Kurti at Progress Alliance says media and social networks are being used to jeopardise democracy

Prime Minister Kurti in his address has said that media and social networks are being used for campaigns by authoritarian regimes to jeopardise democracy, saying the media should: “seek the truth, highlight corruption and scandals, and hold elected representatives accountable. ”

Kurti also said democracy should not be taken for granted because it won't work on itself. But on the other hand democracy has proved to be a political system that self-regulated.
History has shown us that we cannot relax and take democracy as good, believing it works on its own. It won't work.

The full word of Prime Minister Kurti at the Alliance Progress Board meeting:

Dear friends,

Dear Donny,

Your Honor. Iratxe García Pérez,
Your Honor. Louis Abiader,

First, let me congratulate our Social Democrats in Germany and Norway on their election victories. It is a great opportunity for empowering and promoting social democracy throughout Europe.

Thank you for inviting me to this meeting of the Alliance of Progress.

It's good to be part of this family. For us, it represents recognition of our long struggle for democracy, equality and social justice. Democracy, freedom, equality, solidarity, social welfare and internationalization are not just words on paper, but ideals that connect us together. We're part of this big, progressive family not because we think it's good for our image, but because we believe in these values.
I want to briefly present three issues. First for our movement and our new government, second for the state of our democracy and third for the need for lasting peace.

As some of you may know, our movement began at a difficult time in a small room in Pristina, a few years after I was released from prison in Serbia. We were some people who, like many others, were not satisfied with the status quo, the results of the war and the running of the country and we wanted to change things. We engaged and protested because we wanted our ideas and cause to be heard. Fifteen years later, after many protests and demonstrations, arrests and elections, when there were so many processes that shaped our country and we finally came to power. It was October 6, 2019, but due to some unfortunate events, that government was short-lived and collapsed in the middle of COVID-19, which we managed extremely well. But then, this year, in the February 14th elections, we won with a convincing victory. Our race was against those who led for two decades and used corrupt money and state institutions to convince voters, while we competed with our ideas. Our February 14th victory shows that there is power in the idea, that there is power in being honest and worthy; in being principled and leadership by example.

Now we are in government and we will govern with the same principles that we experienced when we were in opposition because we believe democracy is not necessary just to win elections, but also to govern; especially to govern.

Our programme answers the two most urgent issues for our citizens: employment and justice.
Citizens want a democratic state that respects and protects human rights and civil rights, a state that functions based on rule of law, media freedom and freedom of speech. They want an independent and professional justice system that truly provides justice and a government that works for all, regardless of their background and income.

Our country is new not only in terms of independence but also in terms of population. The average age is 30, 1/3 or more of our citizens live in diaspora and they come regularly, twice a year. They send more than one billion into remittances and another billion in home investments and playable property and are the main promoters of foreign direct investment.

Trust in our primary institutions has never been higher. The three institutions that emerged from the February 14th elections, the president, the Speaker of the Parliament and I as prime minister enjoy over 50% of citizens' trust. As a result, more citizens are now willing to pay taxes and bills, which has resulted in higher budget revenues. Many also compete for new jobs and positions because they know there are no irregularities, and the assessment is more fair. This shows that democratic changes have a spreading effect in all areas of life and can empower citizens and strengthen democracy.

We're working on reforming our educational system. We want to work with local and international investors to provide better opportunities for youth qualifications and connect education to the economy to reduce structural unemployment and create a skilled workforce, as a means to boost the economy and advance social prosperity.
The challenge today is not only to ensure quality education but also to create good living conditions so that people can have a good job and they'll also want to create a family here. Because of interconnection and digitalization, the world is getting smaller and people today have more than ever freedom and opportunity to choose where they want to live and that means that we don't just need quality education, but also high quality life.

The second issue I want to stress is the need to promote and protect democracy. In recent years they have been challenging but also hopeful. Democracy worldwide is threatened by growing autocrats who misuse the instruments of democracy, such as free elections and free media, to spread false causes and false information, and to present a distorted reality because they target mankind's worst instincts and impulses. This is not new. We've witnessed waves and such campaigns before, but what's new is the means they have available, such as social networks and our inability to unite and protect democracy.

I believe we should work together and help each other not only to protect him, but also to promote democracy. Our victory this year has shown that people can make the right choice and discern between good and bad if we are willing to fight enough.

The idea that citizens through the means of democracy can choose and be elected to the highest position is the greatest force of democracy, but is also the most vulnerable part of it. History has shown us that we cannot relax and take democracy as good, believing it works on its own. It won't work.
Democracy needs active and well-informed citizens who participate and engage. That is why we need good education as well as free media searching for truth, expose corruption and scandals, and hold the elected representative responsible. If we have been taught something in recent years, it is that media freedom does not mean freedom to spread false news or to constantly bring alternative facts that distort reality and deceive people. In fact, the increasing number of authorities in the world is also because they have a strong control over the media or control them fully after they are resolved. We have to work together because we can't win isolated and lonely.

The third and last issue I want to raise is democracy and peace. In Europe, lasting peace was possible only after accepting responsibility after World War II and embracing true democracy. It raises this issue because I believe that unresolved issues between Kosovo and Serbia, 22 years after the war, exist only because Serbia has not claimed responsibility for the wars caused in the years of '{0}'90s and because they have never really been democratised. To this day they refuse to accept genocide in Bosnia even after the JND decision. I really believe these two processes are related to accepting responsibility and democratisation. To be a true democrat means to believe in the equality of all human beings and to judge others, not from their background and ethnic affiliation, but from the content of their character. As long as Serbia is guided by people who refuse to face their past and continue to view ethnicity and their religion as superior to others, true peace is still far from achieved.

I believe that we as progressives have the obligation to stand up to the autisms everywhere, and actively promote democracy, towards a system and society, whose political institutions address social inequality and climate change as the main priorities.

Thank you for this opportunity, and I expect to have cooperation in the future.
Thank you.