Haradinaj with proposal: Kosovo to proceed with Association in exchange for guarantees for accelerated NATO membership

Pristina and Belgrade agreed last year in Brussels and Ohrid on steps that would lead to normalisation of relations between the two countries and potentially ending with mutual recognition. But no progress has been noted in this regard. The issue of the Serbian municipalities' association seems to remain one of the hot points of debate, and Pristina and Belgrade blame each other for the lack of progress.

US Assistant Secretary of State James O'Brien, who recently visited Kosovo and Serbia, said he expects Kosovo to submit the draft status state to the Constitutional Court as he stressed that this mechanism does not create another layer of power.

In an interview for Voice of America, Alliance for the Future of Kosovo Chairman Ramush Haradinaj agrees that the draft status station should be sent to court, but he said the current situation is not easy for Kosovo, because Serbia refuses to sign agreements, as a guarantee of their implementation.

Mr. Haradinaj proposes that Kosovo seek from the United States and the European Union as a countervalue for prosecution with Association, guarantees for the country's accelerated NATO membership.

Interview:

Voice of America: Mr Haradinaj direct questions, should the Kosovo government bring the draft status state to the Constitutional Court?

Ramush Haradinaj: Yes, we should, but the association has been long discussed and once a contradiction of recognition by Serbia -- that is, countervalue -- Kosovo procedures with association, Serbia recognises Kosovo. We now have a poor situation for Kosovo because Serbia refuses to sign agreements that have agreed to as the Kosovo government and the chairman of the government has requested. But even so, I would have acted as follows; I had asked the United States and the European Union against the value of action with association with the accelerated membership of Kosovo in NATO. So the process up to NATO as well as as as opportunities, because no one can guarantee that in such a time period of time until when this will happen because of the irrecognuous four. I would have acted on bilateral contracts with the U.S. and acted on all the bonds of dialogue in order to achieve NATO.

Voice of America: You mentioned the issues of signing these agreements, is the government's right to have these agreements signed as guarantees for implementation?

Ramush Haradinaj: He's right, but they don't have to block him altogether. It's logical to ask for the signing of an agreement between the parties because it's also kind of an advanced guarantee. However, if the side, in this case Serbia has a stance that it does not want to take responsibility with signing, then as a depreciate of signing, because it is less signing (Aleksandar) Vucic as a countervalue to sending Association to the Constitutional Court, than a United States promise that you are working with association is open to you, I'm not saying you're guaranteed, but you are given the possibility of accelerated NATO membership. I would have acted without expecting Serbia and (Aleksandar) Vucic, without conditional on the signing of Serbia and Vucic. I had acted on an agreement, contractual relations, or a several-point plan where association would be, how to get to NATO membership.

Voice of America: You have repeatedly cited the importance of Kosovo's NATO membership. But last week American Ambassador to NATO Juliane Smith, speaking of Kosovo's desire to engage in the Partnership for Peace, said progress in the negotiations process with Serbia is essential for Kosovo's integration processes. How can progress in this regard be achieved? You look like you're adding more requests, while there are two agreements that have predicted what parties should do.

Ramush Haradinaj: I have an agreement with the ambassador, but one more difference. The deal is yes, dialogue is the way ahead. The difference is this: Partnership for Peace has been offered to the former communist countries, enemies of NATO and America, as kind of transformation of doctrine, structure, disarming, extinction of birth or Russian weapons, and so on. Kosovo needs no Partnership for Peace, because it has nothing to do with the East. It's the new army created by NATO and America. It's a new country with the Constitutions and Euro-Atlantic laws. Kosovo has a very clear situation for direct NATO membership, in case of the political will of NATO members, in this case also of Spain, Slovakia, Romania and Greece. I do not ask to leave us in line in the Partnership for Peace. I seek direct membership in NATO, as in the case of Finland and Sweden. Yes, carrying out all tasks even out of dialogue. So any task of dialogue, any obligation that has come up to Kosovo and to Association. But not only that, but carrying out other tasks that are standard conditions for membership in NATO. I kept saying that. I don't believe Kosovo should seek Partnership for Peace. Many years have passed, many processes have occurred, the world has changed. We don't have time to stand in line for the Partnership for Peace. NATO membership is urgent.

Voice of America: You must have discussed this with the American allies. What response have you received from them?

Ramush Haradinaj: If Kosovo fulfils its responsibilities the opportunity exists. There is the possibility of direct membership in NATO.

Voice of America: But is this moment given that Kosovo's relations with Serbia are strained, Kosovo's relations with Allies are cool, while the United States is ahead of elections and Kosovo is ahead of elections?

Ramush Haradinaj: For example, something that hasn't even happened is that military relations have not been endangered by what happened, by these political developments, by the conduct of our prime minister that wasn't right, so I have my criticism too. Some other essential relations have not been jeopardised, and the assessment of the ten-year plan for our army, however, exists. So Kosovo is willing to enter NATO. But what Kosovo has to do is change political course. This political course cannot change without changing the government, without (Albin) Kurtin, who is responsible for a losing relationship. We are losing out of relations with America, is expected to come to President (Joe) Biden as the connoisseur of the Albanian issue, as once committed senator on the Albanian issue, and we have not benefited from President Biden for four years. It's our fault, it's Kurt's in his government. But Kosovo will not always be at the status quo, I believe in changes and politics, but I believe also in the framework of the agreement Kosovo must reach with the US not only as dialogue, but as NATO membership. Once again, so without wanting to escape from obligation, association has been the main issue as a countervalue of recognition. We don't get recognition, so Serbia doesn't give us recognition, Serbia not only recognition, but doesn't give the signature for these deals, then please, we have to go back from our partners, so that we don't disappoint them by doing so, but also seek the opposite of association, not to call it all trade, but against the value of moving forward must be NATO.

Voice of America: Do you think that the outcome of elections in the United States will have an impact on your country, on developments in your country?

Ramush Haradinaj: Kosovo, the people of Kosovo and Albanians love America, love the flag, never connected to administration. Understandably in 1999, President Clinton, Secretary Albright, General Clark was crucial to us at the time, but we love America and wherever America votes we are for cooperation with it. There are others who spread agendas, but I believe that Albanians, pro-Americans, have the greatest wealth and should cultivate it with fanaticism.

Voice of America: A recent question, on February 9th of the coming year Kosovo will hold general elections. What strategy is the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo following for these elections, what is your goal?

Ramush Haradinaj: We have joined around another few political forces, the Initiative, the Conservators, the Intellectuals. We aim to win elections, we aim to lead the country's government, so I offer as the candidate for chairman of the government. The agenda is thus clear, cleaning the table in all that remains in the relationship and restoring to contractual relations with America. If I fail to lead the government, I will support the government led by one of us opposition and bid for co-operation with the opposition in Kosovo.