Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti today marked the 20th anniversary of the death of President Ibrahim Rugova.

In a social media post, Kurti praised Rugova’s role in state-building, democratization, and the internationalization of Kosovo’s cause. He said the former president had special merit in setting Kosovo’s clear political orientation toward the West, especially in the early years of the last decade of the previous century.

Kurti wrote that the period of political pluralism and peaceful resistance is inseparably linked to Rugova’s name. Rugova led the Democratic League of Kosovo from its founding in 1989 until his death on January 21, 2006.

He said Rugova’s contribution was built together with a broad circle of associates and activists. During the 1990s, they kept institutions alive and sustained hope for freedom.

Kurti recalled that Rugova was elected President of the Republic of Kosovo in 1992, under the harsh conditions of the Serbian repressive regime. He said Rugova managed to represent Kosovo internationally and meet world leaders, including U.S. President Bill Clinton.

Kurti noted that Serbia had imposed an apartheid-like regime in Kosovo at the time. Despite this, Rugova led a legally and politically unique state after being elected president on May 24, 1992. Kosovo’s delegates had proclaimed the Republic of Kosovo on September 7, 1990, in Kaçanik, one and a half years after Serbia revoked Kosovo’s autonomy on March 23, 1989.

He added that, even when Serbia denied the existence of the Republic of Kosovo and only Albania recognized it, Rugova asserted his role as president by meeting global leaders, including President Bill Clinton.

Kurti did not attend today’s tributes and commemorative academy for Ibrahim Rugova. He is currently attending the World Economic Forum in Davos.

/a.c/