Prime Minister Thaçi: The biggest losers will be the Serbs in the north of Kosovo
Interviewer: Idro Seferi
For NIN from Prishtina
We talked with the Prime Minister of Kosovo in his cabinet in Prishtina. He was ready to respond to all questions, being convinced that an agreement will be reached and he is categorical that Prishtina has no more to offer Serbs and is fully in agreement with the ideas of Baroness Ashton. However, when he heard that the Government of Serbia was rejecting the agreement and seeking to continue negotiations, he told NIN that he was sorry, “about this, but the fact that they want to continue dialogue means that the process still cannot be declared a failure.”
NIN: Serbia has demanded an Association of Serb municipalities. In Prishtina this has been seen as the final “battle of Kosovo”. To what extent is Serbia’s request acceptable?
Prime Minister Thaçi: I think that Serbia’s current leaders should do no more and no less than to accept reality and to tell the truth about Kosovo to their citizens. The battle of Kosovo was won by Kosovars in June 1999 and it was Slobodan Milosevic who lost that. The current leaders of Serbia should without any hesitation tell this to Serbia’s citizens. I know that the Serbian government faces problems inherited from the mistaken policy of the past, but they should not remain hostage to politics in decision-making that could open up new perspectives.
Of course, the talks are intended to achieve something, but things can change during a meeting. During the day, which was called D-day, arguments were put for and against and additional consultations were required in Prishtina and Belgrade. The meeting was not easy, but was long and hard, and we had not expected such tension. But these difficulties are normal, but it is essential that a decision is taken.
NIN: An association of Serb municipalities would unite, in status, the municipalities that are in the south. What have you done up to now for the Serbs to the south of the Ibër?
Prime Minister Thaçi: Serbs are treated the same in the south or in the north and I want to serve everyone, all citizens, regardless of where they live. When I became Prime Minister in 2007, there were barricades in Shtërpca and in other places where Serbs live. But, we have cooperated with them, we have organized elections in which they have elected their own leaders and life has changed for the better. There cannot be two standards for the same community. I respect the will to form an association of municipalities with Serb majorities, on a voluntary and non-obligatory basis, which can coordinate and exchange experience.
NIN: Serbia wants a court and police force for the Association of Serb municipalities. What does this mean for you? You have said that you do not want a new “Republika Srpska”. How is this similar to a Republika Srpska and why is it contested that Serbs in Kosovo receive the competences that they want?
Prime Minister Thaçi: We want to normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia in a process that resolves problems and not one that creates problems. Circumstances in Kosovo differ from those of the Republika Srpska. In the beginning, Belgrade wanted to partition Kosovo, to create a territory similar to that of the Republika Srpska. There were claims for autonomy and for a special status, but all of this has not been, is not and will not be achievable. The difference between me and the leaders of Belgrade is my commitment and a creative way of thinking about creating living conditions for Serbs in the north, greater security so that they integrated into local and central government. We want to serve all citizens there, to open up new jobs and to create welfare so that they feel like citizens of this country. Naturally, respecting the legitimate right of Serbia to care for Serbs of Kosovo, we have created the possibility for dual citizenship. However, Serbia wants the territory of the north far more than the Serbs of the north. So, we are interested in these citizens and serving them, whereas Belgrade is just interested in territory.
NIN: One of Belgrade’s requests is that the north of Kosovo has an appeal Court. Why are you against this?
Prime Minister Thaçi: In Brussels, we talked about many important issues, including here the normal functioning of the courts. We took into consideration the concerns of Serbs and we talked about how to facilitate access to the courts and an Appeals Court for Serbs. But, one thing must be clear; there can be no parallel system in Kosovo, in the police or in the courts.
NIN: How far is the Ahtisaari Plan that you are offering from what Serbia is demanding?
Prime Minister Thaçi: The ideas that are now coming from Baroness Ashton are in accordance with the highest European standards, with the laws on local self-governance, taking into account the circumstances and reality of the north of Kosovo. And I am happy that I can say that our ideas are aligned. I hope that the Belgrade delegation will move toward Serbia’s Euro-Atlantic integration, and not toward isolation. If such a thing does not happen, the Serbs of the north of Kosovo will be disappointed and deceived. If an agreement is achieved between Kosovo and Serbia on normalizing relations, both parties will be the winners, but if no agreement is made, then both Kosovo and Serbia will be losers.
IT COULD BE BETTER
NIN: How are the existing agreements with Serbia functioning?
Prime Minister Thaçi: There are times when this has gone slowly and there have been problems, but things have started to progress and all agreements are starting to be implemented. More work could be done. We are giving our full support to our experts, as Belgrade is also doing.
