New resolution for future phase of dialogue with Serbia

Although resolutions have no binding character, MPs believe that a political stance and will of state representatives would be expressed through it, which would then have to be respected by political leaders who would represent the country in dialogue with Serbia, which is eased by the European Union.

Recent meetings in Brussels, in early July and late August of this year -- between the presidents of Kosovo and Serbia, Hashim Thaci and Aleksandar Vuciq -- have warned of the level of political representation at the presidential level, in the dialogue on normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

But MPs from the Kosovo Parliament, the ruling and opposition parties assess that a new resolution by the legislature is already needed, with which the framework of the new phase of dialogue with Serbia, the level of political representation and the responsibilities of the representative would be determined.

Ahmet Isufi, Kosovo Parliament deputy from the ranks of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, whose leader, Ramush Haradinaj, leads the country's executive, tells Free Europe Radio that there is already the need for a national consensus to determine the format of talks and platform which guarantees the protection of Kosovo's interests. For such a thing as well as the level of representation in the Brussels dialogue, according to him, a reconciliation of political leaders is needed.

The institutional and political “Liders should agree to a common agreement, creating the framework for dialogue, in the interest of Kosovo, as well as the Assembly to issue a resolution that would authorise the state authorities on how the dialogue should develop and who would represent it”, Isufi said.

Kosovo Assembly MP Driton Selmanaj from the opposition party ranks, the Democratic League of Kosovo, says that, before the new phase of dialogue begins in Brussels, it is necessary that the situation in the Kosovo Assembly be examined in terms of implementing the until-long agreements stemming from dialogue with Serbia, as well as the benefits from the process. According to him, if talks continue, in advance, should be clarified the roles of high institutions in relation to dialogue, and this should be done with a new Parliament resolution.

The “would be a guide to where Kosovo is going in this process, in this dialogue, what is the role of the prime minister and the Assembly in this process, what is the role of the president in the process. Then, to be established perhaps even the concessions on when this process might be completed, because it is said it will last a few years, but we have now entered the sixth year since the adoption of the last resolution of the Kosovo Assembly, with the authorisation of Government”.

Therefore, it is imperative and obligation today, that the Parliament once again be declared about it, so that even the individual weight and the individual decision of the president, which has taken on him, to involve himself into this process and others will be removed from the game, proposing similar ideas such as the UN Unity Group and so on”, says Selmanaj.

But, political development connoisseur Ilir Ibrahimi, speaking of Rel, expresses the opinion that presidential representation in the Brussels dialogue, if there is support for the European Union, should not be rejected by parliamentary political subjects. According to him, however, consensus must be built for this.

We're saying we need a consensus. If votes cannot be secured to pass a resolution in the Assembly, then it sends the message that such a consensus does not exist. This makes the position -- of anyone representing Kosovo in this dialogue, whether the president or prime minister -- weaker”.

Therefore, it is a time when the political spectrum in Kosovo should start thinking about things beyond individual party interests and thinking a little wider. This has not happened so far and all political parties, including Mr. Thaci, are to blame when he led the Democratic Party of Kosovo”.

About a month ago, in a debate organised between the heads of the Kosovo Parliamentary Groups and representatives of civil society, it was required that the legislature have a much more active role in the dialogue process, as well as the agreements reached with Serbia.

The Kosovo Assembly, on 18 October 2012, had adopted a resolution that envisioned normalising Kosovo's relations with Serbia. Political representation in the dialogue, so far, was at the prime ministerial level.