news stories for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme. welcome to hardtalk. i am stephen sacco, today i am in pristina, capital of kosovo which declared itself independent some 15 years ago but which is still not recognised by and is locked in a potentially dangerous confrontation with neighbouring serbia. kosovo�*s ei lies in washington and brussels are telling my guest today the kosovo prime minister, albin kurti, to call it. and quickly. will he listen? and if he does not, could kosovo see a new round of bulk and bloodshed? ——

balkan bloodshed. prime minister albin kurti, welcome to hardtalk.— to hardtalk. welcome to christine _ to hardtalk. welcome to christine and _ to hardtalk. welcome to christine and thank - to hardtalk. welcome to christine and thank you . to hardtalk. welcome to l christine and thank you for having me. christine and thank you for having me-_ christine and thank you for havin: me. ~ , a, having me. prime minister modi how close his _ having me. prime minister modi how close his kosovo _ having me. prime minister modi how close his kosovo come - having me. prime minister modi how close his kosovo come to l how close his kosovo come to seeing a renewable of conflict in the last few months? it has been very _ in the last few months? it has been very heavy _ in the last few months? it has been very heavy because - in the last few months? it has been very heavy because the l in the last few months? it has i been very heavy because the two extremist terrorist organisations, which are being financed by serbia, and from where they also receive their orders, civil protection and the northern brigade have been very active and first intimidating serbians and serbian candidate, who would like to vote and run in elections, and second, in attacking our police,

journalists, but first and foremost, nato soldiers on 29 may. foremost, nato soldiers on 29 ma . ., ., . foremost, nato soldiers on 29 ma. ., ., . ., ., may. you have chosen and that answer to _ may. you have chosen and that answer to pile _ may. you have chosen and that answer to pile all _ may. you have chosen and that answer to pile all of _ may. you have chosen and that answer to pile all of the - may. you have chosen and that answer to pile all of the blame | answer to pile all of the blame on your serbian minority population. that is not the way the international community sees things right now? i never blame serbian _ sees things right now? i never blame serbian minority - blame serbian minority population, they are 4% of population, they are 4% of population in kosovo, less than half of them live north of the ribbon either i was claiming to specific organisations and also belgrade was also controlling them, for violent riots the violent unrest that we had in recent months.— violent unrest that we had in recent months. the eu envoy reaponsible — recent months. the eu envoy responsible for _ recent months. the eu envoy responsible for trying - recent months. the eu envoy responsible for trying to - responsible for trying to normalise the situation here in kosovo, he had a discussion with you just a couple of days ago, described that discussion is long, frank and open and he stressed to you, to you, the

urgent need for deescalation. are you prepared to take actions to de—escalate the tension? {iii actions to de-escalate the tension?— actions to de-escalate the tension? , ., tension? of course, and hope offered to _ tension? of course, and hope offered to have _ tension? of course, and hope offered to have early - tension? of course, and hope| offered to have early elections in the for more than municipalities as soon as possible, and to that end, we have to have rule of law in place, so we have a fair and open campaign, prior to free and democratic elections. the united states _ and democratic elections. the united states and your european allies certainly the united kingdom, ask you not to do that. you did not seek their advice? you just did it. why? on 23rd ofjune the minister for internal affairs, together with our director of police, they made a press conference where they have exposed all the ammunition and armaments, including a rocket launcher, they have confiscated, in a car

with belgrade car plates belonging to this northern brigade, but which actually was also belonging to the serbian railways, a publicly owned enterprise and serbia. at that press conference the minister of internal affairs announced that he is going to ask from the government to declare this organisation a terrorist organisation. if i would not have done so i would violate my law and have you neglect the data from our security sector and intelligence agency. i asked you specifically about your cooperation and co—ordination with united states and european allies. the us state department criticised your move to label these groups as terror organisations it said the decision should have been co—ordinated with the closest international partners of kosovo, including those with prime responsibility to ensure stability in kosovo, we said the us state department, again call on kosovo to refrain from

