Kurti told parliament.
A normalisation of relations is a key requirement for both countries’ stated EU ambitions. Kurti has already flagged an intention to move quickly as he seeks to approve key international loans for Kosovo, including from Brussels, which require a two-thirds majority to pass.
