Thaci willing to make deal with Serbia, even without opposition

In an interview for Voice of America Thaci has not responded to what if Serbia seeks the North when Kosovo submits the request of Presevo Valley leaders.

Mr. President, there has been a debate over the possibility of partitioning Kosovo in recent weeks. You have ruled out partition but have expressed the possibility of mending the border with Serbia. What does correction mean?

Thaci: I definitely reassemble it even today, under no circumstances, at no cost, by anyone, can anyone impose any division of Kosovo, but at the same time we should be aware that the demarcation of the border between the state of Kosovo and Serbia will happen, or the correction of borders. What does that mean? This means that we should definitely in the process of dialogue that will happen in the future, work together with international actors to set the Kosovo-Serbia border. Now when under no circumstances will the separation occur and I strongly reiterate that something like that will not even be able to be tabled by Belgrade, which is an early request of them. But what I can say is, within the correction of borders now I have been waiting in my office for representatives of the Presevo Valley who have made the request and institutionalised it at the address of Kosovo, that their right stated in 1992 to join Kosovo as the Presevo Valley, is something real, is a request of them presented to me, which I have definitely decided that after their request, I will cast into the dialogue table so that their issue can be resolved once and for all. It will be very difficult, their demand will complicate and exacerbate the process of dialogue and reaching the final agreement, but I feel moral, national, democratic, constitutional and legal obligation to present something to the table.

If you put the Presevo Valley issue on the table, do you expect Serbia to do the same for northern Kosovo?

Thaci: Something like that has not yet been heard by anyone, the demand for partition is ongoing not only in recent years, but is Serbia's historic requirement, due last century. I stress what I will take, which means within the correction of the borders, to say very clearly not split and if we join Presevo with Kosovo.

How could that happen?

Thaci: I think that all are witnesses working closely with international partners working with the highest seriousness of finalising the Kosovo-Serbia agreement, working with higher constitutional, legal responsibility, but also the vision of future sustainability I think that the final Kosovo-Serbia agreement will be concluded with mutual recognition, that Kosovo will not have obstacles to membership in the United Nations Organisation, I appreciate that with this end it will have meaning. I repeat, it will be a very serious, difficult, painful process but I want to hope that it will be victorious with a balanced agreement on both sides and that a mutual agreement of the parties involved in the process will be acceptable both to the European Union and to the United States of America and to NATO. A mutually voluntary agreement of the Kosovo-Serbia parties will be irresistible in the sense of compliance even by international factors and no one can and will not stand against it.

Including even the possibility of exchange of territories or something like that?

Thaci: I didn't even talk about trading or sharing. I talked about reforming the borders, and in the context of this process, I think there is a solution to whether there is good will, mutual will, there is responsibility for the future. We are witnesses to the very clear position of the European Union that they are working for EU modernisation and reformation and that no country will be able to move towards the European future without fulfilling its obligations and overcoming bilateral problems. I think that the correction of borders and two-way will does not present any domino effect for us, does not represent the opening of Pandora's box, does not lose Kosovo's very ethnic character but preserves that character and that under no circumstances presents war, rather, this effort and this commitment represents peace, long-term stability and good neighbourlyity between the two Kosovo states and Serbia.

Mr. President, does that mean that the idea is that Kosovo is now as plus the Presevo Valley?

Thaci: I definitely know Belgrade's aspirations as they know others. Unfortunately, in Kosovo more is being talked about partitioning and Belgrade's bid than the integration of Presevo and their right. I maintain the position that what is in the interest of the state of Kosovo we should postpone and not sensitify and dominate the topics of discussion Belgrade's ideas in Kosovo, as is happening by some individuals or different groups. Therefore it is time for all of us together; political parties, parliament, presidency, government, civil society, media to work that in a short period of time four to six months, definitely reach the final, historic agreement between Kosovo and Serbia that would imply formal recognition by Serbia for Kosovo, mutual recognition, but also avoid all obstacles to Kosovo's membership in international organisations.

Why would Serbia accept such an agreement?

Thaci: We should look towards Euro-Atlantic prospects like Kosovo. Kosovo without agreement with Serbia is definitely unable to join either NATO or the European Union. Also, Serbia without an agreement with Kosovo will not be able to move towards the European perspective, so I want to believe in the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia that will dominate the reason and responsibility of the European spirit and spirit on local confusions belonging to the past century.

Mr. President, do you have the support of the international community, especially the United States of America, for your idea of correcting borders?

Thaci: I think that, and I say with high responsibility that a local Kosovo-Serbia agreement, a mutually acceptable good will agreement by both sides definitely means that no one will be able to fight against and that neither the European Union, nor NATO, nor the United States. On the contrary, all will be in favour of a two states' goodwill agreement, Kosovo-Serbia, meaning peace, stability and the Euro-Atlantic future.

