Haradinaj: There could be agreements with Serbia this year, but no border change

He, too, has warned that exchanges of territory could revive old demons in the war Balkans.

Speaking to AFP from his office in Pristina, Haradinaj said he believed an agreement was still reachable, even this year, but that he would not let go on the issue of exchange of territories.

“ “borders were subject to past wars”, he added, referring in part to the 1998-99 separatist conflict that effectively divided Kosovo, an ethnic Albanian province away from Serbia. More than 13,000 people were killed in the war, most ethnic Albanians”, the AFP wrote.

“Change of borders would still be dangerous and does not draw us into an agreement, it takes us away from it”, Haradinaj added.

Haradinaj's strong opposition to the border changes publicly pits President Hashim Thaci, who is participating in EU-led talks with Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vuciq.

The first of the Kosovo government also spoke of the determined tax on products of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“Haradinaj told him the tariff was a response to “aroganza” of Serbian officials, who he accused of sabotaging Pristina's efforts to join the global police organisation, I NTERPOL, last year. Belgrade has long campaigned to shut Kosovo down outside international organisations, including the UN. Haradinaj said the tariff would not be lifted until Belgrade recognises Kosovo, but that he has since softened his stance, saying he would remove the tax if efforts are made with the good faith to resume dialogue”, the AFP writes.

“If the talks get serious... if there is a conference... where everything is prepared to make a decision, we will give a chance to process”, he told AFP.

But if Serbia says it will never recognise Kosovo, my answer is we will never remove the” tax, he added.

Haradinaj also spoke of Kosovo Serbs' complaints, for which he said they live as Serbs in Kosovo and their values are respected.