EU has emerged from dialogue frames, over borders

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has said that Kosovo will not give up tariffs for Serbian goods, despite European Union calls.

Haradinaj said his clashes with the European Union's foreign policy chief, Federica Moghrini, do not affect Kosovo's relations with the bloc where it aims to membership, but are a reflection of Kosovo's inadequate treatment from Brussels.

Voice of America: Mr. Prime Minister, you have just returned from a difficult meeting in Brussels with European Union foreign policy chief Federica Moghrini. What were the issues that led to the confrontation among you?

Ramush Haradinaj: Now there are three topics that are bothering us in the relationship between us and the EU: two are more exposed, it is the failure to meet the EU contract on visa liberalisation, even though Kosovo has fulfilled its share of the contract and the failure to take any responsibility in this case by High Representative Moghrin, Commissioner Hahn and other colleagues, who have left us alone to lobby in any government, and they can do this loosing that they know the case, know that the contract is fulfilled. Then, there is deviation, or exit from the control of dialogue, from a dialogue on normalisation, has become a status dialogue, or for territories or borders, which make sense. And it is the Kosovo library itself, the EU, which is very rigid in relation to Kosovo, so it keeps us there at the starting stage, but it does not allow us to move forward with other processes.

Voice of America: Let me get one for one. The European Commission has given the green light for visa liberalisation and the issue is now at the European Council, so beyond the hands of Mrs. Moghrin. Why did you focus your criticism on her?

Ramush Haradinaj: Now, let's get this straight: both the European Commission and the European Parliament have decided, this is the EU's top representative, just as it's called for foreign policy and security, so we don't see any continuation of the Kosovo agenda as a side that's in dialogue, and the economy of dialogue is Mrs. Moghrin in this case. We do not see any engagement of our side in dialogue -- that is, in a very difficult process -- to support Kosovo in a right of itself to its colleagues within the EU. This belongs to those ministers, has discussed with the Council of Ministers a few days ago, and has not considered it necessary, suppose, to put the issue of the visa liberalisation decision on Kosovo on the agenda as well. This is really a betrayal of Kosovo, if we talk like this, that has been very responsible in Kosovo relations - The EU, but also in respect of dialogue in the past.

Voice of America: What's her explanation for talking to you?

Ramush Haradinaj: Look, she has one, so to call it, a division of responsibilities, as you said, that it is now with the interior ministers, but we don't see any interest in the party, we have the high representative, that, whether it's lobbiing or clarifying, or convincing the ministers that the EU has entered into a pledge to Kosovo, that it is a contract fulfilled by either side, now fulfill them.

Voice of America: You've criticised Mrs. Moghrin for his negotiation disorder. But why have you directed criticism against her? The border issue is not raised by Ms. Mogheirni, raised by Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic. Why that focus?

Ramush Haradinaj: This is a new product in dialogue, border issues. What has facilitated the dialogue is days past that the mandate has been given to normalise the remaining open issues, not in turning back. Borders are back before February 17th (2008). If the issue of the territory is discussed, it is also contrary to the International Court's decision, which has not further challenged the international right to declare our independence. This is a setback, an exit from the frames, from the principles of dialogue in this case, for which the mandate has been given.

Voice of America: Why would she reject the ideas of the two presidents who are conducting the negotiations?

Ramush Haradinaj: You see, the host, or the facilitator, has taken a framework, which is normalization, not relationship disorder. You know, when territories and borders are spoken in the Balkans, is normalisation or is it a disorder?

Voice of America: You said in your speech yesterday that those who talk about borders are enemies of Kosovo, I quote you. There are also Kosovo allies who have supported such an opportunity if the parties agree. Are they also enemies?

