minister is my guest today. albin kurti has had a turbulent career. he has been a political prisoner and launched five tear gas attacks on his own parliament and has a vision of kosovo unifying with albania. so, is he the source of instability in the balkans? prime minister albin kurti. welcome to hardtalk. thank you for havin: welcome to hardtalk. thank you for having me- — welcome to hardtalk. thank you for having me. your— welcome to hardtalk. thank you for having me. your status - welcome to hardtalk. thank you for having me. your status as - for having me. your status as prime minister _ for having me. your status as prime minister of _ for having me. your status as prime minister of kosovo - for having me. your status as| prime minister of kosovo have all put a big priority and trying to normalise relations with serbia, trying to make peace with serbia. you say it is not even a priority for you. why? is not even a priority for you. wh 7 ~ ., is not even a priority for you. wh ? ~ ., ., ' ., why? we won on the 14th of february _ why? we won on the 14th of february elections _ why? we won on the 14th of february elections with - why? we won on the 14th of february elections with a - february elections with a landslide victory with the ticket of jobs landslide victory with the ticket ofjobs and justice. i do not want to neglect normalizations with serbia, but economic developments on one hand and rule of law against corruption on the other are two top priorities. taken into consideration that we are now in the pandemic of covid—19, of of course, this means this is fallen at best at number four of our democratic state building agenda for our independent republic. talking about democratic _ independent republic. talking about democratic state - about democratic state building, nothing can really happen. there can be no real progress towards a more prosperous, more stable kosovo unless you have a normal relationship with your neighbour serbia. so, in the end, it is that which must come first. . , ., ., first. that is an important art of first. that is an important part of good _ first. that is an important part of good neighbour. part of good neighbour relations, but i must say kosovo in this year has seen an unprecedented economic growth and are central bank sees a group of 9.9% gdp and we took office when last year with slight contraction of 3.8% of our gdp. exports increased by two thirds this year, tax revenues by one third, without changing fiscal policy and we managed to carry out 437 police operations, 746 rates, searches, and we destroyed 31 criminal gangs. so kosovo is a success story we are doing very well, betterthan success story we are doing very well, better than ever in the after war period. we want good relations with serbia and a dialogue where we are going to discuss the status of future relations because the status of kosovois relations because the status of kosovo is something that has been sealed with icg opinions on the 22nd ofjuly 2010 which saw that our declaration of independence did not violate international law. so, good relations with serbia will help, but they are not top priority. help, but they are not top riori . , ., , help, but they are not top priority-— help, but they are not top riori _ , .,, 4, ., help, but they are not top riori . , ., ., priority. let me stop you for a second, prime _ priority. let me stop you for a second, prime minister, - priority. let me stop you for a second, prime minister, you i priority. let me stop you for a i second, prime minister, you say you want better relationships with serbia, but is there truth that the serbian president, when he last spoke with you, he said you know it, i thought relations with kosovo couldn't get any worse but i realise they can always get worse. they see you as a troublemaker, the point of the fact that you just demanded a month ago that all serbs costing the border to kosovo had changed their license plate numbers, dousing us petty and aggressive. why are you playing these games? i'm just using reciprocity measures and for ten years, they have been paid 5 euros every time they crossed the border to serbia to get their temporary car plates. not with the expiring of this agreement on september this year, we implement the same measures and once they enter those territories. but we do not want that but they have to get use to reciprocity measures and not any more to situations where we have to pay for that aggressiveness. 22 years ago, 19 countries got together and nato bombed yugoslavia, serbia at that time. it must�*ve been very bad thing and of course it was very bad because it was genocide in kosovo and the president of serbia that you mentioned was minister of information from that government. so, ithink information from that government. so, i think when he says such allegations, you should take them with a certain grain of salt stop by looking at your political record, you seem to believe kosovo is better off in a state of permanent hostility with serbia. �* . ., , serbia. after all, it was in 2015 when _ serbia. after all, it was in 2015 when the _ serbia. after all, it was in 2015 when the kosovo - serbia. after all, it was in - 2015 when the kosovo parliament was considering an agreement over the treatment of the minority of serbs in your country, an agreement you didn't like in the serbian government supported, you let off tear gas and save the chamber and protests. your record suggestion to pretty much anything to prevent a normal, peaceful relationship with serbia. i normal, peaceful relationship with serbia.