Serbian FM on Kurti’s Visit to US: Extremist Allowed To Spread Propaganda

Marko Djuric (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric on Aug. 20 criticized Kosovo Premier Albin Kurti’s presence at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, saying that it had provided him an opportunity to spread false and harmful messages. 

The National Democratic Institute (NDI) had invited Kurti to attend the Democratic Party Convention in Chicago and be a panelist at an accompanying event titled “Democratic National Convention and the Role of Political Parties.” Speaking to TV Pink, Djuric said it had sent across “a wrong signal,” because Kurti “speaks directly not only against Serbia’s interests, but also against Washington’s policy.”  

“On Aug. 19, I sent a letter to the NDI as I believe it is very harmful to allow an extremists to use the Democratic National Convention, the main campaign gathering for the entire Democratic establishment in the US, as a platform for promoting false information and lies about the events in our region and for spreading propaganda,” Djuric said.

“I also addressed the NDI top officials, because I consider it to be a serious global organization committed to building democratic institutions. I stressed that Kurti’s regime had been systemically oppressing and violating human rights in Kosovo. The views presented in the letter have already echoed in Washington and I am expecting to meet with top NDI official during the day,” Djuric noted.