unilateral moves, why are you ignoring yourfriends in unilateral moves, why are you ignoring your friends in the united states? we regularly communicate _ united states? we regularly communicate and _ united states? we regularly i communicate and co-ordinate communicate and co—ordinate with both the eu and us but then i have two respect and to apply constitutionality and legal order and lawfulness for the public of kosovo. i am prime minister of kosovo because it is a republic. five days before making this decision when we declare these two organisations terrorist organisations they were not to fight about what we are going to do. we don't —— we do co—ordinate that does not mean we agree all the time on all issues. ,, , ., _ , ., we agree all the time on all issues. ,, , ., , ., ., issues. the serbian say you are operating _ issues. the serbian say you are operating paramilitary - issues. the serbian say you are operating paramilitary police i operating paramilitary police forces and those ethnic serbian towns, at least four of them in the north of your country. they say they have clear evidence and i'm quoting now from the serbian press, "beating and torturing of ethnic serbians in

their home communities, they name individuals man who has been pictured with his head in a bag, barechested, he has been beaten, these are pictures the serbian say were circulated within the kosovo police force, bragging about the abuse of ethnic serbians. what are you doing about that? {jut ethnic serbians. what are you doing about that?— doing about that? out of a dozen of — doing about that? out of a dozen of these _ doing about that? out of a dozen of these violent - dozen of these violent extremists, which have been arrested, there has been one case of misconduct of a policeman who has been immediately suspended but otherwise on all other allegations my minister of justice and minister of internal affairs have sent letters to... internal affairs have sent letters to. . ._ internal affairs have sent letters to... the eu foreign minister- — letters to... the eu foreign minister. that _ letters to... the eu foreign minister. that whatever - letters to... the eu foreign minister. that whatever we | letters to... the eu foreign i minister. that whatever we did was fully in _ minister. that whatever we did was fully in compliance - minister. that whatever we did was fully in compliance with i was fully in compliance with procedures and law of kosovo and he has been convinced of this. ., , ., .,

this. you say the situation riaht this. you say the situation right now _ this. you say the situation right now in _ this. you say the situation right now in the _ this. you say the situation right now in the north i this. you say the situation right now in the north of. this. you say the situation i right now in the north of your country is to use your word at the beginning of this interview very heavy. the serbian side did of course by president aleksandar vukic says and i'm quoting him we are at a crossroads, whether we will have peace or not, and there is only one man in the balkans who wants to incite conflict, that is albin kurti.— is albin kurti. well, he attacks _ is albin kurti. well, he attacks me _ is albin kurti. well, he attacks me every i is albin kurti. well, he attacks me every day, | is albin kurti. well, he _ attacks me every day, sometimes several dark —— several times a day, kosovo is a democratic country pro—western orientated, according to transparency international, freedom house, well justice international, freedom house, welljustice project, electoral democracy according to reporters without borders, kosovois reporters without borders, kosovo is a democratic country, whereas serbia is a hybrid regime, we are pro—eu, pro— nato and pro—us. serbia is very much aligned with the kremlin.

i am telling you... i much aligned with the kremlin. i am telling you. . ._ i am telling you... i am saying those are _ i am telling you... i am saying those are false _ i am telling you... i am saying those are false allegations i those are false allegations against me. mr; those are false allegations against me— those are false allegations auainst me. g ., ., against me. my point throughout this interview _ against me. my point throughout this interview has _ against me. my point throughout this interview has been - against me. my point throughout this interview has been the i against me. my point throughout this interview has been the eu, | this interview has been the eu, the us and your closest friends are telling you that you need to take actions to de—escalate the situation. and the one thing more than any other that they want you to do, is to deliver on the promise that kosovo made in an agreement with serbia brokered by the eu, some ten years ago in 2013, a promise to allow the ethnic serbian population in your country to create this association of serbian municipalities, which could represent their interests, in this country. your country made the promised ten years ago, you refused to deliver on it? why? belgrade had wanted this association out of their policy

for territorial ethnic nationalism which resulted in the republic of bosnia—herzegovina, it is true my predecessor ten years ago signed such an agreement. the rime signed such an agreement. the prime estimate _ signed such an agreement. the prime estimate a solemn promise deliver it? , ., deliver it? then this agreement was elaborated _ deliver it? then this agreement was elaborated further- deliver it? then this agreement was elaborated further by i was elaborated further by another prime minister, my predecessor as well and 2015 but this agreement, failed the test of constitutional court. constitutional court decision said in 23 articles of our constitution, basically have been violated, by this association. by this municipality.- association. by this municipality. association. by this municiali . , ., ., , municipality. they are a tiny minority. — municipality. they are a tiny minority. why _ municipality. they are a tiny minority, why are _ municipality. they are a tiny minority, why are you i municipality. they are a tiny minority, why are you so i minority, why are you so frightened of them? you compare it to the situation in bosnia but there they represent 37% of the population of bosnia, here they represent four or 5%, why are you so scared? taste

