Surroi shows whether Thaci can fall in case he remains alone in his idea of border correction

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci's talks with Serbian counterpart Alexanadar Vuciq on the borders, publicist Veton Surroi, calls them cladesti.

In an interview for Radio Free Europe, Surroi said President Thaci has no legitimacy to hold such talks with the Serbian president, and as a result, exceeds the constitutional mandate.

Correcting the borders, according to Surroi, would trigger tensions throughout the region, until he said the opposition has done well to invite extraordinary sessions on September 4th.

Radio Free Europe: Mr. Surroi, from the negotiating table between Kosovo and Serbia in Brussels, the idea of border correction has also been promoted. How do you see such an idea?

Veton Surroi: The idea is to overcome the way Kosovo and Serbia should talk, so they should first talk about mutual recognition, therefore how, as independent states will co-operate. Independent states can then negotiate border corrections as have the Netherlands and Belgium, but within a context of longer-term co-operation and within a form in which there is no ethnic component.

In Kosovo's case, there is a non-authorised, non-authorised conversation for exchange of territories and population exchange, which in fact does not empower or create conditions for relations between two independent states.

Radio Free Europe: Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and Serbia's Aleksandar Vuciq are expected to meet on 7 September. Do you expect the two presidents to push their border idea forward?

Veton Surroi: President Vuciq has full legitimacy and legality, under Serbia's constitutional system and according to President Vuciq's political power. Mr Thaci does not have that legitimacy, nor does he have the legality to talk about borders. So any talk of borders, is overstepping the constitutional mandate.

Radio Free Europe: What effect can the opening of the border issue have on Kosovo and the region?

Veton Surroi: It has negative effects now, because it creates tensions, creates illusions in Kosovo that this issue will regulate relations. In Macedonia, it creates a expectations at a bad time, when Macedonia must join the whole -- Albanians and Macedonians -- to vote for the referendum, which will allow Macedonia to become a NATO member, which is Macedonia's national interest. And it's a bad moment for Bosnia and Herzegovina, because it's a non-functional state, which is always at the edge of pressure on the border correction issue. As we have seen, Republika Srpska's chairman in Bosnia and Herzegovina was the first to react positively to the issue.

Radio Free Europe: In the meantime, how do you see the opposition's role in this process?

Veton Surroi: The opposition has done well to invite an extraordinary session of parliament. It should continue to build a joint position even with those parties that are in power and feel that this is a dangerous moment for Kosovo.

Radio Free Europe: Does the president risk dismissal if he remains alone in his idea of border correction?

Veton Surroi: President Thaci's fate is completely irrational on the Kosovo issue. Initially it is Kosovo's interest, not President Thaci's. Mr. Thaci has been able to make politics so that he can put his interest ahead of Kosovo's interests.

Radio Free Europe: What about the role of the international community, in this negotiation process, how much do you consider this could be crucial to determining the upcoming Kosovo agreement ?

Veton SurroiThe international community's notion, it's a very broad notion, but let's say that the West in this case does not have a unique position. Fortunately, Germany's position is completely clear and we hope to unify, but before protecting Kosovo Germany or anyone else, Kosovo must protect Kosovars on its own.

Radio Free Europe: Do You View Choices as a Solution?

Veton Surroi: Any solution is needed for Kosovo, in order to get out of this hug.