Ambassador Rainer Rudolph

@pristina.diplo.de

German Ambassador 🇩🇪 to Kosovo 🇽🇰

Met with Kosovo’s Defence Minister Ejup Maqedonci today. Germany supports the KSF with €3m in 2026 under our Enable & Enhance Initiative 🇩🇪🤝🇽🇰 Focus: medical, logistics & fire-fighting capacities. Also advancing training cooperation. A strong partnership for security & Euro-Atlantic integration.

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Saying goodbye to President Vjosa Osmani: 🇽🇰 and 🇩🇪 share a strong commitment to freedom and democracy. Ahead of the end of President Osmani’s mandate I presented her a book on the history of the Berlin Wall – a reminder of how political decisions can divide but also reunite people. (1/2)

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Good to see agreement on how to implement 🇽🇰’s Laws on Foreigners + Vehicles. Ensuring residence & work permits for workers + students, avoiding disruption to health + education services & practical solutions for issuing documents to all 🇽🇰 citizens matter. Building on this progress will be key.

Thank you to the 🇩🇪 soldiers serving with KFOR at Camp Bondsteel in 🇽🇰. During my visit, I received a briefing on their mission, capabilities and equipment used in patrols and border observation. I was impressed by their dedication to maintaining peace and security.

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In my first visit I congratulated Parliament Speaker Albulena Haxhiu on her election. I reaffirmed 🇩🇪 commitment to 🇽🇰 European path, underlining the necessity of institutional stability. We discussed the upcoming Presidential election and explored ways to deepen cooperation between our parliaments🇩🇪🤝🇽🇰

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Promoting civic values and individual rights through advocacy and youth education are central to a functioning democracy. The Youth Initiative for Human Rights has been doing exactly that for 20 years in 🇽🇰 and I had the honor of visiting the YIHR Children of War Museum with Director Marigona Shabiu.

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⚽ Football runs deep in both 🇩🇪 & 🇽🇰 culture. 🇽🇰 & 🇩🇪 players play in both our leagues and teams — showing how deeply football connects us. Today I had the pleasure of meeting Agim Ademi & further leaders of the Football Federation of Kosovo - building bridges and fostering opportunities through sport.

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Today I had the honor of congratulating PM Albin Kurti on his reelection & presenting the congratulatory letter from Chancellor Friedrich Merz. We look forward to deepening our close relations & already jointly identified concrete next steps for our bilateral cooperation on economy and security. 🇩🇪🤝🇽🇰

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From 🇩🇪 in Pristina and 🇽🇰 in Berlin - we celebrate together! 🇩🇪 and 🇽🇰 share a strong partnership rooted in democracy and respect. Nearly 600,000 Kosovars in Germany keep our connection alive every day. At 18, Kosovo stands as a success story. On to the next chapter! Happy Independence Day! 🇽🇰

Strong journalism needs strong advocacy! I had the pleasure of meeting with the Association of Journalists 🇽🇰 leadership to discuss strengthening security and rights of journalists. We work closely with AJK in supporting 🇺🇦 journalists in residence and are strongly committed to continue our support!

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Frank Schwabe, Parliamentary Secretary of State at Germany’s Justice Ministry, is visiting Kosovo as its new parliament and government take office. He congratulated PM Albin Kurti and met Ministers Donika Gervalla-Schwarz and Glauk Konjufca to boost bilateral cooperation. 🇩🇪🤝🇽🇰

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Congratulations on your re-election as Prime Minister, dear Albin Kurti. Germany looks forward to further deepening its close partnership with Kosovo — in the economy, security and politics — and to working together in support of Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic integration. Best wishes for the new term.

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Germany and France stand united in supporting Kosovo on its path to European integration. Marking the 63rd Élysée Treaty and 7th Aachen Treaty anniversaries, the German Embassy hosted friends from the French Embassy—celebrating decades of friendship and cooperation. 🇩🇪 🤝 🇫🇷

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Thank you for the exchanges with the newly elected mayors on current challenges and future prospects. Together with Deputy Christian Böttcher we visited Leposavic, Zvecan, Zupin Potok and North Mitrovica. We stand ready to jointly explore ideas for economic growth and stronger bilateral relations.

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The German-Kosovar Business Association (KDWV) works to strengthen economic cooperation between our countries. In our meeting, we explored concrete ways to deepen business ties, support companies and advance joint initiatives, including the German-Kosovar Economic Forum in Oct 2026.

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Strong start to the #BerlinProcess 2026! At the Berlin Process Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting in Berlin, Western Balkan states and their partners agreed on concrete steps towards EU alignment: EU acquis, sustainable agriculture & stronger regional cooperation in the Western Balkans.

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At today’s official ceremony, I commemorated the victims of the Reçak/Račak massacre of 15 January 1999. The ceremony was attended by US Ambassador William Walker, former Head of the Kosovo Verification Mission, which made the crimes public. May remembrance strengthen our commitment to peace.

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I had the honor of visiting the Jahjaga’s Foundation Moment Museum and meeting with fmr. Pres. Jahjaga. The stories of the survivors of sexual abuse left a deep impression, highlighting the importance of the Foundation’s work for women’s and human rights as well as peace and transitional justice.

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With a large 🇽🇰 diaspora in 🇩🇪 I would like to remind all candidates, that, as a rule, election campaign events by foreign officials in Germany are not allowed in the period less than 3 months before elections. Thank you for your understanding.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of hosting the pre-screening of the 🇩🇪&🇽🇰 @artefr.bsky.social documentary “Old herbs, new spirit” at my residence! A beautiful testament to the power of reviving old traditions of raki distillation in an impressive fusion of female empowerment and modern entrepreneurship.

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On today‘s opening panel of DISICON 9 I highlighted three key steps for a gender-equal digital sphere: clear policies for online interaction, independent media institutions, and personal responsibility. Together, we must combat disinformation and ensure equality in the digital world.

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Media is the fourth pillar of democracy. At the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung conference today I spoke about the issues public service & independent media face: institutional and budgetary challenges, shrinking markets and disinformation. Strengthening journalism is vital to protect democratic discourse.

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