Stipe Christiqi thanks: No Albanian has ever been on our enemy's side

Former Croatian President Stipe Mesic has confessed to Kosovo Press about friendship with Albanians, their contribution to the establishment of Croatia's independent state, as well as to the turbulent years of the agony and destruction of Yugoslavia.

The man who passed all top public posts in Croatia, but also in the former Yugoslavia, has spoken of the overall situation in Kosovo in the wake of the 14th anniversary of independence, negotiations with Serbia, the role of the EU and the US in these negotiations, as well as developments in the international plan and the situation in Ukraine.

Mesic, during the interview for Kosovo Press, has also stopped at former Kosovo state heads located in The Hague, as well as the process of Kosovo's Specialised Chambers.

Saying that Albanians are always welcome in Croatia, Mesic indicated that he had even shared the prison cell with them, after the Croatian “consentor” of 1971, where he was sentenced to a year in prison because of his participation in the protests.

 “Albanians are always welcome in Croatia. We have one of them coming from Albania 300 years ago. We have in Albanian Zara more than 1/3rd of the population, their ancestors were born there. We have others who came later and they belong to the rich class in Croatia, but what I mean for Albanians is that no Albanian has been on the side of our enemy, none, which means all Albanians have been on Croatia's side. Even in prison I was with some Albanians, five were in total, two convicted of Croatian nationalism, while three for Albanian nationalism” said Messiah.

The Messiah revealed memories before Yugoslavia's destruction, where one of the proposals was confederation, with cʹrast as it put it, would be the way out for Kosovo, because as the constituent part of the federation Kosovo would become an independent and equal republic with other entities. However, he added, such a thing was not possible by Milosevic, who wanted large Serbia.

 “Millosheqi has never agreed to go to a new political agreement, a confederal base, and in peace sign the new agreement for three years, five, eight years, as we agreed, without murder, destruction. This would be the way out for everyone and however, even for Kosovo, because Kosovo has been the constitutional element of the federation, just like Vojvodina, means six republics and two provinces, but Milosevic, who wanted Serbia big, did not deserve it, so he did not accept any deal”, Mesic stressed.

Regarding his views on Kosovo after 14 years of its independence, Mesic said that it is constantly working here and that Kosovo is developing.

 This is what I see today in Kosovo, because I often visit Kosovo, is an ongoing job. Clearly, people are never fully satisfied, always looking for more, better, and that's normal. However, it is a fact that Kosovo is developing... We should be grateful to those who enabled Kosovo to be free, they are warriors, but also citizens who realized that Yugoslavia no longer exists as a federation and have the right to independence that they chose”, Christic said.

As for negotiations and mediation on the part of the EU, the former Croatian president said Europe should engage more. He also hopes for American engagement and role, but he adds that this will happen when the time comes because of the new crisis centers created in Ukraine. According to him, talks can succeed only when Kosovo negotiates as a sovereign state with full control over its entire territory.

 “Europe has not yet been involved until the end in negotiations. It means we still have talks without any success and simply without any major commitment from the EU. I think they are aware that greater commitment is needed on their part so that talks between Kosovo and Serbia can succeed. These talks can succeed when Kosovo is on its entire territory. Kosovo must be sovereign and as a sovereign state with its entire territory can negotiate... I certainly hope in the American role, but when the time comes, because we have new crisis centres, look at Ukraine, Bosnia, in a form even Montenegro is a hotbed of crisis”, the Messiah followed.

Regarding the crisis in Ukraine, Mesic shows there has been an agreement once between America and then former president of the Soviet Union, Mihajl Gorbachev, that the Warsaw pact will be extinguished, but that NATO will not approach Russia. The problem is, he added, that such an agreement was never signed and therefore today has a crisis. He thinks that despite the problems and the crisis created there, there will be no war.

 Europe has the problem of Ukraine, but the question is why. There has been an American proposal to then president of the Soviet Union Michael Gorbachev, for the Soviet Union to reconcile with the union of eastern and western Germany. One of Gorbachev's conditions has been that of the pact NATO does not approach Russia, and this means that NATO does not accept those states which have been members of the Warsaw Pact, because Russia had also accepted the disappearance of the Warsaw Pact. But such an agreement has not been signed and now we have a situation where states that have been in the Warsaw pact are now members of NATO and are approaching Russia's borders. I consider this issue to be resolved through negotiations, I cannot come to nuclear war. Whoever thinks we're facing a great war, I think no, that's not going to happen”, the Messiah explained.

Speaking of former Kosovo Parliamentary Army leaders in The Hague, Mesic said he has never heard of the works Thaci and others are suspected of, while expressing confidence that he will gain justice.

 I know all those people. I know them from the time they fought for Kosovo's independence. As far as I'm aware, I'm not informed of criminal acts, but there are processes, institutions and I hope justice will be won”, Mesic said.

The former Croatian president stayed in Kosovo, where he visited northern Mitrovica during yesterday morning.