Wrote: Festim Rizanaj
According to an article published on RT (Russia Today), the Serbian-language service, within the framework of the election campaign in Kosovo, the Prime Minister of Kosovo and leader of the Vetëvendosje Movement, Albin Kurti, is building an election narrative based on harsh rhetoric, which RT describes as "calls for war and hatred towards Serbs."
Title of the article, "Prizivanjem rata do zvelibenog izbornog rezultata: Kurti promised da će soproveti 'hleba i pusaka'" (Through the call for war towards the desired electoral result: Kurti promised to provide 'bread and weapons'), suggests harsh rhetoric from Kurti, which, according to RT, is politically motivated to achieve electoral gains.
The facts show that Kurti has not called for war, but has mentioned armament and spoken about criminal gangs and the infiltration of Serbia, without expressing hatred towards Kosovo Serbs.
What does the article say?
The article notes that, during an election rally in Gjakova, Kurti declared that the "Serbian state apparatus in Kosovo" includes the army and the police.
It is also said that at another election rally in Podujevo, he said that his priority is to provide the people with "bread and weapons", emphasizing that every state and people need these elements.
What did Kurti say in Gjakova and Podujeva?
The Vetëvendosje Movement opened the campaign in Gjakova, presenting the four-year project that "aims to meet civic needs and advance the national goals of the Republic of Kosovo."
The Vetëvendosje Movement, led by Albin Kurti, opened the campaign in Gjakova with a rally held on January 11. One of the prime minister’s main messages was: “For Serbia we have police, army and dialogue.” He made this statement while talking about Pristina’s relations with Belgrade, while emphasizing: “For the youth we have employment, for women we have equality, for children we have allowances, for the opposition we have the opposition, for Serbia we have police, army and dialogue, for the elderly we have pensions and for everyone healthcare.” (here)
Kurti declared that Vučić's state apparatus will have no place on the territory of the Republic of Kosovo and that it will be prosecuted in every corner, implying that this only applies within the borders of Kosovo.
Meanwhile, in Podujeva, Kurti declared: “300 million euros in subsidies for agriculture from our government and over 300 million euros for armaments for our army. Because bread and guns are the two most urgent, most priority and most necessary security for a state and a nation.". (here)
In this statement, Kurti does not specifically direct the message towards a specific subject, but mentions "bread and guns" as two essential elements for the security of the state and the nation.
The Kosovo Ministry of Defense has announced that the arming of Kosovo aims to invest in fulfilling the constitutional mission of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), emphasizing that the supply of weapons will help protect the territory of Kosovo and guarantee security for all its citizens. (here)
On January 12, Kosovo’s president, Vjosa Osmani, announced that the country “is entering a new and decisive phase of strengthening the state’s defense capacities,” which includes developing the Kosovo Security Force in line with NATO standards. (here)
So, it is not about a direct threat to Serbia, but about the fact that the supply of weapons aims to strengthen Kosovo's defense capacities and guarantee security for all citizens.
What did Kurti say about Serbs?
At a pre-election rally in Peja, Kosovo Prime Minister and Vetëvendosje leader Albin Kurti stressed that his government has shown opposition to parallel criminal structures and supported the true integration of Serbs who respect the law and accept the Republic of Kosovo. He also mentioned northern Kosovo, which he considers part of the success of his second government, while also criticizing his political opponents.
Another element highlighted by Kurti is the increase in the number of businesses in the north, as well as the engagement of Serbs in employment, who, according to him, express gratitude to the "government, state and Kosovo Police." (here)
""Over 300 companies were opened in northern Kosovo last year, hundreds of Serbs were employed, who are grateful to the government, the state and the Kosovo Police."
""In all of Kosovo, and especially in northern Kosovo, we gave sovereignty to the state, we gave integrity to the territory, we gave security to the people, we gave peace to that region. We have established the rule of law, constitutionalism. We faced parallel structures and criminal gangs. They tried to destabilize us, to intimidate us, but every time they tried, they failed and we won. We did not do this against Serbs, but against Serbia, because it is also against our people."
Analyze:
According to RT, Albin Kurti is building an election narrative with harsh rhetoric, which he describes as "a call for war and hatred towards Serbs."
The facts show that Kurti has not called for war, but has mentioned armament during his mandate, and has not expressed hatred towards Kosovo Serbs, but has spoken about criminal gangs and Serbia's infiltration within the territory of Kosovo.
Based on its working methodology, hibrid.info evaluates the RT article as a "conspiracy theory".
Reasoning:
"Conspiracy theories" are considered to be informational content that contains a false or unverifiable description of a phenomenon, event or person, presenting it as part or the result of a secret plan ("conspiracy"). The characteristic of these contents is that they present a series of claims, presented as facts, between which cause-effect relationships are established, without providing any reliable evidence.