Thaci in London gives clear message on border issue between Kosovo and Serbia

Speaking before those present, the president has said it is worth discussing for Kosovo just these days when the 70th anniversary of NATO's establishment and the 20th anniversary of NATO's intervention in Kosovo is being celebrated.

“Bota became convinced that Slobodan Milosevic, that Serbia wanted neither dialogue nor agreement nor peace. Serbia continued the genocide campaign and expelled half of Kosovo's population from their homes and outside Kosovo's borders. Serbian forces committed 400 massacres around Kosovo and caused more than 20,000 victims of sexual violence”, Thaci has said.

The head of the country has further stressed that it was NATO's humanitarian intervention that led to the halting of genocide and ethnic cleansing undertaken by Serb forces.

Speaking of today's Kosovo perspective, he said Kosovo is now an independent, sovereign state, recognised by more than 100 states worldwide, a member of more than 200 world organisations.

Thaci also spoke of visa liberalisation, saying that even though Kosovo's population is the most pro-European in the Western Balkans, even though it has met all conditions for visa-free movements in the EU, unfortunately remains Europe's most isolated country.

Such a thing, according to him, has occurred because “EU countries lack courage and unity to make decisions on Kosovo. This is an unfair and a sentence, especially for the new generation”.

President Thaci, within this conversation conducted at the “Institute, House”, has also talked about dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.

According to him, it's not easy for former enemies to talk to each other, but <x0-communication and dialogue are the only way to move forward, the only way to achieve peace, or we will be held hostage by the past, and the price will be paid to future generations”

“Med with hope and optimism that the reason will prevail and that our countries will reach peace agreements. A compromise agreement that will bring benefits to the two countries. A legally binding agreement which will bring mutual recognition of two sovereign countries, recognition of Kosovo by the five EU nations that do not yet recognise, safe path NATO and the EU, and membership in the United Nations, and Serbia will provide European perspective”, President Thaci has stressed.

He has added that dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia has been dynamic and energetic, and this is healthy for the process and for our societies.

There are also skeptics and opponents, and I understand them. But my question to everyone is: What's the alternative to dialogue? How do they view moving ahead? Continue hostility and conflict? My answer is JO”, President Thaci said.

The head of the country has demanded that the international community be unified, namely the states of Kuni, and that according to him if they are united, Kosovo will be even more united.

“Mbi all, the agreement is in the interest of Kosovo, in the interest of Serbia, but also in the interest of the international community, in the interest of the EU and the US”, he stressed.

Adding that the quo status and the frozen conflict cannot stay, he has said Kosovo was and remains a constructive partner in the process.

“Agreements cannot be reached with unilateral actions of either side, or with the terms set. In Kosovo, over 70 per cent of citizens support dialogue and reaching agreement with Serbia. A comprehensive agreement, which will close all open issues between Kosovo and Serbia, issues such as missing persons, refugees, cultural and historical heritage, economic co-operation, community rights and issues such as education, health and similar ones, the president has added.

President Thaci at the end of this conversation has said that “one thing is certain, that there will be no borders based on ethnic lines, and that Kosovo will remain a state and a multiethnic society, preserving the spirit of Western values and the principles of liberal democracies that we have built together”.