NIN: Liaison officers have not been activated, although it was planned that they start work on March 1. When do you expect this to happen and what will be the role of the delegate your government has appointed as an ambassador?
Prime Minister Thaçi: Right now it’s all at the level of technical consultation with EU representatives about how the Kosovo representative will function in Belgrade and Serbia’s representative in Prishtina. In this position we have appointed our current ambassador in Sweden. Serbia has the right to send a representative who will work in Prishtina. Whether they have ambassador status or not, is their decision.
NIN: Is there anything, beyond politics, that functions between Kosovo and Serbia?
Prime Minister Thaçi: If we reach an agreement on normalizing relations, then this would open up the possibility to cooperate at all levels and in all fields, so this agreement has broad meaning for communication between Kosovo and Serbia.
NIN: How real is Serbia’s request that the Kosovo army not come to the north of Kosovo?
Prime Minister Thaçi: This was not discussed at all. Kosovo’s institutions have their own constitutional and legal mandate, and NATO, and respectively KFOR, which has excellent cooperation with Serbia, is responsible for security and creating a better environment for freedom of movement.
NIN: Let’s return to the atmosphere of negotiations. With whom is it easier to negotiate, with Dacic or with Vucic and how did the talks go with them?
Prime Minister Thaçi: I had seven meetings with Prime Minister Dacic. Naturally, the first meetings were not easy in the emotional sense since we were on opposite sides of the armed conflict between 1998 and 1999. We did not elect each other, but we are legitimate representatives of the people who elected us, so we are not for or against one another, but we represent the interests of our own countries. During the talks we have managed to create an atmosphere to move toward a final agreement. The last meeting was decisive and both parties were well-prepared. Dacic and Vucic are interesting personalities, but I have to say that for me this process is not personal, and I was more focused on concrete issues and principles than the participants in the talks.
I sense in the Serbian leaders the need to reach an agreement, but their hearts won’t allow it
NIN: If no agreement is reached or if it is not sustainable, what will the Serbs of Kosovo and Prishtina and Albanians lose?
Prime Minister Thaçi: I need to repeat that if we don’t reach agreement, both parties will be losers and winners. But the greatest losers and victims will be the Serbs in the north, and it is neither correct nor fair that the leaders of both parties deny them hope, but instead they should return to them the will for a better life, economic welfare, development, law and order, democracy and political pluralism. As leaders, we have no right to hold hostage 40,000 people because of daily politics or electoral goals. Often in the recent history of our region, we have been victims of mistaken policies and I hope that in Prishtina and Belgrade, we will not take the wrong decisions, the price of which will be paid by citizens. We do not have the moral, constitutional or legal right to work like this.
NIN: Do you have an alternative plan for the north, if no agreement is reached. In Serbia, there are suspicions that there might be a police or military plan?
Prime Minister Thaçi: I am committed to peace. My goal is to serve the citizens of the north and to create a better life for them and better conditions. Violence is not a solution for anything in the region, but is only the cause of bloodletting, and under no circumstances will we head in that direction. The Balkan wars are over; it is a time for peace and looking toward the future. I can understand the emotions of the past, but I invite everyone to look toward the future, when decisions are taken. Kosovo and Serbia are not the first states that have fought and they are not the first states that have talked about these wars, and this is good. We have set a good example in Brussels in the meetings that were held and with the good will we have shown. I see and I sense in Serbia’s leaders and in Prime Minister Dacic and Deputy Prime Minister Vucic the need to reach an agreement, but their emotions and hearts do not allow them.
NIN: You have been criticized in Kosovo because of the dialogue. How could this affect your political career in the local elections? On the one hand, Ramush Haradinaj has returned to Kosovo and on the other hand, Albin Kurti and Lëvizja Vetëvendosje are against any contact with Serbia.
Prime Minister Thaçi: In Prishtina, there is no enthusiasm for an agreement, there are many people who oppose it, and there have even been protests. It is easier in this sense for Belgrade’s leaders to reach an agreement than it is in Prishtina. This is my sixth year of leadership and this is my second mandate. Leaders are chosen not just to take populist decisions, but also difficult ones. I am aware that the agreement with Belgrade will not bring a positive election result, but instead criticism, however I am determined to take decisions in the interests of the country. The interest of the country today is peace, development and Euro-Atlantic integration.
