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Kurti on Serbian health and educational institutions in Kosovo: We will work to unite them into a single system

2025-09-18 22:43:30, Kosova & Bota CNA

Kurti on Serbian health and educational institutions in Kosovo: We will work to

Kosovo's acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, has sent a message to Kosovo Serbs, saying that they deserve "equal access to common goods" and that the parallel education and healthcare system is not sustainable.

"It is necessary to include and unite them. I do not want to do this against you or without you. During our next mandate, together with all of you, including the future mayors, we will work to integrate health and education into one and only system," Kurti said in a video message sent to the media.

Kurti also said that within this process we will "join experiences and forces with our international partners: the European Union and its special envoy for dialogue, the QUINT countries and KFOR."

"Our state guarantees the rights and freedoms of all of you through the Constitution and desires the best possible cooperation for their realization," he said.

The Serbian List, the largest Serb party in Kosovo that has the support of Belgrade, reacted to Kurti's statements, emphasizing that "threats for some integration of health and education into the Kosovo system are not part of any negotiations or agreements."

As stated in the statement, health and education are "the pillars of the survival of the Serbian people and will remain so."

"All international agreements clearly state that these are separate systems and this is what the Serbian List will fight for with the support of the Serbian people. However, this is a clear threat to which we expect an even stronger reaction from the international community," the response states.

All health institutions in Serbian settings in Kosovo operate within the framework of the Serbian system.

In addition to educational institutions, the local Serbian population and official Belgrade often describe them as vital for the survival of the Serbian community in Kosovo.

Kosovo authorities last week suspended the work of the Health Insurance Fund in North Mitrovica, on the grounds that this institution did not have valid documentation to carry out its activities.

At the same time, the work of the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund was also suspended.

These decisions prompted reactions from Germany and the European Union, which called on Kosovo authorities to immediately refrain from "targeting" health institutions operating in the Serbian system.

They urged that unilateral steps not be taken, emphasizing that consultation with the Serbian community is necessary.

Following the criticism, Kosovo's acting Deputy Prime Minister, Besnik Bislimi, denied that official Pristina intends to close health institutions, stressing that local inspectors had "temporarily" suspended the work of the Health Insurance Fund.

He accused Serbia of manipulating public opinion and spreading fake news.

Kurti said on Thursday night that the differences between Serbs and Albanians are not a cause of tension, "but a content of diversity that is a common asset and an advantage for development."

He also focused on the achievements of his Government and the Ministry for Communities and Returns, which is led by Nenad Raši?.

"During these two and a half years since the appointment of Nenad Rashiq, a total of over 14 million euros have been invested in subsidizing citizens from minority communities," he said, among other things.

Kurti called on Serbs not to believe "the warmongering calls of senior officials from Belgrade about alleged attacks or pogroms that the Kosovo Government is allegedly preparing against you."

The director of the Office for Kosovo in the Government of Serbia, Petar Petkovic, reacted to the suspension of the Health Insurance Fund and the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund, describing it as a "blow to the healthcare system" and as part of a pre-election campaign for the local elections, which are scheduled for October 12.

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric also reacted, saying that the closure of the Health Insurance Fund and the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund in North Mitrovica is an "unacceptable and inhumane act."

The Health Insurance Fund, namely the branches of the Health Insurance of the Republic of Serbia in Serbian areas in Kosovo, provide vital services in the field of health and have an important role in the functioning of the health system itself, as they provide financing, organize and guarantee the rights of users to health protection.

The Pension and Disability Insurance Fund regulates the realization of pension rights in the Serbian system, including old-age pension, disability pension, and family pension for family members of the deceased insured person.

Also, through this Fund, pension payments and work experience are recorded.

The Kosovo authorities consider Serbian institutions in Kosovo to be parallel and illegal, and their closure began in early 2024, which has met with opposition from the Serbian community, but also criticism from the international community.

The chargé d'affaires at the US Embassy in Pristina, Anu Prattipati, on September 4th declared to a group of media outlets reporting in Serbian that all parallel institutions of Serbia, including educational and health institutions, should be integrated into the Kosovo system.

She stressed, however, that of key importance is the way this will be done, meaning integration should only be implemented in consultation with the Serbian community./REL