We will not allow the creation of “Republika Srpska” in Kosovo

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci in an interview for the Serbian daily “Danas” has talked about many topics, about relations with Serbia, dialogue, European perspective and KSF.

Thaci's next full interview for “Danas”

Danas: The two presidents -- of Kosovo and Serbia -- have been talking about a demarcation or border correction in recent weeks. Both of you have stressed that the final agreement between Belgrade and Pristina will be painful. However, opinion knows very little about progress in your dialogue in Brussels or even the framework of any such agreement. Can you tell us more about your expectations for the final agreement?

Thaci: Kosovo is already a moral and political winner, because our people are free. They live in a free country known to most members of the United Nations. But now we must move swiftly towards our EU, NATO and the UN membership. Dialogue with Serbia, regional co-operation and reconciliation are essential conditions to live up to that goal. I am not holding talks with Belgrade due to any nostalgia. I do not suffer from Yugonostalgia as some suffer. I don't even talk to Belgrade that I like to spend time in the Brussels corridors, eating cold sandwiches until late evening hours. No, but I talk to Vucinqi and am eager to find a solution, because I want to see our Kosovo in NATO and the EU as soon as possible. I'll be very honest, I don't think we're going to get involved in these mechanisms until we have no unresolved borders between the two states. We have to reach full reconciliation for demarcation of the border, so that we don't allow some open issues to turn into conflict issues in the future. My goal is not some ethnic division, nor the creation of a “Republika Srpska” second on our territory. God forbid! My goal is to set the border of about 400 kilometers, and this process requires creative solutions that will ensure peace today and in the future.

Danas: Recently you want to help the Presevo Valley Albanians join Kosovo as part of this dialogue? Why open this issue now? Do you think Belgrade will allow it to yield territory without taking anything essential in return?

Thaci: The Presevo Valley, people of these three municipalities since 1992, have expressed their political intentions. Obviously, any demarcation of the border between the two states will matter to these families and these citizens. Their interests should be respected and taken into account. An old saying says that if there is will there is a solution. I believe that if there is will from leadership in Kosovo and Serbia to find creative solutions, we will find a way to accommodate people in these border regions to feel calm, secure, and secure economic and political future. Both Serbs in the northern part of Kosovo and Albanians in the Presevo Valley are mostly preoccupied with jobs and the economy. Who will invest in our countries if we have open issues extended for decades? How will we prevent young people from leaving if they face discrimination or fear every 10 or 20 years?

Danas: Are you and Vuchy talking with your hands on maps, with the coordinates of villages and borders like Dayton, or what process is now taking place?

Thaci: Without a doubt, the last thing in my mind is Dayton. I have declared Kosovo's independence as a sovereign, secular and civic republic. She'll remain a citizen. Maps will not determine people's fate. People will determine the fate of maps. I only think about European maps. The former Yugoslavia has been disbanded and there are seven states that were created by this bloody process that started only in Belgrade when people there began dealing with maps and memorandums. This map obsession has brought chaos and genocide. The final agreement between Kosovo and Serbia will be a European agreement. It will be supported by Brussels and Washington. And it will be finalised with a new UN resolution on the UN Security Council, thus opening up European perspective. Either it will be a European solution with the support of the EU and the US or there will be no agreement.

Danas: What happens if there's no deal? Many people like Serbia, but in Kosovo, have indicated that it is better to keep the status quo? Will there be violence?

Thaci: The status quo can cause trouble in the long term. Criminals, populists, nationalists, the <x0-pains of the third” from outside our region they're all aiming to maintain the status quo to continue with their “operations” and to undermine Europe, NATO and all West European. The Balkans today is safe, we have even noted specific progress, such as the fantastic agreement between Greece and Macedonia, as well as Montenegro's accession to NATO; but we must close all open bilateral issues. Today I'm not afraid of violence. I am concerned about Belgrade propaganda, under which some kind of plan is being prepared by the Kosovo police or army to enter the war. This is crazy and dangerous. Kosovo police and the Kosovo Army are trained by NATO, by the EU and adhere to Euro-Atlantic values. But if we don't fix relations now, then we're losing the chance that one or two more generations will have a normal life. Why postpone the solution if both sides are ready to close the painful chapter of the past? Why leave our children hostage to myths, historical dreams? Clearly, Kosovo and Serbia are two states. But it is also clear that they are neighbors who should talk and resolve open issues.

