Kurti tells the names of Serbs planning to inspect his government

Radio Free Europe: Mr. Kurti, you have met with LDK leaders to talk about reaching a consensus on forming government. Are there any concrete results from the meeting?

Albin Kurti: Former Kosovo Democratic League of Prime Ministers candidate Vjosa Osmani came along with her party chairman, Professor Isa Mustafen, I was along with Professor Besnik Bissim, discussed openly and initially congratulated one another, then to get to our main interest, teams of experts for harmonisation of the programme on the one hand, and on the other, for reducing the number of ministries, with whom we will target the number of 12 ministries, where at least 30 per cent of ministers and deputy ministers will be ministers.

We also agreed that we should move forward because the expectations of the citizens are too high, but time wasted is also beautiful.

Radio Free Europe: Is the post of prime minister undisputed in these negotiations?

Albin Kurti: Earlier it has been controversial, on October 6th this thing has been decided, and the people have determined who will be prime minister of the Republic of Kosovo with the division of the Vetevendosje Movement compared to the Democratic League, is defined by citizens of our Republic that I am the new prime minister.

Radio Free Europe: It may be early on the issue of separation of ministries, but what residences do you see as necessary to LDK and Vetevendosje, taking into account party capacities?

Albin Kurti: But as soon as we harmonize the program, which we will do very quickly, we will share the responsibilities of our executives, but I cannot say that in this particular ministry we will have this unique name of this subject.

Radio Free Europe: Besides the LDK, do you think there might be another party from among the majority as part of the coalition?

Albin Kurti: I do not see such an opportunity, perhaps because there is no such need. The LDK and LVV together pass 61 deputies, we will start contact with non-Serb minorities, so that even the 10 seats guaranteed non-Serb minorities are in government, but as far as the Serb minority is concerned, we will first see what is possible to do with Serb politicians who accept Kosovo's independence, recognise the Republic of Kosovo, respect the Constitution and the laws of Kosovo, and who unfortunately also happened this time under pressure from Belgrade, but at the same time are the countless victims of the October 6th election process, as our observers have already conspireded.

Radio Free Europe: Will you respect the constitution to have a coalition and start negotiations with Serbs who are not part of the Serbian List, or will you then talk to the Serbian List?

Albin Kurti: Of course, we will respect the Constitution, but respecting it does not mean that you have no political strategy. Our political strategy, which has an ethical basis, is to first contact and see all possibilities for incriminating the Serbs of the Republic of Kosovo who recognise and accept our state.

Radio Free Europe: With whom specifically do you plan this dialogue, and what will be the goal?

Albin Kurti: No doubt names like Nenad Rassic, Slobodan Petrovic, Petar Miletic and others are those we remember when we think of Serbs who have accepted Kosovo's independence, have decided to live in Kosovo and want to contribute to democratic statehood and the socio-economic development of our country, in contrast with those who have conductors in Belgrade and come to Kosovo to provoke. I believe that Serb citizens of Kosovo do have greater problems with Belgrade than with Pristina.

Radio Free Europe: What does Albin Kurti's arrival mean in the position of Kosovo prime minister?

Albin Kurti: It means the beginning of good governance with a man who understands that politics is service, that politics is representation, that politics is the will that politics is vision, and that we are where we are, thanks to the people from whom we do not separate and return.

Radio Free Europe: The international community expects the dialogue with Serbia to continue as soon as possible, but Serbia is conditioning the continuation of dialogue with the removal of the tax. Are you willing to suspend or abolish the tax?

Albin Kurti: We are not only willing but also interested in replacing the 100 per cent fee with full reciprocity with Serbia in line with the Kosovo Assembly Resolution of December 7th 2011. Serbia cannot expect it to behave backwards and badly with us, and we cannot protect our interest.

Even with regard to the documentation of goods, the certificate of merchandise production, even vehicle plates, whether in the circulation of travelers or goods, the relief, and so on, whether in terms of investments in each other, we need to use the reciprocity principle as a normal guarantor of constructive bilatheralism between Kosovo and Serbia.

Radio Free Europe: Mr. Kurti, do you think the Serbian side will accept this reciprocity?

Albin Kurti: I don't know, but I believe international factors will have understanding about this.

Radio Free Europe: We're talking about another issue, the question of dialogue... Who will lead the dialogue with Serbia from Kosovo, and will you travel with the president to Brussels?

Albin Kurti: I will lead the dialogue as the new prime minister of the Republic of Kosovo, since our independent state is the parliamentary republic, it is constitutional and legal duty even under this year's Constitutional Court Act that I be the head of the negotiating team, the dialogue team for reports with Serbia. The president of the Republic of Kosovo is also foreign policy representative, but he can no longer be a foreign policy creator as he has claimed in the past two years.