— with serbia. i was a political activist throughout - with serbia. i was a political activist throughout my - with serbia. i was a political activist throughout my life l with serbia. i was a political i activist throughout my life and sometimes, i was radical, activist throughout my life and sometimes, iwas radical, but that was according to the topic, not because of my character. in 2015 and 16, there were trying to regroup certain majority municipalities into the third layer of power and of course, we did not allow that to happen. we want good relations with serbia and we need mutual recognition, neutral recognition between the republic of kosovo and it should be the organising principle for future comprehensive principle forfuture comprehensive agreements. only on the basis of eu values and principles. only on mutual recognition and reciprocity in our relations can we have long—term peace and stability. they have called upon this with great respect, offering them greater, looking at independent human rights reports, there is a consistent theme that the serbs who live in kosovo are excluded from the economy, are not treated fairly by the judicial system, are in effect forced to remain within their small enclaves. are you prepared to tell me that you will give a better, fairer deal to the serbs live in your territory was yellow these are not correct allegations.- not correct allegations. there around five — not correct allegations. there around five to _ not correct allegations. there around five to 696 _ not correct allegations. there around five to 696 of - not correct allegations. there around five to 696 of the - around five to 6% of the population and they are not discriminated. but, these things that serbia tried to impose on kosovo statehood and our constitutional construction were not the desire of the will of kosovo, but an example of the hegemonic aspirations. so when kosovo was not implemented, no serbian kosovo protested. it was always belgrade that was angry. in the 1991, 20 6th of april, 40 municipalities with a certain majority, they got together, created their association. the 9th of january created their association. the 9th ofjanuary nine, 1992, created their association. the 9th of january nine, 1992, they declared independence, 28th of february 1992, they got the constitution and finally, 14th of december 1985 in dayton ohio, they wanted to repeal bosnian kosovo and i might want to allow this. be it in our position or the government. and thatis position or the government. and that is that people voted to prevent this in kosovo. i am confident that with our programme, we are going to help serbs is much as albanians. if you ask serbs and kosovo what are your key complaints or requirements, there was a jobs injustice. but belgrade wants to have a state within a state. the state of serbia with independence.- the state of serbia with independence. there is one obvious way _ independence. there is one obvious way out _ independence. there is one obvious way out of - independence. there is one obvious way out of this - independence. there is one obvious way out of this and | independence. there is one | obvious way out of this and it is a way that was seen by your former president and that was small limited swaps with serbia which they could integrate with their country and the minority and you can get some recompense with land swaps and i would put some this hostility. and to go negotiate with that basis. i want dial to be about the needs of the citizens mostly. no territorial exchange. but they think they can swap territories as if they are their property. but we are not in medieval times with the monarchs who considered the territory of the state as the land of the father or the monarch and the people are the family of the one who leads. we are a democratic republic and no such solution will be on the table and that is why i won in these elections because the people kosovo do not want that. and serbs do not want that is the others want that. there is no longer limitations with territorial solutions, but he wants to have bosnian cessation in the form of this and our republic to render us dysfunctional and a failed state but that is not going to happen. figs failed state but that is not going to happen.— failed state but that is not going to happen. as long as this limbo — going to happen. as long as this limbo exists _ going to happen. as long as this limbo exists for - going to happen. as long as this limbo exists for kosovo| this limbo exists for kosovo and you had to statehood for 13 years and more yet half of the world doesn't recognise you, including five member states of the european union will not offer you recognition, the problem is that as long as this hostility continues, your limbo status will continue and ijust wonder whether you will offer the people of your country any brighter future? the people of your country any brighterfuture7 irate the people of your country any brighter future ?_ brighter future? we are progressing _ brighter future? we are progressing and - brighter future? we are progressing and rule . brighter future? we are progressing and rule of| brighter future? we are - progressing and rule of law, fighting corruption, social economic development in spite of the problems with serbia and thatis of the problems with serbia and that is why the president of serbia is in panic, because of our progress, he is in panic and he wants some kind of quick fix now. like he was aiming with my predecessors. let's not forget, out of 27 member states of the eu, 22 recognises. and only five denied by the majority of us do. and out of 30 member states of nato, 26 two recognises. and we have massive recognition from the democratic world and within the five security councils, russian federation and china do not recognises but uk france and the us do. so, let's see on the positive side, for those who do not recognises.