Haradinaj: Already we are cautious with Turkey, Erdogan

In the interview, Prime Minister Haradinaj said he does not want to prejudge who may have ordered the arrest and deportation operation, which he said was a kind of theft of people from Kosovo.

Voice of America: Mr. Prime Minister for three days you have been attacked by Turkish President Erdogan because of your stance on the arrest and deportation of six Turkish citizens, how did you view these attacks?

Prime Minister Haradinaj: Kosovo has a caution in relations with all other states even with the Republic of Turkey. We are grateful for recognition, for support of the international plan for membership in international organisations, now we have applied for Interpol this year and have been very careful not to interfere with the internal work of any other state and the Republic of Turkey. The ban on six Turkish citizens in Kosovo and their deportation has uncertainty -- that is, the way of revocation of residence permits -- was very rapid procedure and secret deportation and based on this and the fact that I was not informed -- means I made the decision and dismissed the interior minister and the director of the Kosovo intelligence agency. The president's reactions (Erdogan) do not understand, we do not interfere with Turkey's internal affairs, these are our internal affairs, and nobody will have decisions on Kosovo's internal affairs.

Voice of America: Can these affect future relations with the Turkish state?

Prime Minister Haradinaj: Now we must go carefully, we are careful, even as an Albanian people, we are a respectable people. But also, everyone must know their borders. Kosovo is an independent state and should respect domestic institutional developments, our country's constitution.

Voice of America: The arrest and deportation of six Turkish citizens continues to be clouded. Who is responsible for this operation?

Prime Minister Haradinaj: The operation has taken place in Kosovo, it is us, Kosovo institutions and political and institutional leaders. Since the operation was conducted by dictatorships, one is executive -- namely, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but also the role of the intelligence agency -- means Kosovo has taken the largest possible action and has fired security heads in the country. It means those responsible were fired, but we also launched a thorough investigation into it.

Voice of America: When you talk about a thorough investigation, who is expected to be involved?

Prime Minister Haradinaj: For example, at the Kosovo Intelligence Agency, the first report from the Inspectorate has come about the way the operation happened. At the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the police have already given the report; there may also be other institutions, but now I don't want to prejudge, which can be included.

Voice of America: One of the reasons for the arrest and deportation of six Turkish citizens has been the assessment that they are dangerous persons for the country. The danger?

Prime Minister Haradinaj: The Kosovo Agency for Intelligence has created a record of this, based on financial transactions and activities, which according to this agency can bring risks to Kosovo. However, this information is not processed in a serious process, and this is internal reporting from AKI, so it confirms the rush that we have all expressed concern about.

Voice of America: Mr. Prime Minister, such action according to connoisseurs could not be done without policy support. You have repeatedly rejected claims that you have been notified of the action. To whom does the intelligence agency report?

Prime Minister Haradinaj: The AKI agency, the director on the basis of its responsibilities, reports to the president and prime minister, is appointed by the president, but is appointed by the president, while the minister of internal affairs directly reports to the prime minister.

Voice of America: But, according to you, neither you nor President Thaci have been informed of this operation?

Prime Minister Haradinaj: For the fact that such an operation, which has major implications for security in the country, for Kosovo's geostrategic position, even in terms of human rights and in human terms, has taken place without prior information about me in this case as head of government. I've lost confidence in these two main employees -- that is, the two heads of institutions -- one is the chief of AKI and the other chief of the interior ministry and I have relieved them of responsibility. Admittedly, AKI has to be released by the president, but as far as I'm concerned, it's released.

Voice of America: When is this expected to happen?

Prime Minister Haradinaj: They are free and unable to exercise their own functions. From the moment of my letter signing, they are no longer functional.

Voice of America: President Erdogan, along with the attack on you, has at the same time thanked President Thaci. Is the president behind the operation on this?

Prime Minister Haradinaj: Look, I have never had the chance to get to know President Erdogan personally, we have an interest in a strategic partnership with Turkey on the international plan and in getting recognitions, and I don't want to prejudge anything. What's important, that in Kosovo, I said once again, no one can do our jobs in our name, we do it ourselves, when we believe in them, and nobody can steal people in Kosovo. It was a kind of theft of people from Kosovo.

Voice of America: What will you take to prevent such a situation from repeating itself?

Prime Minister Haradinaj: There's no way to repeat it, it's a lesson I believe for all of us, no one will be able to do the same as it happened this time.

Voice of America: What are you relying on?

Prime Minister Haradinaj: I believe that the actions we took testify to this, so anyone who dares to do this to Kosovo like this time, the consequences will be great.