they represent four or 5%, why are you so scared?— are you so scared? we are not scared. are you so scared? we are not scared- we're _ are you so scared? we are not scared. we're just _ are you so scared? we are not scared. we're just vigilant i scared. we're just vigilant because belgrade is using them not recognise kosovo and to seek division, partition of kosovo. if it would not have been for belgrade 4% of population would never represent any kind of risk. again it is not serbian community which is endangering our republic, there are these parallel legal structures getting millions and millions of euros annually from belgrade in order to sabotage our independence.— in order to sabotage our independence. in order to sabotage our inde endence. �* , ., ., independence. are you right now reared independence. are you right now prepared to _ independence. are you right now prepared to talk _ independence. are you right now prepared to talk to _ independence. are you right now prepared to talk to the _ prepared to talk to the president of serbia about all of or not? fit president of serbia about all of or not?— president of serbia about all of or not? _, , .,, of or not? of course, i was in brussels _ of or not? of course, i was in brussels on _ of or not? of course, i was in brussels on 22nd _ of or not? of course, i was in brussels on 22nd of - of or not? of course, i was in brussels on 22nd ofjune, i of or not? of course, i was inj brussels on 22nd ofjune, but it was president putin church who did not want to have a meeting. i think my constructive niss and my creativity has been struck shown throughout with different proposals. i propose the model which is inspired by serbians

in croatian, serbia and croatia have a normalisation agreement with a mechanism for protection of minority rights. in serbians are happy with that, i said let's do it also in kosovo. but they do not want to hear. in 2013 they signed a document making a explicit promise you are not prepared to keep. doesn't worry you, that your best friend, your most important friends in the international community starting with the european union, think you have got this wrong. and indeed they are so sure that you have got it wrong, and that you need to change your mind they have opposed sanctions on kosovo, right now? == opposed sanctions on kosovo, right now?— opposed sanctions on kosovo, right now? -- proposed. these sanctions _ right now? -- proposed. these sanctions have _ right now? -- proposed. these sanctions have nothing - right now? -- proposed. these sanctions have nothing to i right now? -- proposed. these sanctions have nothing to do i sanctions have nothing to do with the 2013 agreement because this is part of 39 agreements signed with my predecessors and should be implemented if valid and binding according to article ten of the treaty which i made with the president vucic

in brussels and then implementation. what you are referring to an agreement ten years ago that is one out of 39 agreements, which is part of article ten of the newest agreement which i made with president vucic. you cannot put the car before the horse now by picking and choosing this single agreement.- single agreement. prime minister. _ single agreement. prime minister, you _ single agreement. prime minister, you say - single agreement. prime minister, you say it i single agreement. prime minister, you say it is i single agreement. prime| minister, you say it is not single agreement. prime i minister, you say it is not all about the agreement signed in 2013, you tell me then, why other member states of the eu, your friends, other member states of the eu, yourfriends, why other member states of the eu, your friends, why are they imposing very serious sanctions on you right now? it imposing very serious sanctions on you right now?— on you right now? it has to do with the situation _ on you right now? it has to do with the situation in _ on you right now? it has to do with the situation in the i on you right now? it has to do with the situation in the north | with the situation in the north where on one hand they do not want to put proper names to specific events and things. for example three of our policeman had been abducted a month ago, and territory of kosovo by serbian specialist policeman.

