Thaci: Should not, due to hostility with Serbia, violate reports with the US

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci says convinced that the tax on Serbian goods should be revised to be removed, for two reasons.

The first, because, according to him, Serbian goods, despite the determined measure, are smuggling, and second, that Kosovo cannot go against the advice of America.

Asked in Report Tv if Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj's government will fall, if it does not remove the 100% tax against Serbian products, Thaci has replied: “States are divided. The president has his job, the Assembly has its own, as does the government. Tax work is a matter that the government has decided on with Deputy Prime Minister Enver Hoxhaj's proposal from the Democratic Party of Kosovo by 10% and then advanced to 100% by Parliament Speaker Kadri Veselini, who has proposed, by the chairman of the Democratic Party of Kosovo and who is institutionalised by the Kosovo government”.

“Now it is up to them to hold the debate on their own, within the government, but one thing I can say that Serbia has deserved such a decision, in particular in the wake of aggressive actions it has made in relation to Kosovo diplomacy and Kosovo's right to join Interpol and the U NESTO, but also in an effort to ignore Kosovo from certain countries in the world”, he has added.

But it must be remembered that we now spent some time and I also believe there will be an internal debate between coalition partners and, with all I've discussed, we see that the tax had its effect”, Thaci said.

With all the partners I've discussed I see a will to move forward, an opportunity for dialogue between the state of Kosovo and Serbia opens. I do not agree under any circumstances that Serbia conditions dialogue”, Thaci has indicated.

Kosovo should not also make this process difficult because, despite the fact that the tax is now in effect, Serbian goods are entering Kosovo either through smuggling in the north, which has now been strengthened, and we have to be realistic and we have discussed the institutions of Kosovo, but Serbian goods are also being introduced through Montenegro, through Albania and especially through Macedonia. Therefore, Serbian goods are present in Kosovo. It's true that the tax is working, but they're going through other states”, he said.

Asked whether it would be better to fight smuggling than to remove the tax, Thaci has said: “Unfortunately, behind the tax, we also have the resignation of four mayors in the north, and there is now no control of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo, except for two Kosovo officers and two Kosovo customs officers (4)x1>.

“Now needs to be seen what Kosovo's priority will be and not the individual's, in order to stop smuggling because now, it has not been for a long time, but it has given way to smuggling, as it has opened the way to coming or bringing Serbian products in the same way, but from different countries, in particular from Macedonia, I stress, but also from Montenegro and Albania. So Kosovar shops are packed with Serbian goods, coming from different directions. But the tax issue is not directly related to Serbia. Now we have US advice and recommendations to have a temporary suspension, and I think that the rigidity shown on this issue, could have poor consequences for our country, for our society, and in particular for Kosovo institutions”, he added.

“No one has thought that Kosovo could contest US counsel, being launched by President Trump, Secretary Pompeii and the Department of Defence, who have sent the letter to Kosovo to respect their advice, suspend the tax for a short period of time, pave the way for dialogue and possibly reach the final Kosovo-Serbia agreement. Now, unfortunately, we have the first U.S. actions in the sense of measures against the Kosovo Security Force, but also the Kosovo Police, against Customs, with their expertise, and in this direction we should see what our interest is”, the Kosovo president has declared.

“Shouldn't be because of hostility with Serbia to breach strategic reports with the US. So for no tax should we violate eternal friendship with the United States, in some form or another form. We all need to understand that the United States is a heedare in Kosovo's freedom and independence. They have fought for Kosovo's freedom, for the liberation of Kosovo. They are present today in Kosovo. They have invested and spent billions, have the most powerful military centre in Kosovo in the region. So these suggestions, I think, should be taken seriously. I pointed out that neither our partners nor our friends, nor our enemies, thought there would be a day when Kosovo would say “no” US counsel”, Thaci said.

Kosovo's president wants US advice on tax removal with Serbia to be heard, as he saw America's support, according to him, integration into NATO, the EU or even recognition remains a dream.

Kosovo is a construction state, in an internal and international consolidation process. He doesn't have the luxury and he can't say “not” the US advice. We, fortunately, as a nation have been given the value of world civilization for three decades. They've really accepted Kosovo and Albania. It's lucky that Albania is part of NATO and that, even today, Albania would not be part of NATO without US decision-making and concrete President Bush's decision-making. Kosovo would also not be free and independent without the US. Those who think that we would win the war themselves, Thaci says.

We would end up isolated, exhausted, followed, deported, ethnic cleansing, genocide and without international support. So we need to see where we have been and where we are today and which direction we will go. Currently, the United States has no dissatisfaction with the pro-Americanism of the people of Kosovo”, Thaci has praised.

“Disgusted with government policy issues in Kosovo, therefore the gap between the US partnership with the state and the people of Kosovo and the wrong policy in specific segments of the Kosovo government” must be made, he added.

Kosovo does not dare and does not have the luxury to take such a position that pleases them, and that I can freely say, opponents of independence or who have been able to imagine in this world that 20 years after the war, Serbia will be more playful in the sense of government in relation to the US and Kosovo less obedient, in the sense of respecting advice. But it must also be understood that there have been other countries that have not listened to US advice, but have not finished well”, Thaci declared.

There have been developments around the world. There are even today such developments, so we always have to take into account the strategic interest of our country, the state of Kosovo because the goal is to be part of NATO, the EU and the UN”, he added.

“Someone thinks Kosovo will gain new recognitions, membership in international organisations and move quickly towards NATO and the EU, but in particular towards the EU NATO saw US support? It's a dream, it's a very dangerous philosophy, which is in stark opposition to the dominant will of the citizens of Kosovo, with the values we represent and with the basis of war that we have developed. So I stress that love in relation to the United States of Kosovo is much greater than respect for the” tax, the president of Kosovo has indicated.