Voice of America: The event has sparked numerous reactions, both at home and outside Kosovo. What effect can this have on the country's European future?

Prime Minister Haradinaj: Kosovo is defined, it is Euro-Atlantic. When we say Euro-Atlantic, we think about determining membership in the European Union, NATO and friendship with America. In the world plan, in foreign politics we follow America's foreign policy. On our continent, we are set to meet the European family, that's our definition, is public, and we are proud of it, and that's all we're going to serve.

Voice of America: But these recent actions in the United States and countries of the European Union have not taken place, for example, deporting...

Prime Minister Haradinaj: This does not prove our definition, an accident that has happened to Kosovo, for which we need everyone's help. This is not evidence of our determination. Our definition is Euro-Atlantic, the only one and so remains.

Voice of America: But during the week after Kosovo left, there was another event that caused a stir after the arrest and expulsion of Serbian official Marko Djuric. After that, representatives of Serbs warned of the formation of the Association of Serbian municipalities by 20 April, if Kosovo institutions do not take their steps for that purpose. How will you act?

Prime Minister Haradinaj: We have a dynamic of our governing activities and the truth is that I haven't yet managed to deal with this subject because of all the topics we had on the table, not easy. We're still in great trouble with the situation in education, health, economic and workplaces, thankfully we stabilised energy to a certain extent and opened investments and we have really big investments in energy. The association, in terms of our ruling dynamic, can come in the future, so it can be in the government agenda, we have a clear basis for the Constitutional Court's decision and we see no difficulties in implementation. The attitudes of who establishes and to what terms of ultimatums do not help this subject are, rather, damaging the subject because you cannot empute it in some way or provide a certain institution of our constitution if it is not created by the previous constitutional process. So it's an external product that has no basis in Kosovo.

Voice of America: What will you do? Serbs oppose the constitutional court ruling. They want the Association established under the Brussels Agreement?

Prime Minister Haradinaj: We respect the Kosovo Serbs' interest in association and are interested in deepening dialogue with them, not just on this topic, but on all of it. But, all of us live in Kosovo and it is known that the constitutional court has power in Kosovo, so it is a respected institution, it has brought down two presidents, even those living in Kosovo, who know that you do not dare to step out of the tribunal's finding decision. But, we can therefore make progress in the rights of communities in Kosovo and Serbs together, while separated from an institutional, constitutional and legal process, we do nothing, even I regret that someone urges Kosovo Serbs, primarily Belgrade, in this case to act separately. The only solution is being on the table, being part of institutions so we can move on.

Voice of America: If that happens by Kosovo Serbs, how will you address this issue?

Prime Minister Haradinaj: Such is neither constitutional nor legal, so it is insignificant.

Voice of America: Can it affect the future in negotiations?

Prime Minister Haradinaj: It has no effect, no effect, no effect, no effect, no nature creates no effect, no constitutional or legal means is in existence. It may be called one's will, but it does not gain the basis, either legal or constitutional.

Voice of America: Mr. Prime Minister, the Serbian List is now no part of the government and therefore you have no numbers in parliament. How much will this affect your government's future?

Prime Minister Haradinaj: Our government has a majority in parliament today, there will be another time. The removal of the Serbian List is not the damage to ruling arguments for this government, rather I would call it an evidence that we are open to partnership, but we also have the care to maintain the country's interest and sovereignty. I really have good experience with the Serbian List and proper partnership, we have worked and we believe that we will work again in the future, but in addition to that, the Kosovo Parliamentary MP groups -- that is, from Albanian political parties -- have given support to the government and will give.

Voice of America: Are you discussing with opposition parties for expanding the government coalition?

Prime Minister Haradinaj: Not for classical enlargement, only to remove one partner and win another, but for topics that await the government's country for more partnership I am calling it strategic, so that Kosovo can pass these topics ahead of itself, so that in the future we can be dismissed from other and difficult topics that have charged Kosovo with a time.

Voice of America: When these subjects are passed, as you say, heavy, then you go to early elections?

Prime Minister Haradinaj: The deadline comes once, I don't see Kosovo going to the polls now, at least.

Voice of America: No, this year?

Prime Minister Haradinaj: At least I don't see it happening.

Voice of America: Mr. Prime Minister, part of the opposition is constantly seeking elections. How Do You Answer?

Prime Minister Haradinaj: And I'm in the election whenever, it's better to go to elections in fact, but I see that the political spectrum doesn't have the circumstances for elections right now.