that is in dispute. the serbs say they pick them up inside serbian territory.— serbian territory. that is not true i serbian territory. that is not true i have _ serbian territory. that is not true i have offered - serbian territory. that is not true i have offered tons i serbian territory. that is not true i have offered tons of i true i have offered tons of evidence all my international partners and friends know it has happened in our country. in my view what they are trying to do is by being soft with serbia, to try to move out from the influence. {iii serbia, to try to move out from the influence.— the influence. of russia? you think this _ the influence. of russia? you think this is — the influence. of russia? you think this is all _ the influence. of russia? you think this is all about - the influence. of russia? you think this is all about russia? j think this is all about russia? i think it has a lot to do with belgrade pushing in the direction of brussels and washington when belgrade are so much linked with kremlin, historically, culturally but also in terms of military and energy. also in terms of military and ener: . ., , energy. so, to get this straight _ energy. so, to get this straight you _ energy. so, to get this straight you are i energy. so, to get this l straight you are accusing energy. so, to get this i straight you are accusing the eu of betraying their strong relationship with you because they are trying to persuade president vucic in the serbians to move away from putin and

russia? i to move away from putin and russia? ., ., ., russia? i have no other expiration _ russia? i have no other expiration why - russia? i have no other expiration why they i russia? i have no other expiration why they are | expiration why they are tolerating so much of minister of propaganda from the time of the loss of that she does not put sanctions to russian federation, almost a year and a half since the invasion of ukraine started, i have no other investigation, we as human beings are in search of meaning, i do not know how to explain to myself and to others how soft they are with belgrade.— how soft they are with bel rade. a, , ,, how soft they are with belirade. , ., belgrade. maybe you need to look at the — belgrade. maybe you need to look at the two _ belgrade. maybe you need to look at the two -- _ belgrade. maybe you need to look at the two -- diplomatic| look at the two —— diplomatic big picture, i have written reports and you would have as well significant amounts of serbian ammunition for example, manufactured in serbia are going through third parties into ukraine, being used by ukrainian forces. that matters to the united states and europe and perhaps you have to accept that right now the diplomatic weather is changing, and you are going to have to adapt to that as well.—

are going to have to adapt to that as well. event autocrat is friends with _ that as well. event autocrat is friends with vladimir - that as well. event autocrat is friends with vladimir putin, . friends with vladimir putin, for changing that democratic country like kosovo should not pat’- country like kosovo should not pay. the autocrat should pay. do you feel you and your interests are being sacrificed because the west is so concerned about the war in ukraine? i think they are concerned about the possibility of spillover in the balkans and thatis spillover in the balkans and that is real because of the link of belgrade with moscow. but also they know that serbian rule your in belgrade is not a democrat. —— ruler. he has a lot of power. and they never post the past, the crimes they committed in the past. they consider their neighbours temporary states, for example belgrade is you recognised but the fact not. this code of regional hegemonic power in

direct link with moscow is causing a lot of fear in the west and for which i believe the republic of kosovo should not pay. please let me explain this. i am a social democrat. towards an autocrat i must be a sovereign assist to. what we're doing on the north is the rule of law, as sovereignty and sovereignty is the rule of law. you are paying a price, that is the fact, because eu sanctions imposed on the last few weeks, according to your own alliance of kosovar businesses will cost your country up to 5 million euros by the end of this year. you're losing access to infrastructure grants, other investments from brussels. with your weak economy, you can't afford to lose this financial and economic support, so what are you going to do? we and economic support, so what are you going to do?— are you going to do? we have had 7.35 economic _ are you going to do? we have had 7.35 economic growth i are you going to do? we have had 7.35 economic growth in l are you going to do? we have i had 7.35 economic growth in the two years since i am in power. export has doubled in two

years, tax revenues increased by two—thirds, and it is such a shame now to put these sanctions on kosovo. your own business — sanctions on kosovo. your own business community _ sanctions on kosovo. your own business community says i sanctions on kosovo. your own | business community says "albin kurti must come to his senses when it comes to re—establishing good relations with the eu and us". i re-establishing good relations with the eu and us“.— re-establishing good relations with the eu and us". i am doing m best with the eu and us". i am doing my best but _ with the eu and us". i am doing my best but i — with the eu and us". i am doing my best but i cannot _ with the eu and us". i am doing my best but i cannot surrender. my best but i cannot surrender a democratic republic to a fascist minutia in the north. bill clinton the other day better speech where he said it is time for the albanians, and he meant the albanians in kosovo, because he was talking about the kosovo crisis, knowing the majority, "they must stop this foolishness" he said. what major political issue can possibly be advanced by arguing for how little towns of rome? bill clinton says stop the foolishness. are you prepared to?— the foolishness. are you prepared to? the foolishness. are you --reared to? �* ., , ., prepared to? i'm not being a full but i _ prepared to? i'm not being a full but i am _ prepared to? i'm not being a full but i am not _ prepared to? i'm not being a full but i am not being i prepared to? i'm not being a j full but i am not being filled. i am prime minister of a

