Pacolli: It will be difficult to dialogue when Kosovo's territory and sovereignty is in question

But one knows it will be difficult for anyone who leads the dialogue especially to discuss things that affect Kosovo's sovereignty and territory. Anything else can be dialogueed, but when Kosovo's territory and sovereignty are in question, I believe no one has the right to intervene.

Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Government of Kosovo Behgjet Pacolli, in an interview for Radio Free Europe, says that so far Kosovo has no verbal marks that any state has attracted recognition.

He says Serbia is spending a lot and everything to prevent Kosovo from membership in international mechanisms. Pacolli, in the interview, also talks about Kosovo dialogue Serbia and reaching a possible agreement.

Radio Free Europe: Mr. Pacolli, currently a diplomatic battle with Serbia is under way over new Kosovo recognitions. You have recently accused Serbian authorities of using the sale of weapons as a means to prevent recognition. How much is Serbia actually getting to prevent the new recognition process?

Behgjet Pacolli: It is true that now Serbia is spending a lot of time, many tools, many people in the world, trying to undermine Kosovo, integrations of Kosovo, recognitions, cultivating good relations with other states.

This only worries me from the human level, how irresponsible people are and just trying to destroy things in the world.

And we are encouraged by the strong desire to act, the strong desire to develop good relations with the whole world for Kosovo, and the desire for Kosovo to have friends everywhere on every continent. We are also encouraged by the legitimate right of Kosovo citizens to be free, to have their own state to act and work for Kosovo as an independent state.

Radio Free Europe: Is Serbia able to influence Kosovo's non-recognition by the state that has not recognised Kosovo so far?

Behgjet Pacolli: Look, we have not received any verbal marks from any state in the world, where a state somehow questions Kosovo's non-recognition.

Normally the states that have recognised Kosovo have recognised it by verbal note, verbal notes have been directed to Kosovo institutions, and as such have opened the chapter of Kosovo's good relations with the state.

If something changes on the plains, the same state, it must direct Kosovo a verbal note and toʹte says that from today we don't know you, it means changing position, access to you even though it's not diplomatic, there's no such thing as this, because a state doesn't need to tell the other state that we should have good relations or not. He only ceases to have a good relationship, but it is not said. And such a verbal note or a piece of paper from no state have we received.

We have heard that several functionaries of various states, of small states, go to Belgrade, mainly. There's a document that's the same in all cases, and I guess it's written in Belgrade, it's practically put before that man to sign it.

And here as a reason, before those officials, Belgrade has so far used that we allegedly are in talks with Kosovo and your recognition of Kosovo hinders the development of dialogue. But we didn't get any verbal marks from anyone, and that would have to be if there was to communicate to Kosovo.

Radio Free Europe: Serbian authorities have not allowed you to enter Serbia, while a list of Kosovo officials who will not be allowed access to this country has also been published. What are these actions in line with agreements reached in free movement dialogue?

Behgjet Pacolli: Emotionally zero, nothing has happened because I go to places where I'm welcome and where I'm not welcome I don't even want to go. Alternatives of travel compared to Serbia have a lot in the world. If Serbia has made such a list and has created situations to prevent my entry into Serbia and some officials, the level of frustration of political actors in Serbia is seen here.

Even if I went to Serbia, I wouldn't have offended anyone. I would go to my friends who had invited me and I would come back here and nobody would have any harm from my visit, but only the benefits that friendship would be connected with people beyond the border of Kosovo.

This Serb did not want. I was pulled out of my way. Now I'm hearing that my name is on lists that stop my entry into Serbia. It's their job, it's none of my business, and as I said once again, it doesn't bother me at all.

Radio Free Europe: Should there be a reaction of Kosovo in Brussels because Kosovo and Serbia have an agreement signed in Brussels for free movement between the two countries?

Behgjet Pacolli: Of course we report to Brussels, but for us to react with a protest note or something, we have not done it because people who have been banned from entry into Serbia are persons who can bypass Serbia and nothing happened and I would never ask someone who would not open the door to open it in my case. It would be pretty banal, so I take this with a little irony and I'm not even angry about this.

Radio Free Europe: If there is a request soon by Serbian officials in the MPJ to visit Kosovo, will you approve such a request?

Behgjet Pacolli: Normally we will act exactly according to the agreements we have with Brussels. We are a serious state, we respect agreements and anyone who is not malicious to anyone who comes and has respect for the host in this case for the state of Kosovo can come and are offered services and will never be afraid to come to Kosovo.

Radio Free Europe: Kosovo and Serbia are also entering the final phase of the dialogue mediated by the European Union. How optimistic are you that a applicable agreement for normalisation of reports between the two countries can be reached?

Behgjet Pacolli: Looking at the time in which we are living, where things happen quickly, practically I see that a deal, a peace with Serbia is very necessary.

That is because the new generations, a large number of them even in Serbia even here in Kosovo who were born after the conflict, do not want burdens inherited from the past.

For their sake, for the sake of citizens and for the sake of a peace in the region, we must make every mechanism that we have and contribute to dialogue because the problem on these lands will never be solved except dialogue.

Radio Free EuropeSo you believe in reaching a final agreement?

Behgjet Pacolli: I am her follower first to reach an agreement and I believe an agreement will be reached because there is no other option and this agreement would create new opportunities and create a completely different atmosphere on these lands.

Radio Free Europe: Do you believe that this eventual agreement with Serbia would open Kosovo's doors for its membership in the United Nations Organisation?

Behet Pacolli: It is a certain condition, meaning that if there is peace with Serbia, mutual recognition should also occur. If mutual recognition occurs there is no reason for Kosovo to be hampered by its integration into international organisations. I know that many permanent members of the Security Council, have always pointed out, if Serbia, does not prevent Kosovo, we have no reason to prevent Kosovo.

So, I see that with the conclusion of the dialogue there will be a peace contract on which Serbia will recognise Kosovo and Kosovo will recognise Serbia. So there will be no reason for anyone anywhere on the Security Council or elsewhere to prevent Kosovo's integration.

Radio Free Europe: Various compromises are being discussed that both countries should be made because they are entering a final phase of dialogue. What compromise should be made by Kosovo or even Serbia to reach an agreement?

Behet Pacolli: Each agreement has positive and negative sides. There's no deal where someone's a loser and somebody wins. There are either winners or losers on both sides. Here I'm afraid that the parties in the dialogue should make concessions, these concessions I don't know and I don't want to think about.

But one knows it will be difficult for anyone who leads the dialogue especially to discuss things that affect Kosovo's sovereignty and territory. Anything else can be dialogueed, but when Kosovo's territory and sovereignty are in question, I believe no one has the right to intervene.

Radio Free Europe: As dialogue continues and is not yet known, however, the epilogue, when it is expected that Kosovo will proceed with procedures for its membership in some of the international organisations, even in U. NESTO or INTERPOL, based on earlier claims especially for these two institutions?

Behgjet Pacolli: Somehow we dropped the case last year, because the government was formed too late, we weren't ourselves prepared and we just postponed membership in these two organizations.

We didn't back down at all, we just postponed the vote. For this year our membership, or Kosovo treatment, is envisioned, members of INTERPOL will vote in November at the INTERPOL General Assembly.

I believe the conditions are good, we will have the majority of votes.

What is the matter with you? NESCO's, it's in advance in 2019. We're working we've never stopped. We are waiting for the adoption of two laws that still brought in parliament's drawers, and the moment they pass these two laws, Kosovo will have all preconditions fulfilled to apply in this organisation and to be subject to vote.