Thaci: Ohrid Agreement Guarantees for Equality and Justice

On Sunday, there are 16 years from the signing of the Ohrid Agreement in Macedonia.

What is the assessment about the document from your prism as the president of Kosovo?

Thaci: The Ohrid Agreement was the result of commitment to equality and justice. It was the result of the dialogue and aspirations of all for long-term and sustainable stability. Implementation of the agreement strengthens the foundations of Macedonia's state and contributes to strengthening social and ethnic cohesion in Macedonia. But positive developments in Macedonia have an impact on the entire region. The Ohrid Agreement, the spirit that promotes it and the successes in its implementation reflect positively throughout our region and beyond.

Do you think past politics, which in some form was regid to Albanian demands, can continue? What do you expect from the new Prime Minister Zoran Zaev as far as MO's implementation is concerned, after the government recently adopted the Law on Language?

Thaci: The Southeast European states are multiethnic states and good interethnic and interethnic relations are the future of the region. Political developments in the region show that political leaders, but also all societies, are defined for dialogue, co-operation and good inter-side relations. Regional mechanisms that enable regional co-operation on both the economic and political plains, both the SEECP and CEFTA, but also the A5 and the Berlin Process.

The governments of Southeast Europe are committed to deepening co-operation and integration into the European Union family, to enjoy and promote the same values today that the EU represents. This is the destination of the entire region, and this is the framework of values and principles that should promote every political leader in the region today.

Where do you think the biggest achievements and impasses are about the Ohrid document and what would be your message for Albanian leaders in Macedonia?

Thaci: Always more challenging is implementing agreements than reaching them. The Ohrid Agreement is implemented in wisdom, patience and with co-operation and constructiveity. These qualities have been needed to avoid the risks of slipping from the goal, despite the challenges of delays. These are the qualities that every leader has in the first place has the interest of the community and the society in which he lives.

What should be Pristina's role regarding Albanian rights in Macedonia? And what significance would you give as the president of Kosovo?

Thaci: Kosovo and Macedonia have strong political, institutional, but cultural ties, even many of our citizens and family ties. By building free societies where the law rules, where there is economic development, we help our countries, but also the entire region. As president of Kosovo, it will continue to work and promote dialogue, co-operation, good relations among neighbours, and the integration of our entire region into NATO and the EU, such as the guarantee of lasting peace and stability throughout our region.

How do you describe developments in the region?

Thaci: In many of the countries of the Southeast European region, there have been general elections in the past year. In all these elections, political forces promoting Euro-Atlantic values have prevailed. I can say that the trend of political developments in the region is such as promoting dialogue, integration, stability and co-operation. That's what you're really looking for, even the citizen of our region.

And where is Kosovo?

Thaci: Even in Kosovo we have completed a successful electoral process. There have been elections with the participation of all communities. Now it is expected that the new government will continue reforms we are successfully developing, whether in the economy or in the rule of law or in the construction of democratic institutions. Next year Kosovo marks the first decade as a state. Without becoming a decade before the declaration of independence, we have been able to sign a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union and have been accepted as a candidate country in “Mollenium Challenge Corporation” of the American Congress. This best shows the success of reforms in Kosovo. There is no doubt that our journey as a new country has been challenging, and we will certainly face many other challenges. But what can surely be said is that we are on the right path. With wisdom and patience, which we have testified that we have, we will also realise our future aspirations, our country's membership in NATO and the EU.