— not recognises. you don't have to convince _ not recognises. you don't have to convince me, _ not recognises. you don't have to convince me, you _ not recognises. you don't have to convince me, you have - not recognises. you don't have to convince me, you have to i to convince me, you have to convince young people in your own people say that right now you have a big problem with the eu and you can't even get a visa because the eu was very sceptical about your economy and your potential migration and your potential migration and precedent macron of francis he makes it clear he has no intentions of allowing kosovo and other countries in the western balkans to become full members of the european union. so, your desire for a closer relationship with europe is stock. . , , , relationship with europe is stock. , , ., stock. the eu has helped us a lot in these _ stock. the eu has helped us a lot in these years _ stock. the eu has helped us a lot in these years with - lot in these years with different funds and all of the aspects and we look forward to joining the eu one day. it is not fair towards us that we just don't have this, mainly in july this year, we marked three years since the european commission recommended for the second time that we should get visa but we still did not get that it's not because of the eu. it's because of certain eu member states. eu. it's because of certain eu memberstates. however, eu. it's because of certain eu member states. however, the lack of trust, of confidence somehow in western balkan countries, not only in kosovo, but on the side of the eu has also to do with the lack of use of confidence. so, i am critical towards the eu, i want tojoin critical towards the eu, i want to join the critical towards the eu, i want tojoin the eu, i want tojoin the eu. but i do not belong to those who are bitter towards the eu. i think europe is a continent and it is our destiny. ii continent and it is our destiny-— continent and it is our destin . . destiny. if you read the progress _ destiny. if you read the progress or— destiny. if you read the progress or lack - destiny. if you read the| progress or lack thereof destiny. if you read the - progress or lack thereof that kosovois progress or lack thereof that kosovo is making in key areas and it is damning of where your country is in terms of the rule of law, human rights, economic freedoms, i don't know if you read the report but if you have, then your country is never one to develop a close relationship with the eu unless you fundamentally change. {iii you fundamentally change. of course you want to change. we want progress and we would do that and we need the eu help. i believe the eu values will be home—grown and western balkans, and particularly in my country, but they cannot be self—made. we need help from the outside and i think we will get that. of the progress of this year mentions for the first six months, of previous governments in six months of our government, it takes an average of evaluation but again, it also marks certain progresses that we did. in western balkan six, as the top country regarding the extent of vaccination of the population. we have managed to administer 1.6 million doses and we have of all the population were over 16 years old. it is 55% with two doses and 64% with windows. we are doing much better than before and the eu knows this as well. �* , , , well. i'm putting myself in the osition well. i'm putting myself in the position of— well. i'm putting myself in the position of a — well. i'm putting myself in the position of a young _ well. i'm putting myself in the position of a young man - well. i'm putting myself in the position of a young man in - position of a young man in their early �*205. they look at your unemployment rate for young people which is nearly 50%. they look at the fact that they can have a much better life if they can make it to croatia and still better for some of them, make it into germany. you have a brain training of young talent. your country, as i said before, is stuck and i'm not sure you're offering your people anyway out offering your people anyway out of the economic and the corruption crisis that you are in. i corruption crisis that you are in. ., , ., ., in. i tried to explain that we have increased _ in. i tried to explain that we have increased tax - in. i tried to explain that we | have increased tax revenues in. i tried to explain that we i have increased tax revenues by one third without changing tax policy, fiscal policy. and the people you have mentioned where unemployed youth, they voted for us. that is why i am in power because they are dissatisfied. but that does not mean that they are depressed, there does the satisfied and they've got the government that they've got the government that they always wanted and we are only seven months in office now, not seven years, seven months. and we are doing well. and 3.1%, negative growth of gdp and we would have a double digit and it is an unprecedented feat in the balkans. after acknowledge this is that people are optimistic and hopeful,.