Danas: Do the EU and the United States support your position? There are mixed signals coming from the EU capitals. London and Berlin are being vocal about changing borders. Washington is staying silent. Moscow is watching closely.

Thaci: In the dialogue we are conducting in Brussels, there are always representatives of the US government, in all phases of dialogue, so the EU and the US support a common agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, there is no doubt about it. I can say that we have had a lack of focus especially from Brussels, but the world is a difficult situation and is becoming increasingly difficult. I don't have illusions like some people who think we're the center of the world and that everyone should hear our wishes and demands. No, we have a very narrow window of opportunity and very little maneuvering space in major capitals to deal with Kosovo and Serbia. So we have to seize this opportunity while there is time and will to close the deal with our allies and support the final agreement.

Danas: What will happen to southern Serbs in Kosovo if there is border correction? Many people fear ecstasy, as in the case of “

Thaci: It's an orchestrated propaganda. No one will touch Serbs in the south, north, west or east of Kosovo. There were propaganda even when we declared independence, in 2008, that Serbs would leave with their tractors, but they did not. They stayed in Kosovo and even participated in the establishment of Kosovo institutions, police, the Parliament, the Constitutional Court. Today, Serbs are integrated and I see no reason for people in Shtrpce or Gracanica or wherever they are afraid of their future in Kosovo. A final agreement between Kosovo and Serbia will help them, because it will lower threats of nationalists and extremists from their Serb community that hang on their heads. I take advantage of this interview again to extend an invitation to all Serbs, to all non-party communities to ensure that their state is Kosovo and that they have a secure future in this country.

Danas: Will the Serbian Orthodox Church receive the same guarantees?

Thaci: The Serbian Orthodox Church is a constitutional category in Kosovo and enjoys constitutional protection. Unfortunately, it sometimes politicizes organised religious communities in Kosovo, since some bishops -- especially outside Kosovo -- send very poor messages. I never respond to these statements, because I do not want to put the position of the Serbian clergy in Kosovo in a political picture. I try to protect them from themselves. I am very proud of the diversity of heritage in Kosovo and have promoted interreligious dialogue as an essential component of reconciliation. Prizren, Decani, Rahoveci are beautiful tourist sites even because of the rich ethnic diversity of Albanians, Serbs, Turks, Bosniaks. The main communities in Kosovo, such as Muslims, Orthodox, Catholics, Jews, sects they were here during the time of the Ottoman Empire, during the Serbian invasion «, during the Yugoslav dictatorship and they will be here in the future.

Danas: Analysts in Kosovo say that not only do you have problems with the Serb community to postpone the final agreement. Most opposition parties do not support your dialogue with Vucinqi.

Hashim Thaci: Kosovo is a true democracy. I don't have <x0 m” to control public opinion and I hope that no head will have “arm “arm to control such media, intelligence service, army, Parliament, as some in the region have. Kosovo's constitution requires the president to represent Kosovo abroad and within the country, so I am mandated by the will of citizens to find a solution with Serbia. I will also re-seek the will of citizens to confirm the final peace agreement and mutual recognition, organising a referendum. There are numerous voices in Pristina about how Kosovo should act with Serbia, but reject calls for delaying the agreement or blackmailing the international community. Such ideas are dangerous. I also have personal experience when Kosovo parties have always joined «in times of need, whether in Rambouillet, whether in Vienna or elsewhere. So I am convinced that we will be together again in the end to close this painful chapter so that they can place the flag in front of the United Nations building in New York.