Kosovo doesn't completely extending authority to northern Kosovo, as well as the Presevo Valley is located in Serbia?

Thaci: I don't want to make parallels. What I can say is that I have met the leaders of the Presevo Valley, have behaved responsibly, institutionalised the application at the address of Pristina, the state of Kosovo, to introduce into the process of dialogue their right expressed by the will of citizens. At the same time, I want to underline also that we are working to implement all agreements reached in Brussels for both the northern part. There has been a particularly important process of police integration, in the justice system, free movement, functioning of customs, of the border, so it will continue to work in order to have no problem and the whole process to be peaceful, understanding, and style of the right game of mutuality.

Mr. President, observers say your statements in recent days are bringing a lot of confusion, while adding to concerns that might already have been reached between you and President Vucic. How do you respond to such claims?

Thaci: Definitely no written letter or any idea as to reaching the final agreement was laid on the table. So far, two meetings have taken place, so we're only in the initial phase and the process that started since September will be much more dynamic. I think my ideas have only clarified the process, that of correcting borders really is a reality that we have to face sooner or later, who ignores politics is naive because we have four hundred kilometers of the Kosovo-Serbia border that we have to deal with and close once and for all. No one with border confusion will accept you, neither in NATO nor in the European Union, so what I'm looking at is what's not being seen on the level of vision, but of populist, electoral, problematic and conflict policies. So I am in favour of reaching the final agreement and of course that I expect strong resistance from Belgrade, I expect a stubbornness from them, but they have to be defined, want European integration or want to remain hostage to their paranoid past in relation to Kosovo. If they want to remain hostage to their old policy in relation to Kosovo, then Kosovo and the European perspective are lost. I am convinced that all forces that want peace and stability will work. Kosovo will be unique, together we will also move towards finalising this agreement that concludes even a historical injustice of the past and opens prospects for the future.

Mr. President, in Serbia politicians are currently talking about the idea of partitioning Kosovo, how did you respond?

Thaci: I repeat, under no circumstances, at any price, by no one can be imposed on the partition of Kosovo, period. I know that President Vucic is incorrigibly in relation to Kosovo, and probably the entire politics of Belgrade, but these ideas belong to past centuries and these ideas really presented are unfortunate and irresistibly.

Do you worry about any turmoil if you continue with ideas about separation and concerns about them?

Thaci: Until there is a will to discuss, until responsibility is shown to listen to each other, as long as a good will deal can be reached between the parties, then all of this brings peace, brings stability, understanding, good neighbourly and Euro-Atlantic perspectives. I work for the final Kosovo-Serbia agreement to be an agreement on the European, Euro-Atlantic spirit, which would imply regional stability and defined, final peace in the Western Balkans. Those who talk about war really talk about throwing unnecessary obstacles into the peace-making process between our two countries and overall in the Western Balkans.

Mr. President, have recently raised concerns over whether the approach of international partners is changing Kosovo?

Thaci: I don't think the approach of our partners has changed to Kosovo. There is strong support from the European Union. We just received the recommendation for visa liberalisation that Kosovo has fulfilled in all criteria for liberalisation, US support is powerful, it's the same, NATO support is the same, but one thing is true, today the world is looking at us and looking closely, today the US, the European Union, NATO, wants to have agreements between Kosovo and Serbia. We if we continue this way not to think of anyone in Kosovo who could hinder Serbia in the European future, if Kosovo boycotts dialogue, Serbia will move forward. We are witnessing political games that took place in Macedonia, 27 years late to join NATO. At the moment they reached Macedonia-Greece agreement, invitation received NATO. We don't have time to lose because of individual policies, group interests, populist or even the voices of war. We must work for understanding, peace, stability and the European spirit.

Mr. President, one last question, how do you plan to do the political spectrum together in these talks?

Thaci: We will work hard to be as united as possible. So we've been in Ramboulat, we've won, so we've been in Vienna, we've won, so I'm convinced that the final Kosovo-Serbia agreement, Kosovo will speed up the Euro-Atlantic journey, so I know everyone knows they are witnesses to move faster to NATO and the European Union. We will not allow any further errors such as the postponement of Kosovo's Armed Forces in 2014 and that today we will be part of the partnership for peace, or allow us to delay as if we were delayed for demarcation with Montenegro and today we would have completed the visa liberalisation process, so we have lost for the army four years and three years for visa liberalisation. We will work very hard to create unity as wide as possible, but even under no circumstances will we allow individuals or certain political parties to hold back this process of the future of the Republic of Kosovo. After all, I will work to have the issue of the final Kosovo-Serbia agreement closed through Kosovo citizens' declaration through referendum.