Ramush Haradinaj: Whoever postponed Kosovo from discussing or opening the issue of our territory, of our borders, is an enemy. The kind of friend that opens your territory or your borders is true and does not change to anyone. So whoever we propose today that we re-discuss ourselves and our territory and our borders, we know what this is: this is an aggression against you. This is not the Allies' proposal, remember. This has been tried to get allies of the full. And if there is someone who is interested in such a situation of opening borders and moving with territories, it is Vladimir Putin and three thousand Russians in Serbia as humanitarians. But that's not the Allies. Allies have expressed respect for Kosovo and Serbia, telling them that we will examine what is applicable, if it does not stumble, if it does not intervene in stability, if respected by others. So it's not that the Allies have said clearly: divide you, replace territories that we accept. No. It's not like that.

Voice of America: But the president of the country is committed to what he called border correction...?

Ramush Haradinaj: We don't know exactly what this means, but the final Kosovo agreement -- Serbia -- has no subject to the Kosovo border. We have boundaries. It's about normalization. Demarketing is a completely separate process and does not have to be included in a Kosovo agreement, Serbia. We have the border. We have other problems. Serbia doesn't know us. We have a list of subjects. We have prepared a comprehensive agreement, a draft agreement that I had today in honour of handing over to our delegation that parliament voted on. I handed it over to the president and parliament a few days ago, so to the chief parliament, but also to the leaders of political parties in the country, the first proposal of the comprehensive draft agreement, binding, legal agreement, Kosovo, Serbia, for recognition.

Voice of America: How was this draft agreement expected by the European Union?

Ramush Haradinaj: They took it as an input, as Mrs. Mogher had said, as an input on trying to find a solution, or an agreement was reached. We will continue to consolidate, so to build this agreement until the delegation, which is a platform for Kosovo, has taken on obligation. So, the executive in this case will continue to build, so prepare me to get Kosovo's comprehensive contract ready.

The Voice of America: One of the issues that has become very controversial even in a recent-day correspondence is the issue of tariffs on Serbian goods. The European Union and Mrs. Mogherni again asked you to remove the fee, even offering a compromise. In what conditions, besides saying that not without Serbia's recognition, under what conditions would you agree to remove this tax, Mr. Prime Minister?

Ramush Haradinaj: We have repeatedly expressed our continuing concerns about not respecting CEFTA from Serbia. We've got barriers, but we haven't got tariphorus. Like. They didn't recognize us as a source of goods, didn't recognize the sign, didn't recognize the seal, meant nothing of Kosovo had been able to enter Serbia. Bosnia has done the same. You know we've even been banned by athletes. Our handball players have remained for hours waiting at the border for an international race there in Novi Sad. But the EU never does. I assure you that there are dozens of complaints, paperwork, requests for help; never have any discussion. You know it's the energy deal from which we lose 30 million and don't implement Serbia. We also lose millions in IBM (Integrated border management) and still do not implement Serbia. So all of our demands have never been considered. Serbia has not only respected trade economic relations with Kosovo, whether CEFTA or other relations, but has gone into aggression against us by jeopardising Kosovo's citizenship, whether it's a job to abolish recognitions, a job that is actually illegal, in most cases with illegal methods that approach numerous countries, but also with other threats, it was the case of INTERPOL, you know how that day went. As such, Kosovo has made a decision, it is the sovereign decision of a sovereign country that protects national security. No CEFTA rule, no world, forces you to remove a measure that protects national security. This is a mass of intestines. We didn't get it out of our wish. It's a measure when we had nowhere else to go. This decision has happened. This decision has several other possible actions that take place - others. When we took the measure of 10 percent, we have warned Serbia to stop growing. Serbia has increased aggression. We have not continued with new measures recently. We paused for a while, so we haven't gone on yet. But there is a reason to keep going. We have no reason to remove this arrangement on any particular subject. We have no reason. The only reason to remove this measure is for an agreement that solves problems. One by one, problems are not solved. Serbia does not comply. The only time we agree to remove the measure, when we sit down and deal with all the topics, including recognitions and one of the themes is free trade and we're interested in free trade. Otherwise, the situation has to go like this; the tax issue that has been decided by Kosovo is equivalise with recognition from Serbia. Why? We have an interest from Serbia: recognition, because of, to call it that, facilitating our international perspective. Not that our international perspective will not happen but facilitate recognition. Serbia also has an interest; the Kosovo market. Whenever they're ready, we're, there's no need to wait long. But if they're not today, we expect them.