— and hopeful,. symbols are important _ and hopeful,. symbols are important and _ and hopeful,. symbols are important and one - and hopeful,. symbols are important and one key - and hopeful,. symbols are - important and one key symbol that kosovo is prepared to play when the national community is whether or not you're well able to expect the court that was set up in the to find suspects suspected of committed war crimes in the late 19905 most of the best specifically people who were members of the kosovo liberation army which you were associated with in the late 19905. the former president currently faces charges and you have suggested that you do not accept the legitimacy of this court where as your own president, who we have had on hardtalk, she clearly does accept the legitimacy of that court, so, you're sure to share this with the right now to suit you have changed your mind and you have changed your mind and you do accept the special court and the hague.— you do accept the special court and the hague. many think that i have and the hague. many think that i have found — and the hague. many think that i have found of _ and the hague. many think that i have found of legacy - and the hague. many think that i have found of legacy of- and the hague. many think that i have found of legacy of my - i have found of legacy of my predecessor, i do not like. but there is nothing i can do about it. so, specialist chambers, they are not very transparent justice systems and they have not shown that they are multiethnic. so, they have been taking only kla leaders were albanians and no one who did like war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide. and time will show that at the end and making sure that unfortunately, until now, with specialist chambers, we haven't seen the right pace to satisfy the victims in kosovo. five years ago, big mistakes were done and i have to live with them, unfortunately. i i have to live with them, unfortunately.— i have to live with them, unfortunately. i don't know if ou've unfortunately. i don't know if you've answered _ unfortunately. i don't know if you've answered my - unfortunately. i don't know if. you've answered my question, it was quite a simple one. your president said to me that we did not say we were going to acceptjust a part of did not say we were going to accept just a part of the international legal process, we clearly do believe in internationaljustice. i am international justice. i am inviting internationaljustice. i am inviting you to make the same commitment. will you accept the legitimacy of the special court in the hague, particularly when it comes to the trial of former president. i it comes to the trial of former president-— president. i think i already answered. _ president. i think i already answered, but _ president. i think i already answered, but i _ president. i think i already answered, but i can - president. i think i already| answered, but i can repeat president. i think i already - answered, but i can repeat my answered, but i can repeat my answer and that is that we in respect of international justice, kosovo had the united nations intellects, we have ict and the special court was not necessary but it is here now. but they are not asking for my cooperation, so i give them my support, to be honest. because it is a very non—transparent court with one leg and kosovo and the other leg and hague. so, it is much more complex situation with this latest court. i believe that we need normal courts that are going to try all the war and peace crimes in spite of the ethnicity of the perpetrators and not as it has been done with specialist court. let's hope that this can be corrected and rectified in the near future. �* , , , and rectified in the near future. �* , , ., and rectified in the near future. , . , future. any debts you a very basic question _ future. any debts you a very basic question and - future. any debts you a very basic question and is - future. any debts you a very basic question and is based | basic question and is based upon the flag. right behind you, i can see the flags, the official state flag of kosovo, and it seems to be photographed with the albanian flag behind you and that is because you're open when it comes to albania being one nation divided across two states and you believe the destiny is to be integrated into albania. how can you be the leader of your own state and yet telling the people that you don't believe in the future of your state? to outsiders, that seems incredible. i believe in the republic of kosovo and here to serve republic of kosovo, we declare the over 30 years ago, we did not do that in contrast to albania, but as an expression of liberation from serbia and liberation from serbia made possible from us as albanians to restore our dignity and our civic and human rights. now, towards kosovo, i am a citizen of the republic. historically, when ever serbia attacked kosovo, then albanians always united because serbia was a small imperialistic power and very closely linked with moscow and in our region, it was the most powerful one in the last century and a half. that is why, albanian identity is also very strong. why, albanian identity is also very strong-— why, albanian identity is also ve stronu. , very strong. prime minister, we are almost _ very strong. prime minister, we are almost out _ very strong. prime minister, we are almost out of— very strong. prime minister, we are almost out of time, - very strong. prime minister, we are almost out of time, we - are almost out of time, we cannot go through too much history, ijust need a simple answerfrom you. are history, ijust need a simple answer from you. are you still arguing that the constitution needs to be changed and that people of kosovo need to have a referendum on whether or not to be integrated with albania7 is that your vision for the future of kosovo? i that your vision for the future of kosovo?