Wessel: When I talk to Serbia, I tax 1,000%, but with the internationals I speak differently

Wessel said he supports the idea of a temporary suspension of the fee on Serbian goods to pave the way for the resumption of talks, if necessary. But such suspension cannot be eternal, according to him.

Voice of America: Mr. Wessel, the negotiation process with Serbia has been suspended and the sides' positions have failed even international efforts to renew the process. What's the way out?

Kadri Wessel: The solution is: Serbia must recognise the independent and sovereign state of Kosovo, the territory we are on. We will also recognise the state of Serbia. We are for opening a new era, an era of cooperation and communication. This would facilitate us and Serbia, for the fact that they have spent two decades after Kosovo's liberation. Serbia knows exactly that it has lost Kosovo. Serbia tries to manipulate, create situations through which it thinks it benefits itself.

Voice of America: Serbia well knows what needs to be done, according to you?

Wessel: I think Serbia knows, but we all, together, even the international community should help Serbia accept this reality that it already knows.

Voice of America: Kosovo is under pressure from the European Union and the United States for suspending tariffs on Serbian goods as an obstacle to the resumption of talks. You refused such calls. Does that not make Kosovo responsible for blocking dialogue?

Wessel: Tarifa is a painful history of Serbia's behaviour to Kosovo. For two decades Serbia has not recognised Kosovo products, it does not allow our citizens to circulate freely. If you look today, we have hundreds of thousands of our fellow countrymen with children waiting across Serbia's borders with Kosovo to join Serbia or leave Serbia in Kosovo. It's all these behaviors, which are destructive. We have set tariffs as counter-re response to this destructive policy of Serbia, but we don't want the tariff to be used in response and communication with the European Union and the United States of America. That was why I even offered the option through which we say “European Union and the United States of America. But we must have one more thing in mind on the fee issue: it is not good for the European Union and the United States of America to give encouragement to Serbia by putting unilateral pressure only on Kosovo on the fee issue, while Serbia has already charged us 20 years.

Voice of America: Have you had these problems with American officials at the convention meetings?

Wessel: We've had a couple of times. He has a partial understanding. However, we as institutions of the Republic of Kosovo will be willing to assume our responsibilities. But Serbia must reflect that Kosovo is an independent state and cannot do what it wants with us.

Voice of America: Although after the Berlin meeting at the end of April, it was said that “ideas about touching borders in this process”, Serbian President Vuciq says he will not recognise Kosovo at the current borders, while Kosovo President Thaci again seeks to unite the Presevo Valley with Kosovo. What is your attitude?

Wessel: I have a very clear opinion. In the first place, Vuciqi does it for domestic consumption and knows that he has lost Kosovo. Kosovo is a finished issue, as long as we have to sit at the negotiating table. I also heard my prime minister speak of landing at the negotiating table. We sit whenever the United States and the European Union tell us to sit at the negotiating table with Serbia. But we do not make any agreement that violates our sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also institutional.

Voice of America: Prime Minister Haradinaj said these days that you and President Hashim Thaci have rejected it in the presence of Western diplomats regarding the tariffs and your relations have already cooled. How much has the approach to negotiations affected relations within your ruling coalition?

Wessel: We have a coalition, but we also have our conceptual differences, which, in the form that I see the issue of tariffs and the question of dialogue. And there's a pragmatism where I defend my interest, never allowing communication with Serbia, the form in which I communicate with Serbia, to be brought back together even with the United States and the European Union. That is the difference between me and Prime Minister Haradinaj, who must make that distinction. When I talk about Serbia, even 1000% put the tax on it, but when we talk to the United States and the European Union, we have to be pragmatic, we need to be a little smarter. That's the point. My position is very clear from the start, it's transparent: Kosovo has the legitimate right to make decisions, which are both tariffs and protection of sovereignty and territorial and institutional integrity. But we must know, all of our people know: populism is an opium that creates a favor at a certain moment for certain politicians. For the long term we must be wise and have no further routes without the US and the European Union, we cannot be successful in our goal. If we put them together: The US, the European Union, as well as the issue of the tariff and Serbia, is wrong. We have to find the moment and the way that separates Serbia from the language which is used against us by the European Union and the US. That's why I said, for Serbia I even put the 1,000% fee, but with the European Union and the US we show that we are tolerant. I also proposed a suspension, but that suspension is not eternal. Serbia is manipulating, Vucinqi is manipulating.

Voice of America: We continue with the question of the cold I mentioned. The opposition warned that in September it could be a period of government collapse. Is Kosovo likely to go to new elections this autumn?

Wessel: The new elections are democratic issues, but what is seen is that we have an unrecognised and confused opposition which rather speaks of making decisions. I'd say that the position we are in as a coalition government that I lead...

Voice of America: ... theposit always speaks badly of the opposition...

Wessel: ... has some flaws and does not have that agiability to act more actively. The opposition is completely confused...

Voice of America: ...so you don't believe there will be new choices...

Wessel: I don't believe that this opposition in the first place has any alternative option and let it lead the country to early elections.

Voice of America: Mr. Veseli, shortly after being elected president of the Democratic Party, you were asked by party members who have an act of corruption, released countries, some have been released, some have resisted

Wessel: They've all freed them and no one...

The voice of America: how do you challenge your leadership the opposition of those who have not freed the countries?

Kadri Wessel: My life is not at all political cost, but my life is at all costs my purpose with which I want to make it political for the interests of my citizens and my country. There is no one who will refuse. I'm going to go through this process. This is just the beginning of reforms related to institutional, economic reforms in our country. Kosovo is a small country. It is 1.7 million people. We know each other, we know how much we have wealth, we know how we've made wealth, but what's like a message is this: we're not going to let anyone out of two decades for the sake of the individual risk the achievements we've had so far. And our orientation is: the rule of law in full meaning, but at the same time alternative to economic development, in an economy of entrepreneurship. This is the direction in which there is no tolerance and I'm sorry, although I want to be fine, but we don't bargain with the principles.

Voice of America: Mr. Wessel, critics see with reservations your calls that I mentioned, stressing that your name is cured on certain occasions, such as Pronto or a circle lit up in May, where you are mentioned in a videotape. After this last case, you have criticised the functioning of law enforcement bodies. Is it not your party's responsibility for this situation in the field of rule of law when you have 12 years of leadership?

Wessel: We will take, as the Democratic Party of Kosovo, and I as chairman, all responsibilities as any citizen in the Republic of Kosovo, even the cases you mention to the end. I've been looking for actions and they're being taken. What I must send is this: All men, whether of a chief or of a peasant, a farmer, shall answer before the law, and the law shall be merciless to all. At the same time, however, you will be given privileges and opportunities that people who have knowledge, who have abilities, also take responsibility. Freedom is not only a privilege, freedom is also responsible.