Thaci for the Swiss newspaper speaks of Dick Marty, the Special Court, KLAHAN and dialogue

The most read newspaper in Switzerland “B LICK” has wrapped up a long cycle of writing for Kosovo with an interview with Kosovo President Hashim Thaci. In this interview, Thaci has talked about his stay in Switzerland, the Albanian diaspora there, about co-operation between Kosovo and Switzerland, and about political developments in Kosovo and the region.

Speaking to the Kosovo diaspora, Thaci has said Kosovars living and working in Switzerland are becoming proud of the Swiss state.

Thaci for “B LICK” has stressed that the perception of Albanians in Switzerland has already changed, while Albanians are fully integrated.

We are very good to know that Shaqiri, Behram, Jaka, are among the heroes of Switzerland and that every Swiss family would like to have a part of it. Kosovars are giving a prideary identity to Switzerland. I am very proud of this”, he said, adding that Kosovo's young talents have confirmed Switzerland in the world as well.

The president has said that the diaspora is a very good connection between our peoples.

Many of those people you see through Zurich, Sengalen, Geneva or Bern are seen in Pristina. Our ties are very close, they come to family, relatives, but they also visit the country, look at the possibilities for life”, he added.

The president has shown how he and his father have had the fortune of at a time of Serbian depression in Kosovo, living for three years in Switzerland.

It's a wonderful memory for those people and for that place. I am very grateful to the Swiss state, the Swiss society that has understood, waited and integrated Kosovars. Today I feel so good that people who at the time were just looking for shelter in the sense of continuing their existence, are now integrated and are part of the pride of Swiss society”, he added.

President Thaci has also been asked about the role the diaspora has followed in establishing and supporting Kosovo's war and Liberation Army.

“The KLA is founded in Kosovo. The Kosovo diaspora has been powerful in Switzerland, that diaspora has backed the Kosovo people's struggle for the liberation of the country, that's all. People have shared mouth bites to help”, he stressed.

In the question that KLA people are being seen as an obstacle in Belgrade, President Thaci has said there were 2 million people in the KLA, all were supportive.

For me, every citizen of Kosovo is a deliverer. Every citizen was part of the Homeland War. And things like that don't stay. I have governed three mandates with Serbs and had excellent co-operation. If someone thinks of having Kosovo without the spirit of the national war, then there should be no Albanian at all”, he has continued.

The president has made it clear that Kosovo cannot be led by the loyal people of Belgrade. According to him, Kosovo will always be guided by the democraticly elected people. In this interview, President Thaci has also talked about relations between the two states. According to him, they are excellent, as long as Switzerland has been one of the first countries to recognise Kosovo and we are very grateful to it. Speaking of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Thaci has said that reconciliation should occur between Kosovo and Serbia and that dialogue has no alternative.

“Dialogue with Serbia will continue at another stage, that of fully normalising relations and reconciliation between our states, between Kosovo and Serbia, which I believe may begin during autumn. So Kosovo is one, it's unique”, he stressed.

President Thaci has indicated his visit to northern Kosovo, saying that there are our customs officers there, we have our police is multiethnic, our institutions are.

Of course, if you visit the North, it is a difference with the rest of Kosovo that it has remained undeveloped due to political blockades. Therefore, those people need more economic development, new jobs than nationalism, or manipulation by Serbia”, he has said.

The president has been asked about the special court and the charges of Dick Marty. His charges, Thaci has called them fanatical and false reports.

“Our homeland war has been fair and clean. For Kosovo to be free and independent, there are not only friends and partners, but there have also been opinions. I heard such statements, but he didn't waste time on them, he said.

Asked about Dick Martin, Thaci has said he has been against Kosovo's independence, even against NATO bombings, so the source should be sought at his political position in relation to Kosovo. The goal has been clearly to present Kosovo as a failed state, which will not be achieved, because history no one will be able to rewrite”, he said.

The president has said that the Special Court should be seen as a possibility of Kosovo being removed permanently from slander. At the end of the interview, President Thaci has appealed to the diaspora to integrate more and for Kosovo to continue to boast with them.