Berlin – ESI meets with prime minister Albin Kurti on Kosovo and the Council of Europe

25 April 2024
Gerald meets with PM Kurti
Gerald meets PM Kurti and his team. Photo: ESI

Gerald Knaus spoke at an event held by the Bertelsmann Stiftung to welcome Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti to Berlin.

Over the past months, ESI has been working intensively on issues including avoiding conflict with Serbia, attaining Kosovo’s entry into the Council of Europe and a particularly strong focus on protecting minority rights in Kosovo. During PM Kurti’s speech at the Bertelsmann Stiftung, the prime minister touched on many of these issues.

In particular, PM Kurti reaffirmed his support for minority rights in Kosovo. This includes the civil rights of same-sex couples, with PM Kurti vowing to introduce and pass legislation to recognize partnership rights for such couples. If successful, this will make Kosovo the first Muslim-majority country in the world to pass such legislation. In his speech, Kurti also reiterated Kosovo’s commitment to the rights of Kosovo’s Serbian minority, which has been a major issue in advancing Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe.

In his remarks at the event, Gerald Knaus in turn stressed that in light of Kosovo’s demonstrated commitment to the rule of law, Kosovo has earned membership in the Council of Europe. Gerald urged the Council to put politics aside and admit Kosovo on its own merits, recognizing the country as a Balkan success story for minority rights and the rule of law.