Kosovo parliament approved the new government headed by Albin Kurti on Monday with 67 votes for and 30 against.
In today’s session, Kurti said that there are new and old challenges facing the new government, adding that the pandemic remains a major one.
“We will start with the COVID-19 case reduction plan. Within the year we aim to provide vaccines for 60% of the population,” Kurti said.
The Prime Minister highlighted tha that reforms are necessary in health, education, justice and economy.
Speaking of relations with Serbia, Kurti said that the government will file a lawsuit against the neighboring country at the International Court of Justice.
The issue of the missing persons will be a priority for the government in the dialogue with Serbia.
“We have 1,640 missing persons. Serbia has not condemned anyone for this crime […] No progress can be made in any other area if there is no progress in this one,” Kurti stated.
His new cabinet includes two ministers from diaspora, Donika Gervalla and Armend Mehaj.
According to local media reports, Mehaj joined the Norwegian Armed Forces in 1999, and later served in various peacekeeping missions in Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries.
Donika Gervalla has been a senior party member of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) in Germany. Following disagreements within the LDK, she joined Vjosa Osmani’s list that ran under Vetevendosje’s election list on February 14.
Osmani also left LDK and currently is Vetevendosje’s candidate for the President of Kosovo.
The cabinet of Prime Minsiter Albin Kurti includes:
First Deputy Prime Minister – Besnik Bislimi
Second Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora – is Donika Gervalla
Third Deputy Prime Minister for Minoriies Issues and Human Rights is Emilija Redzepi.
Minister of Finance, Labor and Transfers- Hekuran Murati
Minister of Justice- Albulena Haxhiu
Minister of Health – Arben Vitia
Minister of Education, Science and Technology – Arberie Nagavci
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport – Hajrullah Ceku
Minister of Local Government – Elbert Krasniqi
Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure – Liburn Aliu
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development – Faton Peci
Minister of Defense – Armend Mehaj
Minister of Internal Affairs and Public Administration – Xhelal Svecla
Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade – Rozeta Hajdari
Minister of Economy – Artane Rizvanolli
Minister for Communities and Return – reserved for Lista Srpska
Minister for Regional Development – Fikrim Damka
