The will of people to be heard for final agreement with Serbia

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has said in an interview for Radio Free Europe that Kosovo and Serbia should conclude the issue of hostilities with an agreement on normalising mutual reports.

He has defended his idea that the final agreement with Serbia is also subject to the referendum.

I think that beyond the carriers of institutions beyond the Government, beyond the Parliament, we must this time convey this agreement to our sovereign by means of his will, the people of Kosovo. And this option should be offered”, Thaci declared.

He is currently staying in New York, where he is holding meetings with international representatives in the Magnaries of the UN General Assembly, has said that Kosovo will also soon have its place in this organisation.

Rel: Mr. President, you're staying in New York where the General Assembly of the United Nations works. But Kosovo is not a member of the UN and that all your activity is held in the margins of this Assembly. There, you have also met with Chief of European Diplomat Federica Moghrini and Serbia's President Aleksandar Vuciq. So how do you see the continuation of dialogue with Serbia at the time when Kosovo has finally formed new institutions?

Hashim Thaci: Definitely dialogue between the state of Kosovo and Serbia, under the leadership of the European Union, namely the lady's (Federica) Moghrini and the strong and direct support of the United States of America, will take on a new dynamic in the new agenda for reaching the final agreement, meaning the full normalisation of interstate relations, and reconciliation among our peoples.

Even here in New York, under the organisation of Mrs. Mogherin, we have held a meeting with Serbia's (Aleksandar) president, Vuciq, with whom we discussed the form, manner and possibilities of continuing dialogue for reaching the final agreement, which would mean safe Euro-Atlantic prospects for Kosovo, to be part of the UN, and to speed up the process for membership in NATO and the European Union, and, of course, in the context of this and the European perspective of Serbia.

There are still more frequent meetings and concrete ideas that will result from an agreement acceptable to both countries and that can be understood, interpreted and the reality of victory for Kosovo, for Serbia and international community investments.

Rel: You mentioned the referendum on the results of this dialogue. What did you think with this referendum since there are reservations about this idea in Pristina?

Hashim Thaci: Now we live in the world of democracy, political pluralism and for every idea there are comments, there are opinions, there are different estimates, which I as president of the country, but even earlier, I highly appreciate. I think that people have not yet been taught that a referendum can be organised in Kosovo, but something like that could be organised in full co-ordination of the country's institutions, respecting constitutional and legal mechanisms with a unity of political spectrum, civil society, media and all people in Kosovo.

The final agreement with Serbia will be historic agreements, after a problem and conflict for more than a century, between our countries and our peoples.

Therefore, I think that this final agreement should not remain hostage to daily political problems, or political party campaigns, or a certain political address. It should be put above the interests of any party, ideology, or personality in the sense of opinion on this agreement.

I think that beyond the carriers of institutions, beyond the Government, beyond the Parliament, even though there are representatives (of the people) in the Assembly, we must this time convey this agreement to our sovereign by means of his will, the people of Kosovo. And this opportunity should be offered.

Rel: Likewise, Kosovo does not have the Law for Referendum either, does it mean that such a law will already be initiated?

Hashim Thaci: In advance, I would like to stress that the dialogue should begin, then we will look through the process of how things will flow, and in the event of reaching the agreement, the law on referendum will be initiated on specific concrete issues.

Rel: Mr. President, what is your idea of forming a unity team for talks with Serbia? You think you can get the opposition involved in this team?

Hashim Thaci: So institutionally, we as the Kosovo political spectre every time we worked and acted together, we've noted progress, we've scored success, and that success has also resulted in the field and resulted in the benefit of the people of Kosovo. So it has been in Rambouillet, so it has been in the Vienna process, and I think now that we are in an important phase of the historic agreement with Serbia, I think it would be in interest that again, the owners of institutions, the entire political spectrum interested in participating, also civil society, influential personalities in public opinion, the media, representatives of religious communities, we should all become together and work together to conclude this process, which would mean Kosovo membership in the UN and other Euro-Atlantic mechanisms. Therefore, I think that all are interested in moving these issues faster, better, and together we can definitely organise these goals that are vital and historical for our country.

Rel: Lastly, the Kosovo government has withdrawn the demand for Kosovo's membership in INTERPOL, was this reflection of the lack of international support?

Hashim Thaci: I don't have any official information or report about the application but also about the eventual attraction of what you're talking about. I'll be informed in detail and then give you my official opinion. But what I can say is that Kosovo will membership in international mechanisms and it is an unstoppable route. But for everything there will have to be a clear analysis and have a high state responsibility even in the event of application and commitments, but also in our final efforts for membership in international mechanisms. Kosovo deserves to be part of even INTERPOL and other international mechanisms, and that will happen.

Rel: During your visit to New York, how many have you managed to meet representatives of states and how much are you able to affirm the issue of new recognitions, necessary to secure Kosovo a UN seat?

Hashim Thaci: Kosovo will definitely be part of the United Nations Organisation, in a process we need to work on further. Unfortunately, Russia still maintains its position in relation to Kosovo on the Security Council. But our participation in the United Nations General Assembly works margins of the United Nations Assembly is a good opportunity to talk to states that have recognised Kosovo, to thank and to pay attention to Kosovo. And to discuss with states that are in the process of recognition, to accelerate the process of recognition, but also with the reluctant countries with the rejecting countries, to clarify the need in the best interests of recognising Kosovo's independence.