Soltes: There is will to abolish visas, but Kosovo also has a fight against corruption

He for Free Europe radio has said that in terms of Kosovo's integration process, he says convinced that following the ratification of demarcation, in a distant future, the EU will lift the visa regime for Kosovo citizens. While waiting for many challenges for Kosovo institutions to be clarified during April, when the European Commission will publish its newest Progress Report.

Radio Free Europe: What is the prospect of visa liberalisation for Kosovo citizens after ratification of the demarcation?

Igor Soltes: Following the ratification of border demarcation, this issue (visa liberalisation) will now return to the European Parliament and the European Council. Where the decision is made about the free movement regime, without visas. The European Council must confirm this through the qualified majority, while the European Parliament with a simple majority only reconfirms the decision on visa liberalisation.

Procedures can be developed relatively quickly, especially if there is political will on the Council but also in Parliament. But, starting with discussions in Parliament, I think that the will there exists to abolish Kosovo visas. I think it is important for Kosovo citizens not to be excluded from one of the basic values and rights in the EU integration process, which concerns free movement.

Therefore, it is important to take the necessary steps as soon as possible to proceed with procedures and provide precise information for the month when visa liberalisation becomes a reality. But we should also stress what the European Commission has in some cases mentioned that ratification of the border with Montenegro is one of the most important conditions, but we should not forget that the fight of corruption and organised crime remains very important for Kosovo. This is a process that should not be stopped even after the visa-free movement regime, will be an important criterion that will have to be fulfilled even within the framework of the European integration process.

Radio Free Europe: What do you see as the obstacle to visa liberalisation, the fact that five EU member states do not recognise Kosovo as an independent state?

Igor Soltes: I've been asked about this case a lot, and I've said that there may be (intrusions). Of course there may be discussions in the European Parliament on this fact, but I think there is a political will in the majority in the European Parliament for establishing the visa-free movement regime for Kosovo.

Radio Free Europe: The European Union already has a new enlargement strategy for the Balkans. Can Kosovars be satisfied with their position in this strategy, where Kosovo's path towards the EU is not much clarified?

Igor Sholtes: In this letter of strategy for the Balkans it is clear that the Western Balkans are of great interest to the European Union. Lady (Federica) Moghrin mentioned in her speech that now the doors and windows are open to European integration. But European integration has its own unique speed for each country. However, this process is not one-sided, it is mutual, bilateral, meaning that each side must do its job. Each of us wants all Western Balkan countries to move faster and fulfill the necessary obligations and meet recommendations and requirements. But on the other hand, much can be done on the part of the European Union.

As for Kosovo and its achievements in the integration process, we must wait for the European Commission Progress Report, which is expected to be published during April. We all know that expectations are relatively large, but we should be aware that progress is not important only for the integration process, but it is important because of Kosovo and its society, its citizens.

Radio Free Europe: For Kosovo, as well as for Serbia, dialogue and normalisation of relations remain very important in their EU integration process. But how do you see the future of dialogue after recent developments and the arrest of Marko Djuric in Kosovo?

Igor Soltes: I think I was much more optimistic last week than today. I can say that I am not at all satisfied with what happened on Monday, and I think it's important for dialogue to stop all signals of violence and start to use dialogue on resolving all disputes. Violence is not the right answer. Violence is not a means to protect democracy and I think we need to understand that this process and this dialogue is not easy, but in this dialogue we expect a kind of standard of communication. Conflict is not the answer to these important issues.

Radio Free Europe: And what is your opinion, how much is possible to reach a normalisation agreement between Kosovo and Serbia?

Igor Soltes: I can't predict what happens next few days. I hope that the next few days, we'll be sitting down, calm the atmosphere and stop the tensions. For this it is important to communicate between Brussels, Pristina and Belgrade to find a way to continue dialogue, and I am afraid that no one can say what will happen next days and specifically, no one can prejudge the exact date of this dialogue, as there are still many issues, and I fear that in this dialogue we still have more questions than answers.