Thaci's interview for the “The Independent”: Dialogue is the only solution for specials we fear at all

He says: “Pa Britain, the European Union will lose a lot of substance. It's not a good situation, either for the European Union or for us in Kosovo”.

The Independent writes that President Thaci talks about these issues from his point of view. Currently it is on a path that ensures that the bloody Balkan wars will no longer return to a conflict of death, cruelty, mass violations and ethnic cleansing. Violence had once shaken Europe, so such fierce disputes are already past.

Now, former opponents Kosovo and Serbia are urging the West to reach a peace agreement, following a bloody conflict.

The leaders of the two countries, Hashim Thaci and Aleksandar Vuciq, both named in the past as harsh and hardworking nationalists, have recently held talks at the annual Munich Security Conference. The new round of negotiations is expected soon.

There is a general agreement for the two countries' membership in the European Union in the event the peace agreement is reached, as well as in Kosovo's case, NATO membership is guaranteed.

“Based under the circumstances we are facing in Kosovo, there is already no doubt that the only way of the future is membership in the European Union”, The Indenent Thaci quoted, during a visit to London.

“As Kosovo, we will carry out all our tasks because we deserve to join NATO and the EU. We want open borders within Europe, with Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia everywhere in the region. As for NATO, I think we're talking about a time frame of 5 to 10 years, maybe less, when we're going to be members of them”.

While talking about the war period, Thaci says: “Britania will always remain Kosovo's partner, whether in the EU or outside. It was one of the greatest contributors to Kosovo's freedom and independence, so we will always be grateful for this”.

For the “The Independent”, Thaci also speaks of European Union countries such as Greece, Spain, Romania and Cyprus that have not yet recognised Kosovo's independence.

There is divisions among some EU members. There are also divisions in the Kosovo issue. We know that. The international union would be of great help to the dialogue, because we need to reach an agreement with Serbia. And, there is no doubt that this would speed up the process of recognition from these countries”, Thaci says.

It also mentions American President Donald Trump's interest in the Kosovo issue Serbia.

It is remembered that Trump has called for commitment from the two countries to reach a peace agreement between the two countries as soon as possible.

“Skeptics said Trump wouldn't care about the Balkans”, Thaci says.

“In fact, he has been very attentive, very supportive, as well as following the policies of other presidents on Kosovo and the Balkans. He is acting like the Bushes, Clinton and Obama. Trump, within two months, has sent two letters to me and the Serbian president. And the order was very clear: it requires reaching an agreement this year”.

In this interview for The Independent, Thaci also speaks of Alexander Vucicin, with whom he is trying to make a dialogue.

“Vucciq has changed a lot. He has faced difficult situations often because of his own mistakes” ʹ Thaci says. The “The regime he once belonged to was like hell. They did a lot of damage, not only to Kosovo, Croatia and Bosnia, but to Serbia itself”.

In 1998 and 1999, Vuciq and I were in opposition. We won, he lost. However, he is a legitimate leader, voted by citizens. We've changed in positive direction, so we have to evolve away. Now we talk no more about conflict or war, but about achieving peace. Unfortunately, there will always be people against peace, as a group of people are now doing in Serbia”.

“Vucciq is a very difficult man to dialogue with. But I didn't choose her. Neither did he choose me, but we are representatives of both independent states.

Thaci has his problems. The Specialised Prosecutor's Office and Specialised Chambers, which settled in The Hague in 2017, are investigating war crimes allegations against some of the KLA's top figures.

Thaci insists there is nothing to fear while he says he is willing to wait for what the future holds

“As always, we will not leave, we will not be ashamed, we will face them, and I'm sure we will end with dignity and integrity”, Thaci said.

He says there are voices that want to tarnish Kosovo and it personally. However, he says he will not hesitate to answer everything that comes.

I am personally very proud to have been one of the leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army. There will always be voices that will try to denigrate Kosovo or accuse Kosovo, despise Kosovo and me personally. But that doesn't mean I have any hesitation before what might come. I believe in justice. What we shouldn't allow is repeating the history”, Thaci said further.

Kosovo president accuses the international community of double standards.

“We have yet to see judgments or sentences for the genocide Serbia committed in Kosovo. For us, disturbing is the silence of the international community against these crimes. We had 15 thousand civilians killed. Over 20 thousand is the number of violent during the Kosovo war. International justice has not condemned the responsibilities of these crimes”.

But, Thaci is also aware of the burden of history in the Balkans.

Of course, the biggest obstacle is past”, he says. However, if we now see extensively in the region, especially after the recent agreement between Macedonia and Greece, the main issue now is Kosovo and Serbia, for the two countries to reach a peace agreement. After all, dialogue has no alternative. That's the only solution to”.

He adds “those who fought in war must now think of a peaceful future for future generations. This is important for us and for Europe”.

Translated by PERISCOP