The President of the country has NEVER requested the construction of any presidential residence, be it with a private yard, private quarters, or any other form of personal luxury. The conceptual plan announced for the construction of the presidential premises has not received the President’s approval. In line with the applicable legal framework, the President will formally request that the plan be revised to reflect the actual needs and specific requirements of the Republic of Kosovo.
Firstly, the President has called for proceeding solely with the construction of an official Presidential facility, intended to host meetings and formal state receptions. Kosovo remains the only country in Europe – if not in the world – where the Head of State lacks a designated venue for carrying out his/her official duties. At present, receptions are held in Assembly halls, while visiting leaders from friendly states are faced with the stench of sewage, due to the inadequate conditions on the floor where the current office is situated. There is no venue for hosting official state receptions (they are held in hotels), no space for accommodation for high-level guests, and no dedicated setting for official dinners or luncheons, which the Republic of Kosovo still organizes in private restaurants = a completely unusual practice for any serious country. It is deeply embarrassing that, even 26 years after liberation, such a fundamental issue remains unresolved.
Secondly, even if construction were to begin for an official presidential facility on the plot allocated to the Presidency since the time of President Rugova, its completion would take no less than 5 to 6 years, making it evident that President Osmani would not benefit from such a facility during her current term. Thus, any claim suggesting she is building it “for herself” is entirely unfounded and reflects a failure to grasp the importance of dignified institutional functioning and the need for minimum working conditions.
The President has not authorized the construction of private suites or quarters but has solely requested office and formal reception spaces, including a reception suite for international guests and counterparts visiting Kosovo – a standard practice in every presidency around the world.
Ultimately, the President has urgently called for legal avenues to be identified to amend the current specifications, which in no way reflect her vision of an official presidential facility (let alone a private residence).
The construction of such a facility for the Presidency (not for President Osmani) is not a luxury, but a state-level necessity to ensure dignified working conditions, institutional security, and a level of representation befitting the state of Kosovo.
