Kurti: That's why Ivanov was killed

Vetevendosje Movement leader Albin Kurti, in an interview for Bosnia's news agency Partria has spoken of Serbia's influence in Kosovo, claiming that the Serbian state policy is not allowing Kosovo to move ahead of their integration goals. Asked about Vetevendosje's influence on Kosovo's Parliament, as well as the policies that the Vetevendosje Movement has implemented over these years, Kurti replied:“Vevendosje is the first party in Kosovo, we have more than 200 thousand voters and 32 seats in the Parliament, but in the inability to secure the majority of 50 per cent, the government has been created by a coalition of 16 parties, including Prime Minister Haradinaj's party with 11 seats in the Parliament<1).

Kurti in this interview added that the subject he leads is for dialogue, a dialogue with Kosovo Serbs, and for the domestic problems of the latter, including unemployment and other daily problems. “We are for dialogue, an internal dialogue with Kosovo Serbs, for problems that distract us daily, such as unemployment, rule of law, human rights, the fight against corruption and organised crime, as well as other daily problems that concern the lives of Kosovo citizens, of any nationality. ” said Kurti. Kurti added that dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia is an unfair and uneven dialogue, because according to him Serbia should recognise Kosovo's independence as well as give responsibility for war crimes in Kosovo. “Dialog with Serbia, as long as it does not recognise Kosovo's independence, there are territorial claims against it, it has not repented and regretted war crimes, it cannot be equal. So far by the International Community, much has been invested in this dialogue, but this has yielded no results. We are still experiencing a huge impact on Belgrade's policies in Serb-run areas, especially in northern Kosovo, and this influence is affecting and denying Kosovo's territorial integrity. The example is the Serbian List, which is the largest Serbian party commanded by Belgrade”, Kurti added. Kurti also spoke of Ivanovic's murder, where he said two things remain in this crime, the question of who ordered Ivanovic's murder, who worked for negotiations and peace in Kosovo, and where are the agreements reached between Serbs and Kosovo Albanians following Ivanovic's murder today?“There are two explanations: One that Serbia wants to show is present in northern Kosovo, and thus make it clear that this part will never be Kosovo, as well as that the state keeps Serbia with its security organs, taking into account the professionalisation of this crime. As the second explanation is that Ivanovi has participated in the conduct of war crimes, many Albanians recognised him during the trial as members of various paramilitary formations, the fact that he could in the future be a possible witness for those crimes, may be a cause that they have eliminated him”, Kurti Kurti said that Ivanovic's murder would not affect the relationship between Albanians and Serbs because according to him they are all convinced that Albanians have nothing to do with this murder.