Albin Kurti: Dialogue with Serbia will not be our priority, why hurry

Deutsche Welle: It has been more than two months since Vetevendosje won the elections in Kosovo, yet has not taken power because it awaits the coalition agreement. What are the main obstacles? Why doesn't coalition creation end?

Albin Kurti: The talks on harmonising the governing programme have long begun. Since the end of the October 6th election, we have contacted the LDK, and we have begun harmonising programmes with our teams. Thus we have shown a new culture of government formation, where we first discuss the programme. We closed this 100 percent. However, negotiations on sharing executive responsibilities have begun late, following the certificate of results, which was delayed with different numbers and recounts. We are now at a point where we are finalising the government talks. I'm optimistic. There are difficulties, there are challenges, but when the people decided on October 6th, they made a kind of choice that didn't leave us any choice further. So there is no possibility for other arithmetics, except for tomorrow's government consisting of yesterday's opposition to Vetevendosje leadership, in co-governance with the LDK, with me prime minister.

Deutsche Welle: To be a little more concrete, it's about the presidential post, right?

Albin Kurti: It is true that we have discussed the ministers, we have agreed to have two deputy prime ministers -- the first deputy prime minister from the LDK, the second deputy prime minister from Vetevendosje. We agreed to have five ministries, where two additional ministries come to minorities. So we have a total of twelve ministers. On the basis of the Constitutional Court and Constitution, we are automatically entitled to the head of the Assembly, but we have shown readiness to negotiate the post. But, although we know that the president's case will come under our mandate and we as political subjects will have to be committed, we have expressed confidence that it is best to close the government issue before any issue is opened to the president. You know our Constitution says that the president represents the unity of the people”, so it's not a simple matter. It is true that there are difficulties, but I believe that with mutual trust and especially with a strong desire for changes in Kosovo, we will also exceed this in the coming days.

Deutsche Welle: Let us not only talk about politicians but also about the program. Although the government has not yet been established, you often travel to Germany and apparently started political talks in Germany and other countries. What are Germany's main demands for the next government?

Albin Kurti: With Germany we also have an additional connection to the fact that we have a half a million diaspora there, which makes up most of our reminiscing. Germany is the European Union's economic engine. In addition, the Democratic League of Kosovo has reports with the CDU (Cristian Democrats), while we have them with the SPD (Social Democrats), and it is known that these two parties in Germany are in the coalition. So every time I visit there, I also meet with diplomats and government officials, and I also meet with the SPD deputies, where I eventually attended their convention. But I also meet deputies from CSU and CSU (Christians). Because in our mandate, in the seventh legislature as a new government, we also want to expand our relations with Germany. There we discuss two main issues. The first issue is domestic reforms in Kosovo, as if Kosovo's state is removed from the crisis, how to ease unemployment and poverty, how to combat crime and corruption...

Deutsche Welle: What are your concepts on these issues?

Albin Kurti: They are very optimistic about our programs and vows. We want a five-fold reform, reform in justice, reform in the economy, reform in education, health and security reform. Reforms in justice and security will take place through a veto process, because the screening should occur not only to prosecutors and judges, but also to separate positions and to the highest ranks of intelligence and police. We want to take the dol economic system, educational as it is in Germany, but also in Switzerland and Austria, where students and students spend several days in schools and schools and one or two days in the company. We want to have foreign investments starting with investments from the diaspora, because we hardly have foreign investments when neither does our diaspora invest due to corruption in Kosovo. And above all, we will stop corruption in government, and fight it everywhere in institutions and societies.

Deutsche Welle: I don't believe there's any disagreement between you, the LDK and the German side. But I don't know about the second field you haven't talked about yet. I believe the second area is Kosovo's foreign policy. Where is the most difficult point here, because it is known that Germany's position is to continue dialogue, as soon as possible, and with the removal of taxes. What is required of you by the German side in this case?

Albin Kurti: It is true that the second area of discussion is our report with Serbia and reports among states in the Western Balkans. We as Vetevendosje Movement agree with the LDK and with our German and European partners for the integration of our country into the European Union, the sooner the better. But we know it won't happen soon. We don't go as a state to the European Union, but we build Europe inside of us, from us. We also have tradition, culture and history, but we have other human capacities for this. As for reports with Serbia, we have agreed that we need to meet with Mrs. Moghrin's successor, with Josep Borrell, the senior European representative responsible for foreign policy and security, to discuss preparing future dialogue with clear and precise principles. We cannot fail again. He has already warned that his first visit will be to Kosovo, and I expect to meet him when I am prime minister. On the other hand, we have 33 agreements with Serbia during six-year dialogue 2011- 2017, and it is important that we examine them, not to be obsessed with them and waste time, but to know the degree of implementation and influence in order to learn lessons to move forward. And with the LDK we also agree to replace the 100 per cent fee with full political, economic and trade reciprocity with Serbia, as approved in the Kosovo Assembly resolution on December 7th 2011.

Deutsche Welle: So, what, you're going to re-compliance and then you're gonna take down the tariffs?

