AAK: Parliament must decide who directs dialogue with Serbia

Their reactions have followed Monday's meeting in Brussels, between Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, who have warned a new phase of dialogue between the two countries, with the relief of the European Union.

Pal Lekaj, deputy chairman of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, the subject that is within the pre-election coalition with the Democratic Party of Kosovo and the Initiative for Kosovo, speaking of Radio Free Europe, says the new phase of this dialogue should be more conservative and that goes in favour of strengthening the state of Kosovo and mutual recognition.

“We think we should first have a clear framework for dialogue, a timeline and topic that goes in favour of strengthening the state and resolving the problems we have with Serbia. Therefore, perhaps the time has come for dialogue to be much clearer, more conservative, with themes that go in favour of strengthening the state of Kosovo and mutual recognition. So far, politics has allowed Belgrade to address Kosovo's internal issues. Now, in this case, there's no reason to think of anything like that, Lekaj said.

But, Albulen Haxhiu of the Vetevendosje Movement, tells Radio Free Europe that this political subject continues to be against dialogue with Serbia.

“We consider that this dialogue with Serbia should not continue in any way, and of course that the Vetevendosje Movement, now and as long, has clear positions on the dialogue process. We consider that the dialogue launched so, without principle and unconditional conditions, is at the expense of the Republic of Kosovo and in this direction, we are against this dialogue, because what we have said is evidence that any agreement signed in Brussels is in favour of Serbia and in favour of Kosovo”.

So far, meetings in Brussels have been held mainly at the political level of prime ministers, and the current presidential level meeting presents a new dimension of dialogue.

However, Lekaj says it is up to the Kosovo Assembly, following its constitutionalisation, to determine what the political level of representation in dialogue with Serbia will be.

“Now, we need to think carefully, have specific forms for dialogue and have the decision from the Kosovo Parliament on who will lead the dialogue with Serbia. Any kind of decision brought by the Assembly of Kosovo, I think should be clear, with clear frames and who will lead the dialogue”.

Meanwhile, Haxhiu considers Kosovo President Hashim Thaci should not go to the meeting in Brussels at all to negotiate a new phase of dialogue.

For us it is unacceptable that Hashim Thaci, in this way, in these circumstances, as well as considering that the same is the key responsibility for all concessions that are done at the expense of Kosovo, go and talk or continue a new round of talks, already at the presidential level. It is the same man, so except that he is already president, but to bear in mind that the same, at the time he was prime minister of the country, has been constantly dealing with concessions at the expense of the Republic of Kosovo in unfair negotiations with Serbia”.

Pristina and Belgrade have held the latest summit on 1 February.

The two countries have reached the first agreement on normalising relations in April 2013. / REL/.