Kryeministri në detyrë i Republikës së Kosovës,  Albin Kurti, nëpërmjet një adresimi virtual foli sot para studentëve të Universitetit të Harvardit në kuadër të organizimit “Një Bisedë me Kryeministrin e Republikës së Kosovës Albin Kurti” të bashkëorganizuar dhe bashkësponzoruar nga Shoqata e Studentëve Shqiptarë në Universitetin e Harvardit. Diskutimi u moderua nga Ambasadori Nicholas Burns, Profesor i Praktikës së Diplomacisë dhe Marrëdhënieve Ndërkombëtare.

Fjalën e tij, Kurti e filloi me një citat të profesor Ukshin Hoti, i cili edhe vetë ishte student i Universitetit të Harvardit gjatë fundviteve shtatëdhjeta; “Pa marrë parasysh se sa të rinj dhe të papërvojë që ne jemi në këto procese, ne jemi zotuar se gjithmonë do të ecim dhe shohim përpara, se do të udhëhiqemi nga ajo se çka është progresive dhe se nuk do të biejmë në kurthën e revanshizmit politik, jo vetëm se kjo nuk na çon askund, por se një fenomen i tillë është reaksionar për të gjithë shoqëritë dhe gjatë gjithë kohës.”

 “Në vazhdim të fjalës së tij, ai foli për prioritet e Qeverisë së tij të cilat bazohen në dy drejtime kryesore: drejtësi dhe punësim, dhe për 100 ditëshin e Qeverisë. Kryeministri theksoi se ai angazhohet për një aleancë trans-atlantike dhe se ideja se duhet zgjedhur mes BE-së dhe SHBA-së është dilemë false sepse duhen të dyja. Pa BE-në dhe tregun e tyre nuk do të kemi zhvillimin që na duhet dhe pa Amerikën nuk kemi mbrojtjen që nevojitet. Në fund, Kryeminstri në detyrë Kurti ndau me studentët këshillën e tij që të mos e nënvlerësojnë fuqinë që ndodhet brenda tyre dhe stuhinë që qëndron para tyre”.

“Të bashkëngjitur mund të gjeni të plotë fjalimin  në gjuhën angleze të Kryeministri në detyrë. E njëjta do të përkthehet shumë shpejtë dhe do të publikohet në faqen zyrtare të kryeministrit”, thuhet në njoftimin e Qeverisë së Kosovës.

Dear Ambassador Burns,

Dear Mr. Hoxha,

Dear Harvard Students and Alumni,

and in times of virtual meetings and conferences: Dear live stream watchers,

 I would like to start off with a quote from Professor Ukshin Hoti, a Kosovar-Albanian who in the late seventies was a Fulbright Student at Harvard University:

“No matter how young and inexperienced we are in these processes, we have pledged that we will always move and look forward, that we will be guided by what is progressive in society and that we will not fall into the trap of political revanchism, not only because it doesn’t get you anywhere, but also because such a phenomenon is reactionary for all societies and at all times.”

I remember reading Ukshin Hoti for the first time decades ago and this continues to inspire me to this day. When I am asked how, against all odds, my government and I keep going on, my answer to this springs from the quote above: it never crossed my mind to quit, to give up. It is in the nature of every person and indeed of every generation to strive for good and defeat the bad.

Ukshin Hoti did not quit either: He was and still is a political and intellectual compass to a whole generation of Albanian academics and politically engaged citizens.

 After his studies in the US he chose to return to Kosova. Full of hope and faith, and equipped with new knowledge, he would not accept the apartheid regime of the nineties, against whose clutches our liberation efforts were directed at that time. After his last release from prison – where the Serbian regime held him for over five years – he was carried out to an unknown place and to this day we’re still asking for his whereabouts or his remainings. Two days ago, we marked the twenty-first anniversary of his disappearance. He remains one of the 1641 missing persons in the Republic of Kosova, from the war of the last decade of the previous century.

 One reason why I look forward to have this discussion with you today, is because I believe your distinguished university embodies the tradition of the 35th President of the US, John F. Kennedy. President Kennedy has been an inspiration for many people, including myself. Like Ukshin Hoti, he died too young and because of his convictions and beliefs.

 JFK was both an idealist and a realist. He was not a pacifist, but neither was he a militarist. He was a president. A reasonable, realistic and calm president, a historian of excellent understanding of his country and international politics. I’m saying this to underline how difficult it is to pigeonhole a far-sighted, honest politician such as Kennedy into any of the of well-known ideological categories, be it liberalism, conservatism, or socialism. Or, anything else that comes to our mind these days.

