18.12.2025. » 11:00 | ACDC
Public Statement - Learn Albanian or Stay Silent
During yesterday's ceremonial opening of the new bridge over the Ibar/Ibër River which connects North and South Mitrovica, the acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, and members of his government addressed journalists exclusively in Albanian. The event, presented as a symbol of connection and cooperation between communities, was in reality largely a campaign event by officials, and no translation into Serbian was provided, despite it being a public activity of official institutions.
When a journalist from KoSSev asked why he was addressing the audience only in Albanian, Acting Prime Minister Kurti responded in Serbian that "it wouldn't be bad if you asked the question in Albanian, so we can be equal," adding that "it is never too late to learn another language."
Such a statement, made in a context where translation was not provided, constitutes a form of institutional disregard and demonstrates a misunderstanding of the concept of equality. Shifting the responsibility for communicating with official institutions onto journalists and citizens, instead of ensuring that institutions fulfill their legal obligations to provide equal access to information, sends the wrong message about inclusivity and respect for diversity.
The Constitution of Kosovo and the Law on the Use of Languages clearly stipulate that Albanian and Serbian are equal official languages in Kosovo. Respecting this principle is not a matter of goodwill but a legal obligation of institutions. Failing to provide translation at such an event — especially in a city symbolizing the challenges of coexistence — not only violates the law but also undermines efforts to build trust among communities.
Equality does not mean that citizens must learn the language of the majority in order to ask questions. Equality means that institutions actively ensure that every citizen can express themselves and be heard in their own language.
Rhetoric that downplays the institutional obligation for bilingual communication does not promote reconciliation or mutual understanding; rather, it deepens mistrust and fosters feelings of exclusion among non-Albanian communities.
Such incidents are not mere organizational oversights; they reveal deeply entrenched institutional insensitivity and political arrogance toward communities that strive daily for their language, identity, and voice to be equally respected. Instead of building bridges of trust, these actions and messages deepen the divisions that institutions claim to want to overcome.
Institutions that seek public trust must demonstrate respect for every citizen — not only through words but through consistent enforcement of the law and the practice of equal access.
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