Thaci for Vecernji List: We and Croatia have fought defensively

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci in an interview for the prestigious Croatian daily Vecernji List has talked about relations between Kosovo and Croatia, Kosovo's European perspective and relations with Serbia.

Thaci has said that Kosovo has excellent relations with Croatia. Much according to him, connects us, in the bitter past, Kosovo and Croatia.

Then we and Croatia have fought defensively. Finally, we became independent states. We rejoice in Croatia's progress, which now last year is part of the Pact NATO and the EU. I believe we will soon join Croatia, the NATO Pact and the EU”, he added.

Thaci has also been asked about representing Croats in the Kosovo Assembly. In this regard, he has said that necessary changes will be made.

Speaking of the European perspective, Thaci for Vecernji List has said it is related to even the success that the dialogue will have for rating relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

Asked whether he can negotiate with Serbian President Alexander Vuciq, who, according to the newspaper, always promotes tensions, Thaci has said that the time of conflicts, clashes and tensions -- in the reports between Kosovo and Serbia -- must end.

On the other hand, the Kosovo issue has been resolved, once and for all, with the mission led by President Ahtisaari in 2005, 2007. Kosovo is an independent state. Serbs in Kosovo, as a minority community, have guaranteed rights that are unique, unsurpassed by any other minority community in Europe”, he has added.

According to Thaci, normalising relations between Kosovo and Serbia is the task of this generation, it is duty to citizens in Kosovo and Serbia, it is a fundamental condition for Kosovo and Serbia to enter the EU.

For the Croatian daily Thaci has said that after signing the legal agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, Kosovo will apply for UN membership.

This agreement and normalising relations between Kosovo and Serbia would have to be Kosovo's permission for full membership in the UN”, he added.

He has also been asked about establishing the association of Serb majority municipalities. On this occasion, Thaci has said that Kosovo remains loyal to all international obligations, including the First Agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, signed on April 19th, 2013.

“A few days ago, we agreed that the Managerial Team, to start drafting the Association Statistics/ Community of Serb majority municipalities, of course, in close co-operation with the Government of Kosovo, and with relief provided by the O Mission The SEU in Kosovo.

“Different, Association/ The municipality of Serb majority will be formed in full compliance with the Kosovo Constitution, Kosovo Laws and the Kosovo Constitutional Court Verdict”, Thaci has warned.

According to him, this is not only the position of the Kosovar side, but also the Office of High Representative, Mrs. Moghrin, has suggested in some cases, even a few days ago, that this will be the legal framework for establishing association/ The Serb majority municipality community.

“Association/United Serb majority municipalities cannot be the third level of power, nor can there be executive competencies, nor can it be the basis for the creation of a particular Serbian political entity in Kosovo”, Thaci stressed.

Thaci for “Vecernji List” has also spoken of the necessity of creating the Kosovo Armed Forces. According to him, there is a consensus in Kosovo, and between us and the NATO Pact.

The question is how we will make the transformation of the Kosovo Security Forces into the Kosovo Armed Forces: By changing the Constitution, or with the amendment of the Law to KSF”, he added.