 You should all feel grateful for being students at this university, just as I am thankful for being the Prime Minister of a country that brought up and educated individuals like Ukshin Hoti. In some ways, venerable traditions make it easier for us: we can turn to them for guidance in times of difficulty. Yet this privilege also burdens us with responsibilities. Indeed, our burden is twofold, for time has passed and we are now living in different conditions and a different reality; we have to move forward without contradicting their most cherished ideals, not out of blind deference to them as unquestionable authorities, but because we share the same foundations.

 I was elected Prime Minister at a time when corruption and unemployment are the two main problems that Kosova’s citizens faced, and they are the main factors influencing their decision to leave the country. Right after the election of the government on February 3, without wasting any time, we started with our first anti-corruption and anti-organized crime policies, seeking to put an end to the misuse and loss of public money and to the abuse and extortion of our state.

 Since the very first workday of our government we have taken considerable measures for the implementation of good governance, more transparency as well as the fostering of conditions for economic growth and development. Our most important tasks require a lot of willpower and courage. But as a country we never lacked human resources or the will of the people to work and build.

The governing program of my government is organized around two main priorities, which are mutually interrelated. The first one concerns Justice. Above and before everything, this means the ruthless and uncompromised struggle against organized crime and corruption. For example all of our state-owned enterprises and corporations lose millions of Euro due to mismanagement. That is why we have started replacing the boards of directors of these public enterprises with experts on these fields.

 This struggle is being carried out through the adoption of a new package of laws: the anti-mafia law, the confiscation of illegally obtained properties and wealth, a vetting process in the judiciary, to continue with police and intelligence agencies. We have already created the teams of legal experts who have laid the groundwork or a thorough transformation of our legal system. The struggle against the economic tycoons, who have suffocated the potential for economic growth and development, is one of the biggest challenges ahead of us.

The second priority is jobs. In this area there is a lot of work to be done but I believe the most influential thing that would transform our economy is Investments from Abroad: We have the highest unemployment rate in Europe but we have also the youngest population in Europe all of which are fluent in multiple languages. At the same time Kosova has a quintessential geographic and cultural central location connecting the entire European continent to the Mediterranean, Middle East and Northern Africa. As you know these regions have the highest potential of economic growth. When you combine our anti-corruption effort you start to see and environment, ideal for sustainable development.

 So, jobs and justice are the two most important concerns of mine internally.

 But as Prime Minister, I am also determined to lead negotiations with Serbia in order to normalize our bilateral relations as neighbors.

 I do have the constitutional mandate, legal right and political will to carry out this task. The dialogue must resume; but, it must be well prepared and based on principles. That is a change from what we have had until now, which was a dialogue without principles. I have proposed a team for the dialogue, which would be led by myself as Prime Minister, and would include the Speaker of the Parliament, the President and one representative from each parliamentary political party.

 There are three key principles around which the new dialogue should be organized: no agreement without dialogue; no dialogue with maps on the table, and no presidents around these maps, redrawing borders as if it were World War One. These principles are of crucial importance and my government takes them as an undisputable foundation for an agreement with Serbia, whose final result shall be mutual recognition.

 In the Republic of Kosova, we are in the midst of a unique historical moment. Many difficult challenges lie ahead of us. It will not be an easy journey. Our firm goal is to succeed, and not just to continue to fail better. Rainer Maria Rilke wrote: “You are not surprised at the force of the storm – you have seen it growing.”

 If I may share a piece of advice with you as young students about to embark on your professional journeys and as a new generation interested in politics. I have always said that politics is the art of the protection of human dignity.

 For this, do not underestimate the power lying within you and the storm lying in front of you. Each and every one of you is part of the struggle for human emancipation, with all its ups and downs.

 The political movement from which I come started with 15 activists who kept this is in mind. We were well aware of the storm ahead of us and our country, but we were also confident in ourselves and knew we had the power to tame it. It has now been 15 years since we began making history. So, get your 15 together and make history. Do not get caught up in the storm.

 It was an honor and pleasure for me to speak to and with you today. I am glad and touched that the Harvard Albanian Students Association reached out to us: The US has taught you so much and Kosova has so much to offer you. I cannot wait to welcome all of you here in Kosova.

The Government of Kosova is always willing to cooperate with students, professors and alumni from Harvard. I personally invite you all to reach out to us with questions, thoughts and ideas through Deni Hoxha, your local student contact. My door is open for you. (A. M / Epoka e re).