Opposition not included in dialogue with Serbia

Opposition parties, which have consistently opposed and continue to oppose President Hashim Thaci's leading role in the final of the dialogue process, have given various proposals, which they say would lead to a unity of the political spectrum in the face of dialogue.

Politologist Ramush Tahiri tells Radio Free Europe, which, if good political will exists, could bring about the unity of the political spectrum. But, according to him, for the time being, the situation seems unstable because the report of forces and expectations of each parliamentary party are different. As he says, this is also the reason for political party initiatives.

Now we have several initiatives emerging in the Assembly and on political party tables and calling for a unity. We also have a platform from the chairman of the Wessel Assembly to achieve unity. However, interests are such that they are not allowing practical steps. I also have the impression, as if afraid of taking responsibility at this moment, when a kind of final agreement should be reached with Serbia and when the country must meet certain conditions and criteria required by the European Union”, Tahiri stressed.

Political affairs analyst Imer Mushkolaj, speaking of Radio Free Europe, stresses that the approach of opposition parties to the question of dialogue is problematic because each of the three opposition parties has different approaches. According to him, since the situation in which opposition parties disagree with the ruling parties is already evident, on the other hand, within the opposition itself, the situation is unclear.

“Logicly, it would have to be first, opposition parties agree about a platform of their own, in the sense of what they are really looking for, as well as the proposal of different resolutions, of course it could lead to this reconciliation. But, I don't see that this can be achieved, precisely in view of the resentments, though not individual, among opposition party leaders, which will make a common approach and action” impossible, Mushkolaj said.

But, politicologist Tahiri suggests that none of the political parties in the Kosovo Assembly, power and opposition, in the current report of forces, want to take responsibility for running the dialogue process. Hence, according to him, they are buying out time.

“Secia party wants to lead the process and that process secures votes in the upcoming elections. On this basis, all initiatives are to buy time. All initiatives are to make internal restructuring, and all initiatives, currently, turn out to be hindering unity or wanting to leave responsibility only to the ruling coalition, which does not have enough votes for Kosovo's major processes. While unity, when the time comes to be searched for in the Assembly, will not receive two-thirds of the vote”, Tahiri said.

Meanwhile, analyst Mushkolaj points out that failure to achieve a unity of opposition parties allows the president space to ask the opposition to follow him and legitimise him at the helm of the process.

The opposition parties, like other parties currently in power, have been voted out by citizens to take responsibility and not to escape responsibility. Of course, when we talk about proposals that seem to be far apart, in the sense of a unification or reaching a consensus within the opposition, the impression is that the opposition is not particularly interested in being part of the process. I see an attempt by the opposition not to take responsibility and leave, anyone who can lead the dialogue, to fail. This approach, for me, is wrong”, Mushkolaj stressed.

However, while the largest opposition party, the Democratic League of Kosovo, has proposed that early parliamentary elections be held before dialogue, so that a full legitimacy of representatives, the other opposition party, the Vetevendosje, has proposed that the current format of dialogue with Serbia be won.

This party has also proposed that no one negotiate Kosovo's internal issues, have political, economic and trade reciprocity with Serbia, reciprocity of the rights of the Albanian people in Serbia with the Serbian people in Kosovo, the indictment of genocide against Serbia, and that President Thaci does not lead the dialogue process.

Recently, the Social Democrat Party has proposed a resolution in the Kosovo Assembly, which will require responsibility for the dialogue to have the Assembly of Kosovo, which by two-thirds of the vote would approve the state platform for dialogue and by the same vote would give the mandate even to the holder of the process. It has also been proposed that a parliamentary commission for monitoring dialogue, which the opposition would lead.

The debate over this resolution proposed by the Social Democrat party is expected to continue in the Kosovo Assembly at the next session.