— of kosovo? i consider unfair injustice _ of kosovo? i consider unfair injustice and _ of kosovo? i consider unfair injustice and there - of kosovo? i consider unfair injustice and there is - of kosovo? i consider unfair injustice and there is no - injustice and there is no possibility to have referendum. and that referendum would be an expression of the freedom of the people. but now, this time, here, what i am, i have been elected for jobs and elected forjobs and justice and this is what i will be doing in the many years to come. independence of kosovo is not against serbs and independence of kosovo is independence of kosovo is independence from serbia and not from albania.— not from albania. throughout our not from albania. throughout your political— not from albania. throughout your political career, - not from albania. throughout your political career, you've l your political career, you've been seeing a something of a firebrand, a guy who was prepared to take direct action it wouldn't even let off tear gas in the parliamentary chamber, some worry that you are a force for instability in the balkans. what is your message to the people who fear that you could bring great damage to your country in the region? damage to your country in the reuion? :: i“ damage to your country in the reuion? :: j~f ., damage to your country in the reion? i1 i“ ., ., damage to your country in the reuion? :: j~f ., ., , region? 50.2896 voted for us in the last elections _ region? 50.2896 voted for us in the last elections and - region? 50.2896 voted for us in the last elections and three - the last elections and three top candidates will enlist now and sharing institutions of our republic. political stability has never been higher precisely with the political activists like me becoming prime minister of our independent republic. prime minister albin kurti. i think you very much for being on hardtalk.— hello. after a warm and wet october of the stormy final weekend has a different flavour to our weather now that we are into november. low pressure is moving away, around and there are still showers but overall it is looking drier. now is a developing northerly breeze coming into the uk and it's chilly now, but it is turning colder still in the next couple of days. here is what is on the agenda for the rest of the week. we have established as low—pressure moves away, drier, the air around it turning colder. some sunny spells, yes, a chance of showers mainly coastal areas. overnight fog and frost, got both of those in some spots as tuesday begins. especially across parts of england where the cultist areas here getting close to freezing at the day begins. showers from the word go in northern scotland, and some of these can be heavy maybe with hail and thunder. and some will push for south across scotland during the day and increasing chance of catching a shower in northern ireland. across parts of wales for the western side of england. much of central and eastern england will state largely dry, many places will see sunny spells and temperatures across the uk nine to 12 celsius. the wind continuing to ease. and with those light winds overnight and into wednesday that's a recipe for summit mist and fog patches, especially across parts of england and wales. and again a recipe for seeing temperatures close to freezing, especially in the countryside for a touch of frost as wednesday starts. so on wednesday, then, again many places going to stay dry. you can see the showers around to begin with and mainly affecting coastal areas. if you running through northern ireland, some inter—northern scotland. this batch along the north sea coast mayjust push further inland across england during the day with that wind direction. and a cold orfeeling day on wednesday with more places topping out in just single figures for the top temperature. as we go from wednesday to thursday, a high—pressure trying to nudge in from the west and with that wind direction also killing off many of the showers across western parts of the uk. we will continue to see them especially along some north sea coast on thursday. a stronger northerly breeze commit more of the wind—chill around on thursday. and there is a change developing in northwest scotland, thicker clouds and some outbreaks of rain starting to move in. a weather system that will bring some rain to parts of scotland, and northern ireland going into saturday and then pushing a little bit further south as the weekend goes on. and that's your latest forecast for the week ahead. welcome to newsday, on pbs and around the globe, reporting live from singapore. i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines: as world leaders come together in glasgow for the make—or—break climate summit, queen elizabeth calls for a unified effort to reverse rising temperatures. none of us underestimate the challenges ahead, but history has shown that when nations come together in common cause there is always room for hope. the prime minister of india, the world's third biggest greenhouse gas emitter, has used the conference platform for a new announcement. an agreement to reverse deforestation by 2030 is announced in glasgow,