This political party. PDK for coalition: Making a Coalition Only With Those Reporting Territorials

The Secretary General of the Movement for the Union (LB), Avni Klinkaku, has declared that this party will make a pre-election coalition with only those political subjects supporting the exchange of Kosovo territories -- Serbia.

He has indicated that this condition has been made clear to the PDK, with which they co-operated on the last two sides of the elections.

In this interview given to the newspaper “The new age”, Klinaku has declared that only through exchange of territories can the centuries-old Albanian-Serbian problem be solved.

It's true that the past times we've made pre-election coalitions, but, as you know, they've been coalitions not on program basis, which won't happen this time. The Movement for the Union is firm in this direction: it will go to the pre-election coalition only with those political subjects who are interested in solving the century-old problem between Kosovo and Serbia through the shift of territory”, he has said.

Klink has clarified that if none of the political subjects accept their terms, then the LB will compete alone in this election.

“If all political parties continue with these statements against changes in territories, then we will not coalition with anyone, but we will only go to elections”, it is expressed.

The clinic has called the voices that claim that the issue of exchange of territories has been closed. According to him, this issue will not be closed until it is finally resolved.

This matter has already opened and we are convinced it will not close until it is finally resolved. Because resolving the Albanian-Serbian issue is done only through changing territories based on ethnic lines. Only when that happens does Kosovo open up the prospect of development and that of national and international integration”, he has said, adding that political parties are rejecting this idea because of the vote.

“ Mr. Klink has already been set the date for the distribution of the Assembly, after which the date of early elections will be set. How much is the LB ready for this election?
Klink: Such choices may have caught everyone unprepared because they were unexpected because they came from an unexpected cause. However, any political subject, like us, should be mobilized for these elections. We have no choice.

“ Have the LB's structures discussed how to get into this election? You've usually gone to pre-election coalitions with other political subjects?
Klink: It is true that past times we have made pre-election coalitions, but, as you know, all opinion, they have been coalitions not on program basis, which will not happen this time. The Movement for the Union is firm in this direction: it will go to the pre-election coalition only with those political subjects which are really interested in solving the century-old problem between Kosovo and Serbia through changing territories.

“ But this idea of changing borders initiated last year by President Thaci has been strongly opposed by all.
Klink: This matter by the president has been discussed late. Now this case is current here, but even in the outside world. The parties have voiced opposition to this idea, at least so stated in the opinion, even though something else has been said in their internal debates. We are interested in discussing this matter publicly and analyzing it with the seriousness it deserves.

“ Since the idea of exchange of territories has been rejected by all parties, with whom will you coalition?
Klink: If all political parties continue with these statements against changes in territories, then we will not coalition with anyone, but we will go as one alone to the elections.

“ In past elections you were in coalition with the PDK. There has been PDK efforts to continue co-operation even in these elections?
Klink: There were no discussions. Interested by the PDK has been but, to tell you the right from the beginning, we have told them that they should be clearly positioned in relation to resolving the final issue between Kosovo and Serbia.

“ So you're determined that the pre-election coalition will only do with that party that is pro-aligned exchange of Kosovo territories ?
Klink: Yeah, no matter what that party is. The important thing is to help settle this issue. So this time we prioritize this.

“ How will you assess the debate on this issue? Is it done the right way?
Klink: There was actually no serious debate on the matter. All this debate has adapted to the vote, so they've talked about electoral purposes. While the information we have from within political parties, there are debates surrounding the issue. But even polls that have been made public so far have found that up to 30 percent has gone by supporting Kosovo citizens in solving this problem by changing territories. We see this as the only opportunity to end the centuries-old Kosovo conflict -- Serbia and Kosovo -- to open up new prospects.

“ Why do you think other political parties are reluctant to publicly support this idea?
Klink: They're afraid of the opinion, because this issue has been taboo for a long time. It was because of the U.S. position against it. But since the U.S. has been in this direction for a year now, it has changed its approach and opened up the possibility to discuss changing territories as a permanent solution. But political parties consider the opinion still opposed that idea, and because of the vote, they are afraid to be publicly declared on the issue.

“ But the prime minister in resignation and many opponents of this idea have declared that the issue of changing territories has been closed?
Klink: They may think whatever they want, but this case is already open and it's not closed. This issue has been closed for over a decade. I know this very well about AAK and Mr. Haradinaj, since their representative has been in the process of negotiating, this issue has been closed. It is now open and cannot be closed.

“ You're convinced the shift of territories won't end without a solution?
Klink:  The issue is already open, and we are convinced that it will no longer be closed until finally resolved. The settlement of the Albanian-Serbian issue is done only through changing territories on the basis of ethnic lines. Only when this happens does Kosovo open up the prospect of development and that of national and international integration.