consensus on dialogue with Serbia

For more, objections from the ruling and opposition parties continue for preconditions regarding reaching a consensus for dialogue.

At joint meetings of political parties, which so far have organised two tables, with the goal of reaching consensus on national issues, it has been said that one of these topics is dialogue on normalising relations with Serbia. In favour of reaching a consensus on this topic, most parliamentary political parties have indicated, but there is still no internal dialogue between these parties on how to address the final dialogue in Brussels.

Zenun Pajaziti, deputy of the Kosovo Democratic Party of Kosovo, the largest subject within the ruling coalition, tells Radio Free Europe that the issue of dialogue with Serbia, by the political spectrum, is being understood as the issue that needs to be considered by all political parties.

The question of dialogue is not just now. It used to be the most aggressive device in this regard. I think that from what is now seen, there will be greater seriousness and I think it's the last time the country's interests cannot be endangered through political, electoral, party, etc. I think even the electorate is already interested in not pardoning political parties to create causes for power and at the expense of the country's” interests, Pajaziti said.

Avdullah Hoti, chief of the parliamentary group of the Democratic League of Kosovo, speaking of Radio Free Europe stresses that before a consensus is discussed regarding the approach to the latest phase of the dialogue in Brussels, as well as other topics, as he calls them large, reconciliation must be reached between political parties for what he says, the institutional crisis. According to him, the ruling parties do not have the majority of votes in the Assembly.

It is important that the political spectrum agree on these topics. We are willing to contribute to these subjects. But the fundamental issue is that dialogue in Brussels cannot be led by the minority government. It takes solid parliamentary majority, to advance important processes in the country”, Hoti said.

MP Pajaziti stresses that dialogue in Brussels does not concern itself with political parties' wishes in general, but it is the process through which Kosovo is trying to achieve its own interests.

Even if we all agree on dialogue, it's not that someone can escape the responsibilities he has, whether in power or in opposition. We all have to take our responsibilities and move on. It cannot be for present party or group interests to leave something that can be held hostage, beyond, for the next generation. I believe it's unforgivable”, Pajaziti stressed.

But, Hoti emphasises that Kosovo is a parliamentary state and on this basis the situation must be resolved, but consensuss on important topics must also be reached.

Our “state has the parliamentary system, which means the parliamentary majority elects the government. If a government does not have the parliamentary majority, it cannot speak on behalf of Kosovo citizens. This is essential. So we can't mandate any government, which has no majority in the Assembly. We are now opposition and have behaved and will always behave constructively, in the interest of the state. But, you cannot authorize the minority government to speak on behalf of the majority, now in opposition to the Kosovo Assembly”, Hoti said.

The Kosovo government has already sent a platform draft for the final phase of dialogue with Serbia to the Parliamentary Commission for Foreign Policy. But the Speakership of the Parliament, however, has not yet decided when this platform will eventually be put to question before MPs at one of the next sessions. (REL)