Thaci Editor for TAZ: Last Train for Last Peace

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci in an editorial for the prestigious German daily “Frankfurter Allgemaine Zeitung has written about relations and dialogue with Serbia.

Thaci writes that Kosovo and Serbia are dialogueing for more than six years under the auspices of the European Union and with strong support from the United States, towards the goal of normalising relations.

“We must acknowledge that major steps have been taken in this direction, reaching a peak with the signing of the First Agreement on the Principles of the Governance of the normalisation of the Relations between Kosovo and Serbia in 2013, yet the full normalisation of relations remains an unattainable goal”, he added.

According to him, our two states and people aspire to build a better future, one in which they are completely integrated into the European family (and in the case of Kosovo as well as in NATO) and in a future where they enjoy a higher standard of living and welfare situation different from the present reality.

But these goals can hardly be achieved with the continuation of what is essentially a frozen conflict between our two states”, he added.

Thaci wrote in To date, Kosovo and Serbia have had three rounds of international negotiations -- in Rambouillet in 1999, in Vienna in 2005-2007 and now in Brussels since 2011.

I was part of all three negotiations and am proud to say that Kosovo has always agreed to agreements that were mediated by the international community. Serbia, on the other hand, does not accept Kosovo's independence and continues to impose many resources to undermine our efforts to strengthen Kosovo's international subjectivity”, Thaci has written in this editorial.

He has further said that because of this hostile stance, Serbia's aspirations for EU membership remain uncertain. According to him, the two states are blocked and their Euro-Atlantic future depends on their ability to reach a final historic agreement on normalising relations and reconciliation.

The “Dialogue in Brussels has dragged on. The April 2013 agreement was a political triumph, but it has already been four years since it was reached and the implementation of some agreement provisions is still stalled. While technical nature was a prerequisite for starting negotiations, now is the time to face the known problem; the issue that makes implementation of the most difficult technical agreements: lack of reconciliation and mutual recognition”, Thaci stressed in the editorial for FAZ.

According to him, the credibility of the dialogue has been questioned even as we are making progress in certain areas, because it is clear to any overseer of these conversations that antagonism between states is just as evident today as it has always been.

For example, while talks in Brussels have produced an agreement on Kosovo's participation in regional organisations, Serbia continues to campaign strongly against membership bids in international organisations made by Kosovo, even when these memberships would benefit the Serbian Orthodox Church's cultural heritage in Kosovo (offer to U n NESTO or Kosovo Serbs” has added the president.

Thaci has written that gradual successes at isolated points have all been important, but at this speed, our relations could probably normalise within 100 years.

According to him, it has become clear that the time has come for a greater and clearer vision and a leadership that addresses the issues between us forever. He has added and the fundamental issue is of course that we continue to view each other as opponents, hiding our deep divisions under the carpet, is not a solution and would not lead to reconciliation.

We can't agree with where we're going if we have a basic disagreement about where we come from. That's why I've doubled my efforts to deal with some of the most difficult questions about our past, creating a Commission for Truth and Compatation”, Thaci has recalled.

He has said that ultimately, we believe that achieved would be to sign a final agreement on normalisation and reconciliation between our two states.

According to him, through it we would be committed to settle all disputes by peaceful means. Thaci has written that in the end, the historic agreement between Kosovo and Serbia should include mutual recognition as the only way to end all disputes once and for all.

The achievement of this final goal is extremely difficult for both countries and requires bold and wise leadership. I firmly believe that both in Kosovo and Serbia, leadership remains committed to what our people expect of us to achieve peace among us. For this to happen, we all have to be creative and be willing to make further compromises. It must be clear to all of us to do this is necessary for the sake of the lasting peace of our peoples and generations that are coming”, he wrote.

Thaci at FAZ wrote that just as it should have the final solution to our conflict recognised historical and current realities, it must also address future demands.

According to him, the future of Kosovo and Serbia, like that of the rest of the Balkans, is like friendly neighbours within the European Union.

I am convinced that normalisation and reconciliation is the first step to free us from the weight of the past and a step that will lead us to a brighter future. It is clear that when we do so, the European Union should recognise our efforts, and that as long as we change speed to our corner of Europe, a speed must be changed to the accession train in Brussels and European capitals alike. We have to make sure we don't miss the last train for a lasting”, Thaci wrote.