democratic republic. a rule of law, the most democratic country has the most professional police, and we're very thankful for contribution of president clinton who said they shouldn't have boycotted they shouldn't have boycotted the elections but should have voted. this is the root cause. the lack of participation in democratic process. low turnout, legitimacy. this much i can do. article 72 local self—government law says that with 20% of electoral body in a municipality, they can start the process to trigger early elections. let's do that, i'm going to help. you cannot fill the streets with militia and get into the mea's office. but ou get into the mea's office. but you know _ get into the mea's office. but you know that _ get into the mea's office. but you know that the service won't go back into the municipal offices and agree to participate in new elections unless you make a promise to give them this autonomous

association of serbian communities. —— mayor's office. evenif communities. —— mayor's office. even if you have new elections in those communities, the serbs won't take part so you aren't really achieving anything. do you have a solution which might solve this problem? i you have a solution which might solve this problem?— solve this problem? i have offered again _ solve this problem? i have offered again a _ solve this problem? i have offered again a model i solve this problem? i have l offered again a model which serbia already accepted with croatia. croatia is a success story with eu and nato membership.— story with eu and nato membership. story with eu and nato membershi. , ,, ,, membership. the subs in your country aren't _ membership. the subs in your country aren't interested i membership. the subs in your country aren't interested in i country aren't interested in what happen in croatia but the delivery on a promise made to them in 2013. in delivery on a promise made to them in 2013.— them in 2013. in the 15 years since we _ them in 2013. in the 15 years since we declared _ them in 2013. in the 15 years i since we declared independence, average annual budget allocated per disability, per capita, is 62% higherfor serve majority 62% higher for serve majority visibility 62% higherfor serve majority visibility than the others. we have been privileging them all the time. the problem is not to satisfy serbs. the problem is i cannot satisfy belgrade for the losses caused to serbia's

estate by a genocidal regime of loss of edge. the problem is in belgrade, not a this urban community. —— milosevic. people are good and people everywhere. i believe in people. but you have autographs that destroy the goodness. it have autographs that destroy the goodness.— the goodness. it isn't 'ust about youri the goodness. it isn't 'ust about your foreign h the goodness. it isn'tjust i about your foreign partners the goodness. it isn'tjust - about your foreign partners who are worried and frustrated with you right now. also many people here in kosovo are worried. one of the leaders of the opposition democratic party said" you, mr kurti, are playing with fire". many because ovens are aware of your track record. you are a hotheaded politician. —— kosovans. you have spent time in prison for political process, you release teargas inside the kosovan parliament inside the kosovan parliament in 2015, even injuring yourself. in 2018 you were found guilty of the illegal use of weapons and obstructing officials doing their duties. you are known as an and

positive, hotheaded, nationalist politician. you may push this too far. == push this too far. -- impulsive. - push this too far. -- impulsive. over- push this too far. -- impulsive. over a i push this too far. -- i impulsive. over a glass push this too far. » impulsive. over a glass of wine we can talk long about my activist passed and my position as leader, but this isn't about me and i am not alone. the vast majority of people of kosovo believe that we should not give up believe that we should not give up on the rule of law. i am pm also of serbs. a serbian minister. three municipalities in the north have serbian deputy mayers. ——i am pm. i collaborate with serbs. but serbs who aleksandar vucic is paying to sabotage the state of kosovo are a peculiar kind. —— mayors. this is a privileged minority. mayors. this is a privileged minority-— mayors. this is a privileged minori . , ., minority. they were given to them. minority. they were given to them- the — minority. they were given to them. the problem - minority. they were given to them. the problem is - minority. they were given to

