Murati: Valley to join Kosovo, three northern municipalities given to Serbia

He has said three Albanian municipalities in the Presevo Valley should join Kosovo, while Serb majority in the north, Serbia.

The Movement for the Union platform is very clear. We think that the only complete solution to the Albanian-Serbian problem, this time which runs through resolving problems between Kosovo and Serbia, is redefining borders. According to the Movement for Union, we think that the three Albanian municipalities in eastern Kosovo -- Presheva, Medvedja and Bujanovac -- where Albanians are majority and have territorial continuity -- must join Kosovo. The same principle should be applied to the three Serb majority municipalities, which have territorial continuity with Serbia, have the right to join that”, Murati has said.

He has said the agreement on redefining the borders would mean changing some of the principles of Ahtisaari's package that are part of the constitution, which Kosovo would make independent of two-thirds of minority votes for constitutional changes.

This agreement that would result in redefining the borders would also imply a change of some of the fundamental principles of Ahtisaari's package, which are part of the Kosovo Constitution, so that Kosovo becomes a functional state and does not depend on two-thirds of the minority votes to change the constitution in this line of Serbs who constantly block any constitutional reform so that Kosovo becomes a functional state and does not depend on Serbian lists. I think that only the redefinition of the borders project turns Serbia away from Kosovo”, Murati added.

According to Murati, Washington's agreement is not harmful for Kosovo, but it is important to implement projects dealing with infrastructure and economic ones.

As for Weyman Lake, it says it will be managed by both countries, but most belong to Kosovo.

The Washington Agreement is not harmful to Kosovo. Consequently, what is important is whether part of that agreement is realised, especially projects dealing with infrastructure and other economic projects. Then if they really will be realised especially if the railway project that will connect Kosovo with Durres and Nis is realised, it would be extraordinary in the interest of the Albanian people. Today, up to 20% of Weyman Lake is in Serbia's part. It will be imperative that we have arrangements for joint management and maintenance of the lake. A feasibility study is being discussed in the agreement, so a feasibility study will also be conducted by the US Department on how the potentials of Ujman Lake can be exploited by the Kosovo and Serbian part”, he added.

He estimates the mini-marken is not harmful to Kosovo, though according to him, there is still no clear document that can be assessed.

Murati says that with deeper co-operation between Kosovo and Albania, Kosovo's economy can be strengthened.

There are more principles which are discussed at meetings between presidents. I don't see it harmful for the vital interests of Kosovo. I think with deeper co-operation between Kosovo and Albania very soon to remove that physical border and use it to strengthen our economy through this” co-operation, Murati said.

As for dialogue with Serbia and the possibility of an agreement on mutual recognition, he says he currently does not see the will from Serbia to recognise Kosovo. He even says that neither does the EU pressure Serbia to do so.

“under these circumstances I see no will for Serbia to recognise Kosovo. Maybe under no circumstances will I recognise Kosovo. Serbia is using international circumstances to drag on the issue of recognition to bring its own interests into agreement as much as possible, whether through implementing association, and I am not seeing any EU interest in forcing Serbia to recognise Kosovo, and since there will be no recognition and the negotiation process can soon fail I think that in the future at the negotiating table as the most real option will be the border re-assignment project”, he said.

The Kosovo government and Albania's government have held the joint meeting last week, where several new agreements have been signed.

He says the agreements reached by past meetings have increased co-operation between the two countries. According to him, joint mechanisms should be established and a co-operation council between Kosovo and Albania, which would be an administration dealing only with the issue of Kosovo-Albanian co-operation.

This was the sixth gathering between the two governments and we have a series of agreements that have been signed and we have a series of agreements that have been implemented. I think that in essence these agreements have been useful and have raised co-operation between Kosovo and Albania to a higher level. My conviction is that from this strategic partnership we have to move into integrations, and to do that is not only enough to have only two government meetings. I think we should create joint mechanisms and create a Kosovo Co-operation Council- Albania, which would be an administration that deals only with the issue of Kosovo-Albanian co-operation”, Murati added to Online Economy.

As for the president, he said this issue belongs to political parties who are in the Kosovo Assembly, and should actually find a candidate who would be more appropriate.

“As far as electing the president is concerned with political parties which are in the Kosovo Assembly. They should discuss and make efforts to find the most suitable candidate for president. We still have a president who at least has a mandate until March of next year. Of course, the shadow of the Specialised Chambers Court and the possibility of standing up for the indictment or confirming the indictment is there. Until we're in this situation, of course he's on duty. On the other hand, it is up to political parties to choose the right candidate”.