Danas: Do you think Russia will support border correction?

Hashim Thaci: I have held a brief conversation with the Russian prime minister, Medvedev, and carefully follows Russian statements. I think Russia was clear that they would support an agreement both sides agree on. They constantly claim that there will be no Serbian “that Serbs themselves”. Russia has always been part of the Contact Group and has helped to find proposals by Rambouillet and the Ahtisaari Plan. Kosovo has no problem with Russia and is grateful that the Russian Federation creatively enables our athletes to visit Russia for international sports events. Our athlete, Majlinda Kelmendi, won the gold medal in Judo, and President Putin enabled the Kosovo flag to be lifted high a few years ago. I think that symbolic cooperation in sports, economics and culture is very important. Kosovo's future isolation means the isolation of Serbia and the entire region. I'm sure this isn't Moscow's agenda.

Danas: You're not worried about the Russian intervention and influence on the media?

Hashim Thaci: I'm not worried about the Russian intervention in Kosovo, because 92% of our citizens support the EU and the US, but we maintain good relations with all. Kosovo is a very small republic with need and modest ambitions to claim it has a major role among the major powers.

Danas: What's going on with the Association and the real deal? Why aren't they applying?

Thaci: This is another issue that remains open and represents a reason for reaching a final solution as soon as possible. We had an agreement on energy networks, and Serbia for years is continuing to reject its implementation. This is causing Kosovo real financial problems and losses. We've had an agreement on Association, there's been a lot of delays, and people don't know that, but many delays have been caused just by Belgrade. Often, when we wanted to take a step toward drafting the statute, there was reluctance from certain circles in Belgrade that wanted this association to remain an obstacle. I don't mean everything in the papers, but Brussels and Washington are aware of the reason for the delays and our readiness to overcome them. No doubt, as long as the Brussels Agreement is respected, and this agreement is explicitly based on the Kosovo Constitution, association will be established to advance municipal rights and responsibilities.

Danas: Some media in Belgrade claim President Vuciq has recently threatened to withdraw from politics if Serbian citizens do not support his agreement with you. Will you do the same?

Thaci: In fact, I have already withdrawn from daily politics and many issues of governance. I have been elected president with the largest possible majority, and now I have responsibilities before the Constitution and the citizens of Kosovo to carry out my mandate. I have seen some polls by UN agencies that Kosovars believe the presidency should lead talks with Serbia, so we remained convinced that I still have my third mission to fulfill Kosovo in NATO and the EU. We have never been closer to that goal, but we still have to exercise patience and work together to secure our country in the European family of nations. I believe the same applies to Serbia and Vucinqi.

Danas: Serbia's chairman has said he will insist on the issue of Serbian property in Kosovo in the next phase of dialogue in Brussels. What do you think of this initiative?

Thaci: The property issue is important to everyone. For example, there is a large volume of documents on Kosovo pensions that Serbia has stolen in 1999, and there are more than one million pages of evidence from the International Court of The Hague that prove that the Serbian state, police and the Serbian Army have deliberately destroyed hundreds of thousands of Kosovars. I believe that when we open this chapter Belgrade will be the first to want to close the same chapter as before. But we cannot overlook people's legitimate demands for justice and their property. This is in line with the values we want to embrace in the EU.

Danas: Are there any news of the establishment of the Kosovo Army?

Thaci: The Kosovo Security Force already exists, they are trained by NATO, they have hierarchy and structure. The process of transforming the KSF into an adequate, contemporary, dynamic and multiethnic force is a process that cannot be stopped. This process has already begun and cannot be stopped. We hope this will happen with constitutional changes, but there are some formulas that can be used for the living of that goal. No one can veto, and I expect that our boys and girls in the form of NATO contribute to NATO missions around the world, but I also invite authorities in Serbia not to exert pressure on Kosovo Serbs who sincerely want to be Kosovo soldiers. All our strategic partners have proved this.