Ahmeti: No deal if Serbia does not recognise us

Social Democrat Party Chairman, simultaneously of the Pristina municipality Shpend Ahmeti, says dialogue with Serbia will end with recognition of Kosovo, otherwise, no agreement.

In the “Week Interview” in Koha.net, Ahmeti said that in the first meeting to be held in Brussels by the State Team, with EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Federica Moghrini, they have not entered into details of specific topics, but, generally, has been talked about the dialogue process. He has claimed that the issue of the dead is among the first.

Ahmeti, last week, has said Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has until Friday (day) to hand over the documentation team to the process that has been conducted so far about dialogue, but he has not. Ahmeti indicated that they have officially asked him, and that Thaci has pledged that there will be full co-operation with the delegation, however, no such thing has happened.

The “is the matter of institutional and state responsibility. As a state delegation, we have done our job”, Ahmeti says.

That Serbia has imposed the removal of the tax to continue the dialogue, Ahmeti says conditions for the removal or temporary suspension of the tax have not been met.

Chairman The PSD also says it fails to understand why LDK's Vetevendosje is not being introduced in dialogue.

It's about impacts P. DSV. Says the latter is closing every chance of co-operation with his party.

But nothing extraordinary, especially with Albin. Once said Isa Mustafa is the greatest traitor, while now that he needs power, he is saying Isa Mustafa is the best”, he said.

Ahmeti has also talked about the possibility of the country going to parliamentary elections. When elections come, he says, The PSD will determine its actions in relation to that election cycle, but it has ruled out opportunities to coalition with the PDK.

“Co-operation salaries will be our policies and our programme. We rule out any coalition with the PDK, because we believe the PDK should pass at least one mandate in opposition. But we are not interested in coming to power with a new PDK, which apparently is also the aim of several other political subjects”, Ahmeti said.

Time.net: Mr. Ahmeti, you are co-chairman of the State Team in talks with Serbia. Frankly, do you expect the dialogue to end with recognition of Kosovo?

Ahmeti: Yes, indeed! That is Kosovo's main goal and stance in dialogue. Knowing is a sina non. There's no deal if there's no recognition. This stance is expressed at the entrance of Resolution. The same will be sanctioned in the Law and the Dialogue Platform.

Time.net: You held your first meeting in Brussels with Mrs. Moghrin. How was the meeting?

Ahmeti: We appreciate the meeting positively, where Mrs. Moghrin met with the process so far and we announced it with the establishment of the state delegation, institutional arrangements and our expectations of the process.

Time.net: It is said that primary in the dialogue will be the issue of the missing from the recent war. What is your proposal and how was Mogher expected?

Ahmeti: Undiscovered are one of the open topics with the Republic of Serbia. There can be no agreement with Serbia without the issue of the found. We haven't yet entered into specific topics, but we talked first about the process in general. We are expected to build our positions on each subject, which we will present in dialogue. Part of the job for the unemployed is done by associations, civil society and government institutions in Kosovo. We will unlock and build our position with even clearer demands after further consultations, but there can be no agreement, much less justice and peace without the issue of the found.

Time.net: EU officials stated that with the State Delegation they have only met for consultation, while high-level talks are held again among the presidents Thaci and Vuciq. Does this mean Mr. Thaci will remain the same?

Ahmeti: This issue was clarified during the recent meeting in Brussels, even on Mrs. Kocijanciq, who was present at the meeting. Brussels has very clear the role, mandate and responsibilities of the state delegation of the Republic of Kosovo for dialogue with Serbia. That doesn't mean we've changed constitutional order. The Republic of Kosovo also has presidents, prime minister, Government and Parliament. But Kosovo is the parliamentary republic and the Parliament is the highest legislative institution in our country. We have a warrant from the Parliament. When it gets cold, the president will also be in Brussels, but we will be present at the meeting. So there will be institutional co-ordination, but under the resolution adopted by the Parliament, the state delegation is the only institution that has the clear mandate for negotiations, in consultation with other state institutions.

Ahmeti: Full co-operation with delegation is issue of state responsibility for president

Time.net: Why is President Thaci not handing over the documents about the dialogue? Are you aware if Thaci owns documents that have not been made public so far?