them. the problem is and i minority. they were given to l them. the problem is and i'm looking at the document there, the original declaration of independence of kosovo in 2008. since then, what really has kosovo achieved? you have a normalised relations with serbia, you have the recognition of more than 100 countries, but significant countries, but significant countries like russia and china, even five members of the european union still do not recognise kosovo. your economy is in a terrible mess, hundreds of thousands of euro people have left kosovo to find work in the european union. can you honestly say some 15 years after that document was signed that you are delivering? yes. we are a _ that you are delivering? yes. we are a success _ that you are delivering? yes. we are a success story i that you are delivering? yes. we are a success story of- that you are delivering? yes. | we are a success story of nato intervention to stop the genocide of serbia and we are a success story of democratic and economic progress working hand—in—hand. all the seven members of the g7 group recognise kosovo. we have 117 recognitions and we are going

to continue. kosovo is here to stay and i am here to serve. i understand politics as public service of the people and i am democratically elected, two years ago, with a landslide victory, the biggest transformation of government in kosovo since we declared independence. and i am with full optimism that we are going to succeed. this is making nervous both belgrade and moscow and that is why they are —— that is why their nervousness is turning into violence in the northern part of my country. but we will prevail this time as well. the final, prevail this time as well. the final. very — prevail this time as well. the final, very brief _ prevail this time as well. the final, very brief thought, can you guarantee to me that they will not be renewal of conflict, of war, in the balkans, over kosovo? you have my guarantee — balkans, over kosovo? you have my guarantee that _ balkans, over kosovo? you have my guarantee that the _ my guarantee that the government of kosovo by no means will contribute to escalation, will do everything for deescalation. i offered to side the basic treaty for

normalisation. belgrade refused. so you have my goodwill, good faith, and good intentions. and i am the guarantee that both eu and us as values and strategic interests will be nurtured and prevail in my country.- prevail in my country. prime minister kurti, _ prevail in my country. prime minister kurti, it _ prevail in my country. prime minister kurti, it has - prevail in my country. prime minister kurti, it has been i prevail in my country. prime minister kurti, it has been a| minister kurti, it has been a pleasure to talk to you. thank you very much indeed.- pleasure to talk to you. thank you very much indeed. thank you very much- _ hello there. the weekend was quite a mixed bag. we saw some pretty heavy, thundery downpours across more western parts of the country. further east, it was a bit drier, with some spells of sunshine. but temperatures were coming down through the weekend,

and that's the theme as we move through this upcoming week. low pressure in charge. it will feel cool for the time of year. showers or longer spells of rain and winds will be a feature, particularly towards the end of the week — all down to low pressure. monday, not a bad start for many areas, but we've got a new set of weather fronts slowly pushing into south—west england, wales, with stronger winds here for the morning and that will continue to journey its way northwards into the midlands, northern england, as well. some of this rain could be heavy and thundery. elsewhere, after a fine start, it's going to be one of sunshine and showers, though i think the far south—east of england and in towards east anglia should tend to remain drier, with lengthy sunny spells. winds will be a feature, then, across the south—west. those are mean wind speeds. lighter further north. temperatures ranging from high teens, low 20s in the north, maybe 23 or 2a degrees in the south—east. that rain continues to move northwards across the country during monday night. we see another batch of rain pushing into south—west england, wales, the midlands, and this will continue to drift towards the east in the early hours of tuesday.

again, some of this could be heavy and thundery. to the south of it, quite a warm and muggy night to come. to the north of it, a little bit fresher, where we'll have clear spells and showers. for tuesday, then, our area of low pressure starts to drift northwards to the north—east of the uk, and that will bring plenty of showers to the country, pretty much from the word go, across the north. this area of rain will take its time to clear the south and east of england through the tuesday morning. eventually, it will do and then all areasjoin in sunshine and showers. most of these will be affecting scotland, northern ireland, northern and western parts of england and wales. again, the high teens in the north, a little bit fresher across the south—east. then beyond tuesday through wednesday, thursday, that area of low pressure moves to the north. it allows west, north—westerly winds to move down across the country, again, with plenty of showers. further low pressure systems will be moving into western areas by the end of the week and into next week. and so, a very unsettled rest of the week to come, with showers or longer spells of rain, some sunnier moments, as well, but it will feel quite cool,

particularly when winds pick up at times, too.

live from london, live from london, this is bbc news. this is bbc news. us president biden kicks off his three—nation tour in the uk ahead of a crucial nato summit. he meets with rishi sunak and king charles today.

the bbc has been in touch with the police