Mustafa: Resigns in the north, preparations for partition by Kosovo

Radio Free Europe: The Kosovo government has imposed a 100 per cent tax on products of Serbia and Bosnia. How do you see the effect of this decision and how much support do you have in the government?

Isa Mustafa: The effects are not quite clear yet. Political effects, it seems, are not what he expected. Government of the Republic of Kosovo, because Serbia's propaganda is now exploiting these effects for its own interests. Now we have a situation, which has been evacuated north of the country, with the resignation of four mayors, and also complaints at gatherings that they have bread problems, drug problems, other articles and that they are discriminated against it. Meanwhile, this move has not been oriented towards citizens of the Republic of Kosovo. There are also, warnings of rising prices in the country.

So, I consider that is a massWhich was not well thought of by the government. Not that Serbia has deserved such a move, but that the Government has not taken into account all the consequences of this move.

Meanwhile, we also have international and European reactions, yesterday was the reaction of the German government. We have also had reactions from the United States, which means that international opinion and friendly states, consider such a move unacceptable, which is contrary to CEFTA and is not in the spirit of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement.

Radio Free Europe: In addition to reactions from Serbia, there was a response by the mayors of northern municipalities with their resignations. Do you see danger from the slide, conditionally said, of the north in parallel institutional organisation?

Isa Mustafa: I think, as it says, danger is in front of the door. The danger is too great. For me, a completely inferior behaviour of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo is meaningless to me to what is happening in the north, because neither Government nor Parliament are dealing with that issue. I think it's a very serious matter.

Giving Resignment by Chiefs, then the resolution that they will interrupt communication with Pristina, respectively with the central institutions of the Republic of Kosovo, then the resignation of prosecutors and judges in the country's north are issues that must counter or react to Kosovo institutions.

We've spent a long time integrating this part of the north into institutions in the Republic of Kosovo, I consider that it has been achieved quite a lot, not all we've wanted, so the slide of the north from the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo is quite distressing.

I see this also a preparation for the division of the north from the country, because they are now exploiting pure propaganda in their gatherings. Certainly informed by Belgrade and Vuciqi directly, as if they are discriminated against. Therefore, I consider that Kosovo institutions, are behaving irresponsiblely towards the situation in the north, and it is dangerous that what has been publicly said should become the correction of borders, the exchange of territories, division, etc., it is happening to us because of an indolence and irresponsible conduct of the Parliament and Government of the Republic of Kosovo.

Radio Free Europe: All these developments are being linked to the process. dialog The eventual agreement that can be expected between Kosovo and Serbia. What should be the agreement, according to you, that Kosovo should aim at dialogue with Serbia?

Isa Mustafa: Even for the opinion in Kosovo, for all of us, and the leaders of political parties, I speak in this case even for the LDK and for me, it is unclear what is being targeted. This, because while I was prime minister in any case on the table the question of one was not settled Final Agreement or the issue of borders or other issues, which are sensitive, which question what we have accomplished so far.

I consider Serbia should recognise Kosovo's independence, and after that happens, then we have to sit down and for things that we jointly consider to be making progress further, we have to make progress, we must jointly agree that those issues are moving forward. But for us it is unacceptable that these issues pre-continually conditioned or related to deadlines and to say that the European Commission's deadline is by the end of next year's spring, and that issue must be completed, because it is very important issues for Kosovo, which can be connected and extended.

Radio Free Europe: Do you consider the idea of changing borders still an option?

Isa Mustafa: For LDK in no case is an option. We'll never agree with you. Change of borders, with correction, with the exchange of territories, because we consider it to be a completed issue, the borders of Kosovo are defined as the boundaries of other republics of the former Yugoslavia, which have been transformed before Kosovo into states. It is the borders in which Kosovo has declared independence. It is the borders that Kosovo has declared independence on, are the limits for which the International Court of Justice has given a positive opinion of our right to declare independence and independence. Are limits which are defined with the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo and we have no reason to now comply with borders.

There are other issues we can talk about with Serbia and there are issues that of course we need to find space in order to become mutual recognition from both countries, that is, recognition of independence, but not in any way through compensation through the borders or territory of the Republic of Kosovo.

Radio Free Europe: As for the position of the Serb community in Kosovo, what solution can Kosovo offer?

Isa Mustafa: I consider that we have given the maximum in terms of citizens' rights that are not majority in Kosovo and Serbs, and with the Ahtisaari Pack, they have more representatives than, proportionally with the population number, they belong to the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo. Serb majority municipalities, as well, have greater asymmetric rights compared to other municipalities in Kosovo.

However, I always see space that we fully use all European standards to make progress and advance the rights of the population not majority, because it doesn't harm us, it only creates a communication or a better atmosphere of life of all citizens in Kosovo in this case I consider that the issue is not exercised by Belgrade in this form, but they are interested in taking a part of Kosovo.

They're interested in practically destroying what we've achieved so far, I'm talking about Kosovo's independence, because I doubt the issues are being dealt with seriously on the part of Serbia, but the very fact that they are working directly through a propaganda of Kosovo's non-recognition by the states, which have recognised it, they are not interested in moving this process forward. They are interested in destroying what we have accomplished during this period and we should not allow it in any way.

Radio Free Europe: During the next year, the LDK will hold domestic elections. Would you run for party chairman again?

Isa Mustafa: We have not discussed this issue in the Democratic League of Kosovo. We'll leave an open process. I appreciate that it would be good to have as many candidates as possible who will show their interest in LDK chairman. Of course, all of this depends on the mood that we have in the branches, through the underside of LDK, on our structures. We want to complete this process and complete it with full unity in the LDK, in full compliance.

I consider that they are always positive for political parties, separately for us in Kosovo, to make transitions, which are positive, which create a positive spirit and for which, of course, the LDK membership is interested.