Ahmeti: Ours is to ask officially. We've been looking for them officially. The president has pledged to have full co-operation with the delegation. It's a matter of institutional and state responsibility. As a state delegation, we've done our job.

Time.net: The Washington Post” wrote that American President Trump is in preparation for the signing ceremony of the Kosovo-Serbia agreement. This step has preceded an unreported meeting of Kosovo President Hashim Thaci in Berlin last month with US Ambassador Richard Green. Are you aware of what the president has agreed with the American ambassador and what is the agreement being made?

Ahmeti: We have no information like that. But it would be better to focus on content before we discuss signatory ceremonies.

Time.net: We talk a little bit about the tax on Serbian goods. Do you believe that the tax will be lifted without Kosovo citizenship being recognised?

Ahmeti: The tax is the government's decision of the Republic of Kosovo. It has been undertaken after an aggressive Serbia policy faces the Republic of Kosovo. Kosovo should respond when attacked, this is confirmation and the exercise of state subjectivity. The state delegation has no mandate for government decisions. However, we have an obligation to consult and prepare the strategy for dialogue. Serbia has made provision for tax removal to continue dialogue. We don't think the terms for the removal have been met, or the temporary suspension of the tax. The state delegation will consult the government, but the focus is simultaneously on full functioning of the state team and commissions. Then we can also discuss any subject separately, including trade with Serbia.

Time.net: Mr. Ahmeti, the large number of this State Team is being criticised. Why do so many people have to go to Brussels? What exactly do the rest of the team do?

Ahmeti: The state delegation has several members, voted by the Assembly of Kosovo, each with special representation. Since it was the first courtship, then all members of the delegation were present. It's about dialogue where solutions to all open topics will be discussed. We're in the process of recruiting the best professionals on each subject. On the other hand, we've already had an alert to the leadership of the process by just one person, but now that we've had delegations voted by the Parliament, it's like the whole thing is bothering. At the next meetings, the compositions will be built according to responsibilities and dialogue themes.

Time.net: Attitudes promoting the State Delegation differ from what Thaci says, which does not rule out changing borders. How much harm does the lack of a common position harm Kosovo and will you manage to speak in one voice in Brussels?

Ahmeti: The state delegation will be unanimous. Kosovo will speak with a voice and that voice is not now a mournful cry, but it is becoming articulation. It would be strange if there was complete reconciliation by every member for everything. However, the resolution has also seen the voting system in decision-making. We have a clear mandate with resolution, so we can't get out of those frames. We will have full reconciliation, and the Kosovo delegation is representation of the state of Kosovo. This articulation consists of the adopted Resolution, the platform, and the Law to be adopted.

Time.net: Is the dialogue platform that you said would be sent to the site as far away as January 15th?

Ahmeti: Yes, the platform will be ready on the date.

Time.net: They need 2/3 of the votes in the Parliament to ratify the eventual agreement with Serbia. Do you believe LDK Vetevendosje will vote?

Ahmeti: Our mandate is to negotiate, report and reach the agreement. Before we know what that deal is, I can't even talk about PSD votes. Each MP's right is to vote as he wishes.

Ahmeti says he fails to understand why LDK Vetevendosje is not being introduced in dialogue

Time.net: Why do you think these two parties are not being counted in dialogue?

Ahmeti: That's a question for those subjects, but I can say I haven't figured it out yet. If they're the political force of the Republic, and they're for dialogue, and the Parliament votes for dialogue and for the team, then I don't understand why they're not part of the dialogue.

Ahmeti: Kurt once said Mustafa is the greatest traitor, now that he needs power is saying he's the best.

Time.net: Mr. Ahmeti, there are constant clashes between the party you now lead and the VV. Have you been so critical among yourselves that you were together?

Ahmeti: It would be better to focus on policies and improve the lives of citizens. The VV continues to take 90% of the time with the PSD and especially with me. They're shutting down every opportunity to cooperate with us. But nothing extraordinary, especially with Albin. He used to say that Isa Mustafa is the greatest traitor, while now that he is needing power, he is saying that Isa Mustafa is the best. It would be better to focus on progressive and development policies for Kosovo.

