Sėka Ekip Unity for Dialogue with Serbia

Government Kosovo officials say that in terms of the establishment of the preparation team for the next phase of dialogue, the executive is in permanent contact with other institutions in the country.

Halil Matoshi from the cabinet of Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj tells Radio Free Europe that the formation of such a team is expected soon. According to him, the new phase of dialogue, Kosovo will approach a national consensus.

“As far as vital matters of national interest are concerned, Kosovo has never had a problem with representation, and certainly in the long term, a joint team of all institutions will be built. A national consensus will be built, respectively, a unique platform of all institutions, with which dialogue will resume. In that sense, I mean that Kosovo institutions -- practically, quietly but confidently -- have full consensus”, Matoshi said.

Despite Kosovo's president now and several months has warned of the need to create a sweeping political spectrum team for the next phase of dialogue, which has been dubbed “Ekip of Unity”, there is still no indication that such a team is in the beginnings of formation.

Bajram Gecaj from the Democratic League of Kosovo, minister in the past government led by Isa Mustafa, speaking of Radio Free Europe, has stressed that if there is any initiative to establish a Unity Team for Dialogue with Serbia, The LDK would examine such an initiative and then make the decision to participate in it or not.

So we haven't had without or had any serious efforts, not the president's, but the Government, to really deal with these issues of great importance, except that the President wants him to play the lead in this matter, completely bypassing the Parliament and Government”.

Gecaj has added that for a Unity Team for the final phase of dialogue, there should be preliminary discussions because he cannot be imposed. According to him, a Unity Team was created more than a decade ago for talks on Kosovo's final status, because the country was not yet internationally recognised as a state.

Today, we are an internationally recognised state and we don't need to have a society of unity. Unity is established in the Assembly, and the Government must lead the dialogue. No, the president, who does not respond to the Parliament and who has nothing to do with implementing any agreement that would be reached in Brussels. So if there is to be dialogue, especially if we are to enter the final phase of dialogue, then this should be co-ordinated with all political parties. So far, I don't know there's been any co-ordination like this, and it can't be imposed by the President of the Republic, but I believe neither from Brussels, nor from”.

On the other hand, Matoshi stresses that the Government's approach to the next phase of dialogue is very serious. According to him, considering that the latest phase of dialogue should be concluded with mutual recognition of the countries, as well as clearly defined the terms of the agreements, Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has demanded the involvement of the United States of America in the process.

Kosovo is on a trilateral path: EU integration, NATO integration and permanent relations with the United States. After all, without the involvement of Americans in dialogue, we doubt there will be significant results in this regard”, Matosh points out.

At the meeting, November 17th in Brussels, with EU High Representative Federica Moghrini, Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, had stressed that Kosovo's dialogue with Serbia must be reformed, set aside and end with a concrete result of mutual recognition between the two states. / REL