I had three objectives in life. The first was the country’s freedom, which was achieved in 1999, and then independence in 2008 and the third objective is Kosovo’s integration in NATO, the European Union and the United Nations. These objectives cannot be achieved without building good neighborly relations with everyone. In Kosovo consensus has been achieved with various political parties regarding the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. Haradinaj supported this process and Shala as Deputy Leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo participated in all meetings I held with Prime Minister Dacic and with Deputy Prime Minister Vucic in Brussels. With regard to Albin Kurti’s position, who said that it is good that no agreement has been reached, it is interesting that this is precisely what Vojislav Kostunica also said. There will always be people, who are for and against, but we live in a democracy, I respect everyone’s opinions, but in the end a decision must be taken in the interest of the country and not for the interest of daily politics and certain political parties.
NIN: Will Prishtina stop at the agreement with regard to the dialogue? A seat in the UN was also mentioned. It looks like the process of recognition has slowed down.
Prime Minister Thaçi: It is essential first to reach an agreement on normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia. After this, we have objectives that will be in accordance with the will of Kosovo’s people and in partnership with the international community and the USA. In the latest presentation made at the Security Council, I asked to change the Resolution and issue another one so that Kosovo becomes a member of the United Nations. It is interesting that not a single representative of the UN SC opposed this or commented on it. This is a good message.
In Prishtina, there is no enthusiasm for reaching an Agreement. In this respect, it is easier for Belgrade’s leaders to reach an agreement than it is for us in Prishtina
NIN: However, Serbia’s position is that in the event of an agreement, it will not accept Kosovo. Where will this lead. Does this mean a new status quo?
Prime Minister Thaçi: In the event of reaching an agreement, with the approval of the participants, a working plan would be drafted. Naturally, there would be a transition period, during which the role of EULEX and KFOR would be important, as they cooperate with Serbs in the north and the state of Serbia. At the same time, I expect Serbia to take on its responsibilities since the obligations are shared.
NIN: It has been said that at the end of these negotiations an agreement on normalizing relations will be reached and signed. What does this mean concretely?
Prime Minister Thaçi: This means the start of a peaceful agreement which opens up the possibility of cooperation and closes a chapter of a century of dark relations between Serbia and Kosovo and at the same time, opens a new chapter for a Euro-Atlantic future across the region. Without good relations between Serbs and Albanians, there can be no peace in the region and we must all be aware of this.
NIN: Have you ever been to Belgrade?
Prime Minister Thaçi: I have never been to Belgrade. When I was a student in 1989 I traveled from Prishtina to Vienna to visit my brother who was working there, and I went through Belgrade by bus.
NIN: Can you imagine yourself visiting Belgrade, either as an official, or in another situation?
Prime Minister Thaçi: In politics, everything is possible. It is more important however that we achieve what we want now, so that in the future it is entirely normal to have visits from official delegations from Serbia in Kosovo and from Kosovo to Serbia. Perhaps it was also impossible for such things to happen with Sarajevo and Zagreb, but now it is normal. So, sooner or later, this will happen between Prishtina and Belgrade. Serbia’s leaders are welcome to my cabinet when they want to visit Kosovo.
NIN: Does a document exist; was it presented?
Prime Minister Thaçi: There are ideas, there are suggestions put forward by Baroness Ashton for normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia and both parties must think about this. It is more important that by this agreement we send a message that the entire region is changing in the right direction and not just Kosovo and Serbia.
NIN: how do you see the process of Kosovo’s European integration and that of Serbia’s and how should this appear?
Prime Minister Thaçi: It should be like the integration of two normal states parallel with the resolution of and communication about open issues with other countries in the former Yugoslavia. Look today at relations between Serbia and Croatia or Bosnia and Serbia. If they have overcome their particular problems, I hope that Kosovo and Serbia can do the same. In short, let’s leave history to the historians and take the future in our own hands. I have full trust in the European future of the region.
NIN: Earlier you mentioned the need to actively include the US in normalizing relations. What do you expect from America?
Prime Minister Thaçi: I met the Vice President Joseph Biden in Rome and he had also met that day with Mr. Tomislav Nikolic. His message for me and for Mr. Nikolic was of strong support for normalizing relations, which means that the Brussels process is fully supported by the US. However, the EU is leading the process and so it is very important that there is consensus among all the EU member states in support of Baroness Ashton who is doing such an excellent job.
NIN: Following the agreement proposed, what else will happen in the dialogue?
Prime Minister Thaçi: Every day, this is being talked about in Prishtina and Belgrade. If an agreement is reached, we must take responsibility for its implementation. I expect support from the international community and all international actors. It is important to talk to everyone, all political parties, civil society, and the media to inform people and to make things transparent. After every meeting in Brussels, I have informed the Kosovo Assembly about the dialogue and I will continue to do so. These days have been important for Kosovo and for Serbia and we must continue to explain, but I think it is also vital to take decisions which are in accordance with our interests.
Last modified: July 31, 2022