Voice of America: Discussions about these issues led to your frequent clashes with the European Union and your foreign policy chief Mrs. Moghrin. There are also estimates of observers that this could jeopardise Kosovo's relations with the European Union. What do you think?

Ramush Haradinaj: I work hard, intensively with the separate governments of the European Union, of the respected countries. We have very reliable relations with most of these governments even with European Union institutions. We have certain differences with the high representative, they're content and it's understandable they are. Kosovo will not accept a position unlike any country in the region in relations with the European Union. It is not our fault that five EU states have not recognised us, it is their responsibility as the European Union when we speak, if they cannot resolve this, so with their five states they should not demand that Kosovo pay the price, so it is not our fault. If I say that three Kosovo municipalities are not thinking that way about my relations with the European Union or three ministers of my government are not thinking that way. We need to understand that relations are bilateral Kosovo-European Union, if the EU is ready, we continue.

Voice of America: But Kosovo needs the European Union and constant criticism of it do not they risk promoting anti-European feelings in Kosovo?

Ramush Haradinaj: Look, it doesn't have to happen like this, there's no reason for Kosovo to have an anti-European sense, but in Europe we see it as a side. Nobody needs another party unless nothing of the contract is implemented. What is the interest of Kosovo's citizen with the European Union that a simpler obligation -- that is visa liberalisation -- does not apply in the contract. What a long-term contractual relationship Kosovo will create if even this first relationship is not honored. We agreed, we checked the terms, we met those conditions, why isn't the contract fulfilled on the other side? It is not that we want to criticize, we are a respectable people like Kosovo and Albanians in general, but we are placed in such a position.

Voice of America: But, the European Union continues to have the key role even in the estimated one of Kosovo's most important processes, which is normalising relations with Serbia. How can all of this be reflected in this process, Mr. Prime Minister?

Ramush Haradinaj: What normality you'll forgive! How normal is the situation today?
Voice of America: You said you were in favor of the negotiations?
Ramush Haradinaj: We are for dialogue, but dialogue must be normalised. To normalise Kosovo-Serbia relations, the first condition is to normalise dialogue. If we think of dialogue as the dialogue on Kosovo's status, we have declared ourselves a state on February 17th 2008, who has the problem with that is their problem, but it is not mine, nor the people of Kosovo. There is the International Court's decision that Kosovo's declaration of independence is not in conflict with international law, so you see, it's not status, it's not also about territories, because we haven't put our territory, our border, our self, and we're the state like any other state. I request, for good reason, from every European Union official, from every official of any state, to behave with respect to who Kosovo is sovereign state. Whoever has a problem with this is not our problem then, so we can't change for everybody else's sake, somebody thinks of someone that, how do we as a country?

Voice of America: Serbia has conditioned the continuation of these talks with the removal of the fee you have imposed, Mr. Prime Minister. How can you harmonize these actions, maintain the tax, and engage in negotiations?

Ramush Haradinaj: But even we can set a condition, without apologizing we don't go into dialogue. I here where you sit have had Vasfije Krasniqi and I have heard her story, the victim of sexual violence in the war by Serb forces. There's about 20,000 ladies, we can go to the table by going through this so without an apology. Let's not forget that both Mr. Vucic and Mr. Dacic and others have been part of the camera in all processes. We agree to sit with them and the people have also asked us not to go into the dialogue without apologizing, do not go into dialogue without turning the missing, still today we wait for bodies without life to return to the border, this is the people of Kosovo, still today there is no justice for these massacres that have taken place in Kosovo and not to talk about raped women, as we go into dialogue. Then, someone tells us Serbia is not accepting without removing the tax. Well, don't admit it, if it's the kind of dialogue we need, forgive me, it's not dialogue on these cases.

