Thaci: Only one Kosovo, European Serbia can Western region

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has said that the Western Balkans never had a better chance to build lasting peace.

It has delivered this message to the “Europe panel at a crossroads”, within the framework of the International Economic Forum of America (IEFA), which is being held in Montreal, Canada.

Today, every state in the Western Balkans communicates normally with each other, each state co-operates with each other. This moment must be exploited and the EU opened the gates to the Western Balkans”, said President Thaci.

While talking about the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, President Thaci has said this dialogue will begin in the coming days or weeks and will be difficult.

“will not be easy, but it will be historical and it is not an option. The dialogue should be concluded with a result of HINA-winu alike for Kosovo and Serbia, under a European standard and value agreement. Both Kosovo and Serbia, aspirations have EU membership”, President Thaci said, adding that “this will of the people cannot be realised without normalisation and reconciliation between the two countries and the peoples”, said President Thaci.

The head of the country awaits a leading role, and with a new dynamic from the European Union and strong US support, so that this process can be completed successfully, as soon as possible, in the best of all.

Kosovo is ready for dialogue, for agreement, because only then will we be able to move safely towards NATO and the European Union, as well as maintain special relations with the US and partnership with other friends. Only one Kosovo and one European Serbia can Western the” region, Thaci said.

Speaking to developments in the EU, President Thaci stressed that although it is true that the EU is facing crisis and challenges affecting the very identity of the EU, however, the European citizen is showing that more than any other idea still believes the idea of integration and unity.

The other two panelists, Pascal Lamy, President Emerius of the Institute “Jacques Delors” and Bernard Spitz, president of “M EDEF”, stated that the crises that affected Europe, the 2008 financial crisis, and especially BRUXIT, have restored the faith of European citizens that only deepening integration is the solution to the future of the continent.

This is witnessed, according to them, not only by President Emmanuel Macroni's victory in France, but also by public opinion polls in EU member states in the past two years.

President Thaci voiced optimism that the EU will find a way out.

The path will be found to build shared vision, but also cross-Atlantic co-operation, co-operation with the US and with Great Britain”, he has said.