Rama answers Kurt: Kosovo losing advantage over Serbia

In his interview with journalist Alice Taylor, Prime Minister Edi Rama did not rule out the possibility of a meeting between Kosovo and Serbia leaders at the October 16th summit in Tirana, at a time when tensions between the parties are high.

We haven't planned anything like this, I don't predict. Anything can happen because in situations like this where everyone talks to each other, if there is a space or if the leaders of Germany and France who will be here will want to talk to them as coauthors of the Franco-German plan that is on the table, perhaps it could happen,” said Rama.

Facing numerous criticisms from the political class in official Pristina, including Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Foreign Minister Donika Grovalla for his ideas to establish dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia at a conference level, as well as his proposal for the Serb Communist Community, the prime minister had a long but clear response.

I'm not trying to make the smart guy. I'm sure many of them, including them themselves, can be smarter and they are. But I have a problem making people or myself stupid. We can't lie to ourselves. What we have done so far as the Albanian community, whether in Albania, Kosovo, northern Macedonia, Montenegro, has taught us very clearly that we have done all these achievements by clarifying which side we are on, with which we closely co-operate and what is our way of improving as an Albanian factor within our countries and throughout the Western Balkans. The road is very clear: hard work toward peace, inclination toward the future, and failure to be a hostage to the past. We do not lecture our big friends and allies like them to see the world, but we do have constructive cooperation with them and always stay close to them. That's how we've done it. What's there to marvel at? Most importantly, Serbia has lost the war. Kosovo has won the war. History has shown who has lost the war is not interested in peace, unlike one who has won the war, the prime minister said.

For Rama, Kosovo had to insist on implementing the Franco-German plan to achieve what it intends -- final recognition.

“Plani Franco-German is the best deal Kosovo can get because it is de facto recognition. It is a tolerant proposal that paves the way for recognition. Why don't they push them? Why don't you insist? Why is Kosovo not the party to ask everyone to make this proposal? In politics and in solving something that's in your interest, it's never a good idea to start digging into another person's mind. Is the other really interested? Does he really want something? Maybe not and if we were to remove the great powers that are with us and imagine dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo alone, then Serbia would probably not have sat down on the table, but it would have done something completely insane. The reality is, though, that we have strong support to take a major step toward final recognition. And we're not accepting this? Why? For what reason? The question is not whether they have interest. The question is, do we have interest or not? I think they understand that they are very interested in ending this case forever. How is this done? By losing your attention and creating situations or making situations create that then block you, or by trying to calm everything down, give you a little something in return for something bigger? I think the solution is this second. It's not science, it's simple logic, ” clarify the prime minister.

According to Albania's prime minister, there is nothing wrong with Serbia's financial support for the Serb Communist Community.

Serbia has lost the war and has no place to imagine military revenge. This is over! Kosovo has been recognised by a community of countries that would never allow to return. Never! Whatever happens! This first one. The second, if the Community is created according to the constitutional framework of the Republic of Kosovo and is the result of an agreement based on it, then there will be no room for armed people to come and say they are members of that community. It will be a space for municipalities to have self-managime, to have support from Belgrade. Why not? We have municipalities in the south and east of Greek minorities. They would be very happy if Greece supported them financially. Why not? It is important to look to the future and do everything to draw it closer than always to think only about the past. The past has passed,” declared Rama.

Asked by journalist Alice Taylor if the European Union has not been fair in its approach to Kosovo and Serbia, Prime Minister Rama responded this way:

We had a heated debate when the EU issued a statement after the criminal attack in the north. It was all about Kosovo. They explained to us that such is the procedure of the EU, the Council and the declaration was adopted by the 27 member states before the events occurred, so they published it. We told him that they could publish it along with another declaration condemning what had happened would condemn Belgrade for the unwarranted act of declaring the day of mourning. Inexcusable! We also sought concrete measures against Serbia, not just condemnation of the act. They said it could not be because of time because it takes a lot of time to make these statements. Then we told him we wouldn't be on the line. For the first time in 10 years, we did not comply with an EU statement. I wouldn't say the EU was unfair. I would say that unfortunately Kosovo has given the EU many reasons to be harsh with them. While Serbia has played the game with more intelligence, a game that only follows, is not over,” concluded Rama. /Euronews Albania/