Time.net: Your party MP, Frasher Krasniqi, in a clash with Vetevendosje, also says <x0mos don't ban any debate, because if you continue to do so, we should publish all the facts of the meetings that deal with our split”. What are the facts?

Ahmeti: You should ask MP Krasniqi that. But there is much slander and hypocrisy in VV attacks. Frasher spent a lot more time in the VV. Perhaps it refers to slander and hypocrisy.

Time.net: What about the clashes around the Pristina municipality?

Ahmeti: Thought matters. From the best chairman in Kosovo I turned overnight to the worst “”. That's funny and fun.

Time.net: What about the VV's allegations about your connections to the company “Devolli Group”? What is the truth in this matter?

Ahmeti: Quite the same explanation as PDK's in 2017. It doesn't matter. I highlighted it in every public statement. But the VV's goal is to link blind political loyalty to Albin, with that of political morality. So for the VV, if you agree with Albin you mean automatism that you're clean. If you disagree with Albin, it means automatism that you are corrupt. Such thinking is nothing new. Known in history. But I'm ready at any moment and every medium to argue with Albin, the Devolles and any other subject.

Ahmeti: If the opposition were asked, I wouldn't be mayor of the Communists or co-director of dialogue.

Time.net: Opposition parties in Pristina's Municipal Assembly have asked you, as elected to lead the capital, to determine where you want to navigate in Pristina or Brussels. What will be the final decision?

Ahmeti: If they were asked, I wouldn't be in Pristina or Brussels. My primary managerial position is the Pristina municipality. The state delegation's co-direction in Brussels is in the quality of the party chairman.

Time.net: How do you view the second governing mandate with Pristina? You asked for your wings, you took them, and finally you cut them off. Once promises come true?

Ahmeti: We didn't break our wings. I don't know where this conspiracy comes from. No decision has been rejected in the Communist Assembly. They object to those who did not really make us. So 100 promises haven't changed, we keep implementing. A small number of individuals try to propaganda because we disagree with Albin. We are focused and working on living all the promises. Work intensity is very good, while preliminary procedure works on major projects have already been taken. This year will be the year of major jobs in Pristina. We're on the right track to make all our vows in the next three years.

Time.net: Let's go back to the central level. How are reports with the PAN coalition because the rest of the opposition accused you of becoming government crutches?

Ahmeti: How PSD, we examine policies and context circumstances. Like. We're the only ones who've stored signatures for the government's collapse, while those who talk all the time haven't! They didn't even call us for an initiative. They are willing to bring down the government with the Serbian List in any context, ready to bring down the tax against Serbia, only to come to power. PSD doesn't do that. We have not requested any post, no ministries, no dictatorship, but have supported dialogue with Serbia, because we think it is our responsibility to serve state interest. When there are good initiatives, we support them from social democrat prospects. We do not support many of them. So, we have no relationship with the PAN, we have relations with the citizen, Kosovo and our Social Democrats. For us, opposition is not the rejection of everything, but the delay of social democrat policies in Kosovo.

Time.net: You have been critical of Mr. The vision of others in the current ruling coalition, even of President Thaci -- but now it seems that you have compliance in many ways, don't you?

Ahmeti: No. This too is another extinguishing construction that tries to build certain circuits. We have not voted Thaci for president, nor would we vote in the future. Same for Wessel. We agree to represent Kosovo, where we also discern in potential solutions. We believe that Kosovo needs an agreement as soon as possible that permanently shares all open issues with Serbia.

Time.net: Mr. Ahmeti, referring to a recently released poll by your former party, The PSD does not reach the 5 per cent threshold if parliamentary elections are currently held. How many have you consolidated as a party and is the PSD willing to enter the elections alone, so without pre-election coalitions with any other political subject? If so, with which parties do you prefer to go to the coalition and will you be exclusive to the ruling parties?

Ahmeti: The PSD has refunctioned 15 branches. We'll open over 10 more soon. We are lying all over Kosovo. Our trend is on the rise even in our political opponents' polls. That's until the next election. When elections come, The PSD will determine its actions in relation to that election cycle. The principles of co-operation will be our policies and our programme. We rule out any coalition with the PDK, because we believe the PDK should pass at least one mandate in opposition. But we are not interested in powering a new PDK, which seems to be the goal of several other political subjects.