Albin Kurti: First is reciprocity, but let us not forget that even international factors, Quint's ambassadors to Kosovo have also set conditions for Serbia to cease the campaign against recognition of Kosovo and Kosovo participation, its membership in international organisations. So even international factors do not see the tariff lift without an expression of goodwill and without a change in Serbia's behaviour. While we have some negative steps in Belgrade, because there the head of state has been declared, it will not allow Kosovo to enter the U NESTO. On the other hand, there are clear differences not only in values but also in fact. It is a deep disagreement, since we are clear about the position towards Russia, Serbia says with Russia even with the European Union. We don't have that kind of dilemma. We don't want to eat with two spoons, as we Albanians say.

Deutsche Welle: But one factor you haven't mentioned yet. America. Ambassador Green to Berlin is one of the people you met. What is the message, or the US request for the next government?

Albin Kurti: I am in regular contact with the US ambassador to Kosovo, Philip Costnet, who is an active ambassador who has committed a lot to social and institutional emancipation against corruption in Kosovo. I also have frequent meetings with State Department representative Matthew. Palmer, with whom I first met 22 years ago in the U.S. and recently I met the American ambassador to Berlin, Mr. Green, who was appointed as President Trump's special representative. So we have conversation on several levels. At times, there may seem to be differences, but at times one notices even the complete ones, for fulfillment. I express our position clearly.

I have also understood the position of Mr. Greenell, who says this country needs economic investment and economic investments need agreement between Kosovo and Serbia. I don't deny that. On the other hand, I believe that we should not rush into failure again. Because we've had many failures in the dialogue so far. And based on studies that have been done in Kosovo, three additional factors are highlighted why there is no economic investment: population poverty, that is, low aggregate demand or poor consumer power of the population, second is the difficult approach in finance due to high bank interest loans for our businesses, and third is corruption in institutions. According to some reports not only international but local Kosovo is a country where there are elements of the capture of the state, which means we not only have corruption in institutions but also have institutions in corruption. We need to fix these for investment, because there is no guarantee that an agreement with Serbia, urgent, is rewarded because it brings investment.

Deutsche Welle: Do you agree that a compromise should be reached as soon as possible, and that consensus is needed, and as is often discussed especially by American representatives, there should possibly be a compromise with new agreements, or changes of borders, as a compromise being made to Serbia to enter dialogue and accept Kosovo as an independent state?

Albin Kurti: In the early 1990s in an interview with German media and in an interview with French media former Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova has declared that “Independence is compromise”. After the end of the war we have compromised the Ahtisaari Plan, which has many shortcomings that interfere with our democratic statehood today. Now Serbia seeks new compromise. That's the tactic you get what you can get, you're disappointed to get even more soon...

Deutsche Welle: Then with you there's no compromise on the borders...

Albin Kurti: There can be no change in Kosovo's borders. Kosovo has its borders. Kosovo has been a constitutional element of the Yugoslav Federation. At these borders we have been recognised by about 110 states, including the US and Germany, and we have no land to give Serbia. The prince of the upcoming agreement between Kosovo and Serbia cannot be Serbia's complaint about lost Kosovo, with what it must be comforted with a territorial compensation, but the lives of citizens, practical needs, human rights and suffering we have suffered from exactly one state like Serbia, which does not face its past. We have no dilemma. The United States is our irreplaceable ally. Right there, it's Germany. We will never replace Germany with Russia, as may have been thought by someone else engaged in the wrong, harmful, and very dangerous territorial exchange.

Deutsche Welle: But, on the other hand, when we talk about changing borders, in German and western media you are often the person who questions the borders by talking about the unification of Albanian lands as ultranationalists. This is often mentioned in the German and European media. Is that still the formula for Vetevendosje? Should Kosovo think about uniting Albanian lands, or remain at “has defined limits and they do not change”?

Albin Kurti: We don't see the border in front of Serbia as much as the border is across Albania. Because we don't have how to equalise Albania and Serbia. The border between Kosovo and Albania is not the Albanian border, is the border of Serbia and Yugoslavia. In our governmental mandate we will focus on two priorities: employment and justice. Because we must first reach for the state of Kosovo to succeed. The approach, integration and joining one day once in the future with Albania I do not see it through the failure of the state of Kosovo, but through success. We must first make this country succeed. And the Albanian people still have the trauma of the 1913 London Conference, when the British Foreign Minister of the time, Sir Edward Grey, had said: “la made a huge injustice to Albanians to maintain peace in Europe”. Before last year, however, World War I broke out. Access, integration, joining Albania we do not see it by incompatible means and undemocratic means, and by unconstitutional means. But I'm saying it can't be done soon, as soon as I get to the prime minister's new office. First we must establish the state of Kosovo, where our focus will be on the economy and justice. One of the priorities will be the principled dialogue with Serbia, but this will not be the top priority. The main priorities will be justice and employment.

Deutsche Welle: Is this formula shared with your partners in the SPD and other European countries?

Albin Kurti: Definitely. They have also supported us in the campaign, especially two MPs have been very active during our campaign, Stefan Schwarz and Josip Juratovic. I thank them on this occasion...

Deutsche Welle: Last question. Will Vetevendosje emerge in the race when it comes to Albania's tough electoral campaign?

Albin Kurti: Our activists in Tirana have their own centre named “Vetevendosje” movement, but they have autonomy of attitudes and actions and decisions. I believe that the name Vetevendosje is very democratic, because it comes from below, not from above, and it is the opposite of the territorial exchange coming from above, from leaders who behave monarchically. Vetevendosje in Tirana aims to awareness and organise as many people there for activities in the spirit of movement, but not by taking the lead from Pristina.