Voice of America: But Kosovo, however, needs normalisation with Serbia or not, Mr. Prime Minister. Integration processes cannot be introduced without normalising relations with Serbia.

Ramush Haradinaj: We need normalization, but we don't need the process that has led us to the kind of trouble we are today. So we have no reason to remove the tax to return to a devastating process for Kosovo, when at the same time as the table happens, Serbia's aggression against us on the international plan, the internal and regional plan, why we should go back to that situation again. We have started a new course and must all understand that it is another Kosovo today, a Kosovo that has well analysed ten years of dialogue, has seen what has happened in the last five years that has been using dialogue to deceive states, by telling you Serbia, please remove recognition from knowing Kosovo that within the European Union we are negotiating the status of Kosovo, so it is not Kosovo state, we are and we are choosing status and with the possibility of coming back under Serbia. Why would we go back to that reality? What is the interest of the people of Kosovo? If someone actually thinks that we're so unconscious and ignorant, they've made a big mistake, we're respectable. We've all been helped by the international community, we're all going to honor this relationship of support and respect, but we can't get out of ourselves for the sake of someone and that's why I've been asking them since the dialogue, that you're saying normalisation is required, yes, but it's not possible the European Union, you see that without America I can't do this. If anyone thinks Mrs. Moghrin will solve the issue of Kosovo and Serbia, then he makes a serious mistake, this is seeing to have deteriorated under Mrs. Moghrin's leadership and it's good for Americans to enter the table. It is good to be invited to colleagues of Quinti countries and Berlin and to do this job, but it will not go as far as the relationship between the two peoples has gotten worse.

Voice of America: Does this requirement risk opening up the possibility for Serbia to seek its allies in these talks, Mr. Prime Minister, to catch Russia?

Ramush Haradinaj: See, issues that are under discussion most occur in Kosovo, so for very few topics of what happens in Serbia we discuss. Mr. Kurt had a statement yesterday about the material we gave him, he said it was Serbia's return, it's not. It is not true that we return Serbia, but the topics that are the subject of discussion, most of them occur in Kosovo and on the topics that happen in Kosovo, Russia will never have words, that everyone will understand, that we are parties to war with it and there will be no words, Kosovo is Kosovo. Russia has three thousand accredited in Serbia as humanitarian personnel and we know what humanitarian personnel are, we're always facing them, so we don't hide ourselves from two different worlds in this case and the question of resolving Kosovo-Serbia relations, but Quinti's countries can help, but we don't expect Russia's help on this topic.

Voice of America: You said even earlier that Serbia's recognition is important for Kosovo because it facilitates its work. Mr. Prime Minister in these circumstances, how do you think Serbia can be persuaded to recognise Kosovo when it has disobeyed Kosovo now and 10 years of age, respectively, have already been done since Kosovo's independence was declared?

Ramush Haradinaj: These have used Kosovo as a political, electoral card, to this day, as well as Kosovo Serbs. The only way to convince Serbia is to do housework, but at the same time to offer a respectable offer to Serbia.

Voice of America: Are you willing to do housework by not having a full consensus between political parties in Kosovo for the negotiation process, but also your reports with the president of Kosovo and the very different positions you have about this process?

Ramush Haradinaj: But I believe we're in a direction of internal consensus, so it's not in the direction it's done but we're working. This agreement that we have thus proposed has received criticism, so criticism and evaluations have been issued, but I don't see it as leaving, and I can't get rid of this document, I hope this document which I have had the honor of giving even respected ambassadors of Quinti countries, starting with the American ambassador, but also the other ambassadors in Kosovo, I believe we are going from one matter and there is no need for us to speak the same things, but the proposal is one for all of Kosovo. When Kosovo has a proposal and the opposition supports it with any specific remarks that every time it is, then we can say we have stable positions.