Prishtina, 5 April 2013
In today’s meeting of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi informed the government cabinet about the latest meeting held in Brussels, as part of the normalization of relations between the states of Kosovo and of Serbia.
The following is the full speech of Prime Minister Thaçi:
Allow me to thank Baroness Ashton for her excellent leadership of this process, for her brilliant leadership.
I am grateful to all the EU countries for their united position and commitment to Kosovo and Serbia’s participation, to achieve an agreement on good neighborliness, as a precondition for progress.
I also thank the United States of America for the guarantee they have provided for this process, which was an assurance for Kosovo and its people, for peace and stability in the region.
I am thankful to the Kosovar political spectrum which has supported the efforts of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo and directly in meetings in Brussels.
Kosovo has gone to all the meetings well prepared, presenting sustainable arguments.
Today, therefore, Kosovo’s position is fully in accordance with the positions and principles presented by the EU, fully supported by the USA.
We have presented our creative ideas, which will lead directly to an agreement on normalizing relations.
The Kosovo delegation was ready and worked toward reaching an agreement on normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia, it was prepared, because it has a Constitution and laws, and it has respected the European Charter and European standards.
We have worked seriously and with good conscience in this process. The last meeting was a marathon, it was not easy, and it involved the presentation of arguments and counter-arguments by both parties.
Naturally, these are additional days for necessary consultation before the reaching of an agreement.
Kosovo is committed to reach an agreement that will be in Kosovo’s interest, in the service of good neighborliness and the Europeanization of the region. Thus for an agreement that is not only in Kosovo’s interests, but also in the interest of good neighborliness, progress, a perspective for Kosovo and also for Serbia, and which will send a message of peace, stability and regional cooperation.
Therefore, regardless of difficulties that accompany this process, which are very normal and to be expected, we hope to achieve an agreement and dialogue remains the only alternative to building good neighborliness between Kosovo and Serbia.
I hope in everyone’s reason and responsibility, and in political reason and decision-making based on the future, and above emotions regarding the past.
I am very aware that the decisions that will be taken in the coming days, will not be easy for any leader and institution. But, I would like to hope that we will move toward decision-making that will open up a perspective for our citizens, regardless of ethnicity, a decision that will change the lives of people for the better, the lives of our citizens, that we will realize their dream for a better life, for Euro-Atlantic standards and necessary and essential neighborly cooperation.
What has been delayed now for 15 years, we think should be done now without losing any more time. In short, we don’t want to lose this opportunity, but to reach an acceptable decision and then to implement it.
As you know, one of the most important issues discussed, was the possibility of forming an association of Serb majority municipalities, which would be according to the Constitution and laws of Kosovo, which would not have executive or legislative powers or constitute a third layer of government; one united system of justice, based on Kosovar laws across Kosovo’s entire territory;
Kosovo will have one police system, one chain of command, police operating according to Kosovar laws and a hierarchy from the Ministry of Internal affairs of Kosovo, the total dismantling of illegal security structures will take place, while the circumstances and conditions will be created for the free movement of people and goods in the north and gradually this will lead to the organization of free elections in the north.
The institutions of the Republic of Kosovo will invite the OSCE to facilitate and manage and to organize these elections, the results of which will then be certified by the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kosovo and the municipal mayors who are produced by these local elections will form an association, which will act as a mechanism fully in accordance with our constitutional and legal commitments.
I hope that there will be an extra engagement by all relevant stakeholders over the next few days, so that we can achieve what we have worked for over these six months.
It is extremely important that the European Union, the 22 countries that have recognized Kosovo’s independence and the five others in the process of recognition, has been united in their position and fully supportive of normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia; they have been united in support of Baroness Ashton.
I would like to emphasize that reaching an agreement opens up a broad perspective, which cannot be stopped, and which will prevent any more freezing of conditions, but instead create progressive movement, and movement forward.
In the event of not reaching a decision, there will be no winners, but we will all be losers.
We have been creative, in as far as our Constitution and Laws allow us. But, at the same time it is important that the interests of our citizens, regardless of ethnicity, an interest in a European future for our countries, an interest in the victory of Euro-Atlantic values, dominate in Prishtina and in Belgrade. This is so that we don’t remain hostage to daily political decision-making, and electoral politics, but that decision-making is in the interest of the countries and future generations and in no circumstances do we remain victims of the past.
To this end, I hope that in the coming days we will have positive movement, aligning positions and reach agreement.
It has not been easy for us in Prishtina, dialogue and the debates were not easy, but we believe in a vision of the future, which will lead to Kosovo’s consolidation, the functionality of the entire state system in every corner of the territory of the Republic of Kosovo and the speeding up of Kosovo’s European integration.
We will be in continual contact with the entire political spectrum, and we will be in touch also for electoral reform. I have been in discussion already with some leaders and they are supportive.
Today, I will also make a presentation to EU ambassadors and I will make a request to report and provide information to the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, so that the entire process is transparent, as it has been up to now.
Yesterday, I informed the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Mrs. Jahjaga; and yesterday I also discussed with representatives of civil society and I am ready to talk to everyone who wants to and is interested.
I thank you all for your support, and I’m grateful for the debate we have had and your suggestions.
I understand your concerns and I take them very seriously, but I suggest to all citizens of the Republic of Kosovo that the decisions that will be taken will be decisions in the country’s interest, in the interest of Kosovo’s citizens, beyond party interest, beyond daily political interest.
And this decision that will be taken will be entirely in accordance with the commitments of our international partners and Kosovo will protect that partnership today, tomorrow and in the future, as it has done in the past, because this is the only way to stabilize Kosovo, to develop Kosovo, implement law and order, improve civic social welfare, and to progress toward integration. This can be done only by creating stability in Kosovo, and circumstances in which Kosovo is a homeland to all of its citizens.
Last modified: July 31, 2022