Albanians sceptical of idea of changing borders

At the meeting with President Thaci, representatives of the Albanian community of New York asked questions about his idea about a border correction with Serbia, which in the general public has already been interpreted in exchange of territories between the two countries: the Serb majority north of Kosovo in exchange for the majority Albanian Presevo Valley.

There was no debate at the meeting, and there was simply a polite hearing of President Thaci's answers. But if it were summed up in a word of impression that diaspora representatives came out of conversation, that would be scepticism.

Mark Gjonaj, member of the New York Municipal Council, says Albanians in the US cannot formulate a stance unless they hear from the different political parties.

President Thaci was very transparent and open in his conversation. We will have other meetings with other leaders, with Kosovo Prime Minister and Albania's president. After that, our community will meet and publish a statement. President Thaci openly explained there will be no exchange of territory with Serbia without a referendum. We are not willing to give up any land in Kosovo. Every inch of it is important to us, just as every child is important to a parent”.

Haxhi Dauti, who heads the Albanian-American Council for nearly three decades, says it is a very serious burden for President Thaci himself to begin and talk about Kosovo territories.

“I don't know why the President handles this work and seeks to correct the boundaries. Because with correction of the borders there, we will face problems. At first, he's talking about the Presevo Valley. Albania's Square, who does not love the Presevo Valley. But how Kosovo or its president will be able to take over that territory when they do not have an army. Because Serbia never gives Kosovo land and let's get rid of it. ”

Xhevat Kukaj, representative of the Hope Association, says President Thaci is on the wrong track.

To discuss and move borders is an impossible thing. We all know that Serbia is in no way ready to provide Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovac. It requires a compensation for this, demanded if Kosovo gives Uyman, Trepca, which are the most vital countries for Kosovo. If you give this, then where is Kosovo, what do we have there?”

Besim Malota, a member of the Vatra Headship, says the idea of changing borders is simply a strategy, but without practical consequences.

“Vatra does not recognise any kind of exchange of Albanian territories with Albanian territories. For us, all territories within today's Kosovo border are Albanian, as are those in Bujanoc, Presevo and Medvedja. ”

Personally, Malota supports the idea of a set of boundaries he calls a strategy:

“Border correction means the return of Kosovo's property it had prior to 1950. So I think that's what the president of Kosovo says: correcting mistakes that have been made from 1950 to 1959, but not any other change, not to forgive other properties or give something and get something. So return the map of 1950. This is a strategy. I never believe we can get the Presevo”.