Thaci insists: Albania's passports to Kosovars, Europe unfair to Kosovo

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has given an interview to the Vienna newspaper “Der Standard” in which he has clarified his proposal for Kosovo citizens to be equipped with Albanian citizenship.

He has said it has resulted from no visa liberalisation. According to Thaci, citizens have lost confidence that the European Commission could have a positive agenda for Kosovo.

Standard: You have proposed that Kosovars be equipped with Albanian citizenship. Why, really? Why?

President Thaci: Kosovo has been left in isolation, there is still no visa liberalisation. My proposal is in full compliance with the laws of Kosovo and Albania. They have the right to duality, just as we do. It is truly absurd that students and business people who need to travel are hindered by exercising their basic right. The European Commission has been unfair to Kosovo. Therefore, citizens are losing confidence that the European Commission may have any positive agenda for Kosovo.

Standard output: If there is visa liberalisation, then Kosovars will not need Albanian citizenship. Or do you want, despite this issue, all Kosovars to be equipped with Albanian citizenship?

Thaci: It is up to Kosovars to decide whether they want duality or not. But if the European Commission continues with this isolation, even condemning Kosovo, then likely that will happen. Kosovo has fully met 94 of the 95 criteria for visa liberalisation. We have been playful, but meeting these criteria is not rewarded by the European Commission. The European Commission is focused only on Serbia and is concerned only about Serbia, but not other Western Balkan states. The EU needs leadership when integration and enlargement policies are at stake.

Standard output: The visa liberalisation agreement with Montenegro has not yet been ratified. Only when that happens will Kosovo have a chance to get a liberalisation.

Thaci: Kosovo and Montenegro are strategic partners and have excellent relations. The demarcation is not a dispute between Kosovo and Montenegro, but a political internal issue here in Pristina. We were surprised when the European Commission set it as a condition. But ratification of demarcation by one condition turned into a trap for Kosovo.

Standard output: So, don't you think Kosovo will be able to ratify this agreement soon?

Thaci: I hope that happens soon in Parliament, but we still don't have a date for this issue. But we remain concerned because it could easily happen that even despite ratification of the demarcation, the European Commission would hesitate to successfully complete the visa liberalisation process.

Standard output: Have you discussed your proposal that Kosovars be equipped with Albanian citizenship with Albania's prime minister, Edi Rama?

Thaci: If a state allows dual citizenship, that is citizens' right. Kosovo Serbs have the citizenship of Serbia, Montenegrins of Kosovo have the citizenship of Montenegro. Most of the political elite, media from Kosovo already have Albanian citizenship. Why not even have students, businessmen, and citizens? It is no longer a political issue but a practical need and are in question of human rights. I'm not a nostalgic when it's Tito's Yugoslavia, but 30 years ago we moved cheaper than today. It's a huge injustice happening here even though we are the most pro-European state in the Balkans.

Standard output: Have you spoken with Prime Minister Rama on this matter?

Thaci: My message was clear to everyone.

Standard output: Several weeks ago I spoke with Prime Minister Rama, and he said border management between Albania and Kosovo would be easier. Does this mean that people travelling between Albania and Kosovo can do so without border controls?

Thaci: This is in line with EU rules. It's about integrated border management. We have placed these not only at the border with Albania, but also with Montenegro and Serbia. We want open borders between all countries and not what the EU is doing, namely building mental walls. As the EU tries to lecture the American president, Trump, for building the wall, it is building mental walls in Southeast Europe itself. These mental walls are even more dangerous than the physical division of humans.

Standard output: If all Kosovars have Albanian citizenship, then they can all vote in Albania, and that would boost concern for a Greater Albania. This, on the other hand, would lead to the concern that there could be something like Greater Serbia, which would imply the dissolution of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Would that not lead to instability in the Balkans?

Thaci: Bosnian Serbs already have Serb citizenship, and Bosnian Croats have Croatian citizenship. Why should Kosovars be excluded from this? It's in accordance with the Constitution. There is also the possibility that citizens from neighbouring countries will accept Kosovo citizenship. It is not about changing borders, but about freedom of movement and rights guaranteed by the constitution.

Standard output: So it's not about Greater Albania?

Thaci: No, this is about Great Albania, but it's about freedom of movement, about a human right. We are witnesses that the European Commission is only rewarding Serbia. And that happens at a time when people sentenced by the Tribunal for Yugoslavia, after their return to Serbia, are being rewarded with higher positions in state institutions. Serbia is making progress in negotiations with the EU not because it is meeting European standards, but because it is blackmailing the EU with the Russian “server”. Furthermore, Serbia does not implement agreements reached in the dialogue with Kosovo. And yet it is rewarded.

Standard output: When will the next step in dialogue with Serbia take place?

Thaci: After the local elections. Dialogue has no alternative. We want to conclude with a final historical agreement the process of normalisation and reconciliation.

Standard output: So dialogue can resume this year?

Thaci: I hope so.

Standard output: There are many rumors about northern Kosovo. There is also the position in Serbia that northern Kosovo, which is mostly inhabited by Serbs, will join Serbia under such an agreement. Is Kosovo ready to give up northern Kosovo?

Thaci: Once and for all, we must see that dividing people along ethnic lines is not a solution. Kosovo is a sovereign state and has its territorial integrity. Change of borders cannot offer sustainable solutions, despite the fact that Albanians in the region live in five different states. But division on ethnic lines is not a solution. We have to work for a European model with open borders in a region, and all Balkan states are integrated into the EU.