Prime Minister Thaçi: We, the three leaders of our parties, PDK, LDK and AKR, have reached an agreement for a reformed Kosovo, a European Kosovo

April 6, 2011

Prishtina, 6 April 2011

The following is the full text of the speech by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, in the joint press conference given by Mr. Behgjet Pacolli, the head of LDK, Isa Mustafa and the Ambassador of the United States of America, Christopher Dell

Good evening to all the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo.

We are now together with three leaders of political parties, the leader of LDK, Isa Mustafa, the leader of AKR, Behgjet Pacolli, and supported in creating the opportunity for a shared agreement by the US Ambassador, Mr. Christopher Dell. I thank all three of you who are here today.

We, the three leaders of our parties, PDK, LDK and AKR, have reached an agreement for a reformed Kosovo, a European Kosovo. What seemed impossible yesterday, today we have achieved, so thank you for your understanding, patience and flexibility, and that above all, we overcame party interests in order to contribute to the general interest, the country’s interest.

In the following, I would like to read the text of the agreement memorandum. I thank once again, Mr. Behgjet Pacolli, who deserves great credit for the reaching of this memorandum, through his statesmanlike behavior and actions.

So, allow me to read the text of the agreement reached between Mr. Behgjet Pacolli, Mr. Isa Mustafa and Mr. Hashim Thaçi.

We the leaders of AKR, LDK and PDK:

1. We nominate Atifete Jahjagë, as our candidate for President of Kosovo and we express the full support of our respective parties for her candidature. We are determined to put the country’s interest above our own.
2. We agree to immediately form a commission for reform of the presidential elections, which will draft necessary constitutional amendments and other relevant legislation necessary to amend the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo, so that the President is elected directly by the people.

The Commission will aim to finish its work within 6 to 9 months from the date of its founding. One member of the Parliament identified by the governing coalition will lead the commission established for this goal.

We agree that the first presidential elections in the Republic of Kosovo will be held no later than 6 months from the date on which the necessary constitutional and legislative amendments enter into force.

3. We agree to immediately form a commission for legal reform of the general elections, which amongst other dispositions will support the creation of multiple electoral districts in Kosovo, and will draft the necessary legal and constitutional changes to achieve this goal. The Commission will aim to finish its work between 8 and 12 months from the date of its founding. A member of the Parliament identified by the opposition parties will lead the commission founded for this purpose.
4. We agree that the reformed Law on General Elections will include a disposition which states that the first general elections, accorded to the amended law will be held no later than 18 months from the date on which the reformed law on general elections and relating constitutional amendments enter into force.
5. We also agree that as part of this agreement, we will present the changes mentioned in paragraphs 2, 3, 4 in the meeting of the Parliament of the Republic of Kosovo, which elects the President of Kosovo.

Signed by:
Behgjet Pacolli, AKR;
Isa Mustafa, LDK
Hashim Thaçi, PDK

Once again, I wish to thank the Ambassador of the United States of America, Christopher Dell for creating the necessary and appropriate space to achieve this memorandum.

I thank the leader of LDK, Isa Mustafa for his extraordinary contribution to the reaching of this goal, which we discussed together in order to reach a joint solution, as well as starting necessary and essential reforms in the electoral system, as a necessary pre-condition for the stability and normal functioning of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo.

Question to the Prime Minister: Who is the guarantor that this agreement will be implemented?

Prime Minister Thaçi: What is important is that we have installed the logic and practice of government-opposition debate for the shared interests of all citizens of our country and state. Each of us have put the interests of the state above party and other interests, for which I want to thank the two leaders here with me today, Mr. Mustafa and Mr. Pacolli. Naturally, we are together the implementers because it is a joint agreement, it is a joint candidate, we are pledged to joint reforms and we will jointly implement this regardless of party differences. All the people of Kosovo, all political parties and international supporters are in favor of these reforms.