Radio Free Europe: And will the trip be, if required, along with President Hashim Thaci in Brussels?

Albin Kurti: I don't know if we'll ever get on the same plane, but in Brussels the delegation, our team will be running it, and the president of the Republic of Kosovo won't be disfellowshipped, but won't be able to lead it anymore.

Radio Free Europe: Do you expect at the end of the dialogue to have a legally binding agreement for both sides, Kosovo and Serbia?

Albin Kurti: We expect dialogue to be solid, because it is well prepared and with clear principles agreed on with Brussels in advance -- that is, a dialogue with Brussels prior to dialogue with Serbia -- so that dialogue does not fail. Part of this is also a kind of balance I'm going to do within the first month of our Government for 33 agreements signed along the 6-year dialogue 2011-2017, regarding the extent of their implementation and also the extent of impact on the reality of citizens indiscriminately.

Apart from this, I will start a dialogue with minorities in Kosovo from the first week, including the Serb minority, but also with other minorities, this development and integration dialogue so that our society can be as timely and highlight what we have in common and not put as the first thing to distinguish us. Our social roles, our economic functions as citizens of the republic, will be in first place, so a kind of universal level of all citizens will have priority over the differences we might have.

Radio Free Europe: How do you envision the final agreement with Serbia and are you willing to compromise, whether for a change of borders or for the establishment of a Serb majority municipality association?

Albin Kurti: As for the Association of Serb majority municipalities, such as what was signed on August 25th of 2015, the Constitutional Court has handed down an act on December 21st 2015 and published two days later on December 23rd 2015 and said that each of the seven chapters of that association is not in line with the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo in a total of 23 articles.

Actually, the association is gone. And it is interesting that no Kosovo Serb complained. Only Belgrade sent signs of protest. I can hear demands for improving the lives of minorities in Kosovo, but not for territorial claims as they existed in the twentieth or nineteenth century. So, the Association of Serb majority municipalities, as such, cannot be implemented in Kosovo.

Serbs will have civic rights and other priorities with the laws of our country. Meanwhile, those territorial exchange projects have failed, I don't think that idea is dead. But from the mass protest of September 29th last year to our new government, which comes from the People's verdict on October 6th, it could be said that it belongs to the past as well.

Serbia to send a list of requests

Radio Free Europe: Do you think an agreement with Serbia is possible without a compromise?

Albin Kurti: I believe that Serbia should be sending a list of requests as indebted to us that are from Yugoslavia's success until war re-proportion. Let her too send us a list of what she thinks we owe her. I don't think we owe Serbia. I was going to talk about compromises and concessions now, but, frankly, we have to clear our positions. And, Serbia should stop looking at Albanians with military glasses, but it would have to see itself as politics in the mirror.

Without Serbia facing its past, there can be no peace and reconciliation. The sooner Serbia does that, it is better not only for Serbia. The end of our dialogue, of course, should include recognising Kosovo's independence and changing Serbia's Constitution and their readiness to confront the past and revealing all necessary lessons and damage necessary for victims.

I'll be arrogant against the opposition

Radio Free Europe: To what extent can your cooperation with the opposition go, and on what issues do you think co-operation is most necessary?

Albin Kurti: You will see that I, as Kosovo's new prime minister, will never have arrogance against the opposition, but always respect and readiness for co-operation. I will not allow Serbia to be taken into the Kosovo political scene, but on our joint team for dialogue with Serbia, it will include politicians and opposition cadres, because we have no comfort in sharing on the issue. Let's face it, let's discuss it, let's argue about economic development, the tax system, social welfare, education and health, but not Serbia.

Radio Free Europe: Will you continue to engage further in the union of Kosovo with Albania?

Albin Kurti: It is not that we as Albanians engage in joining Kosovo with Albania politically, but it is the union itself as a kind of historical integration of Albanians, which is expressed through Albanians themselves. Let's not forget you can't find another people with men's names like Flag of the Union.

And, of course, in my opinion, we're interested in getting closer to Albania, for integration steps with it, but the task on duty is to save the state of Kosovo from capture. To establish our republic with justice, development, equality, fighting corruption, easing unemployment and poverty, and thus I see integration with Albania and European integration through the success of the state of Kosovo.

Radio Free Europe: Can you explain how this approach will take place between the two countries?

Albin Kurti: Those over 50 signed agreements will start to be implemented quickly. We will create joint mechanisms because we are a nation of two states and it is unfortunate that the various European countries that have even fought each other in the recent past are much more integrated than Kosovo and Albania, who have experienced themselves together and helped each other in war and in peace.