Prishtina, 13 March 2011
Following there is the full transcript of the press statement by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, at the “Adem Jashari” International Airport in Prishtina before departing for an official visit to the Republic of Turkey
Prime Minister Thaçi: Invited by the Prime Minister of Turkey, Mr. Erdogan, I will participate in the World Leaders of Change Summit, where world leaders will discuss about political, economic and social changes. Of course, that there will be other bilateral meetings at this summit with prime ministers and presidents from various world countries. The topics discussed there will cover changes throughout the world, which will have a direct impact on our region, and also on the Republic of Kosovo. I will present achievements in terms of the consolidation and strengthening of our state. At the same time, it will be a good and new opportunity for bilateral communication with other world leaders so that we get new recognitions for the Republic of Kosovo.
Of course, I will have an official meeting with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Erdogan, and will discuss about advancing cooperation between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Turkey as two reliable and strategic partners.
Question: One online information agency, “Qendra info” has published a plan according to which some non-governmental organization, namely the civil society and the media, intended to overturn the Government you lead and also President Pacolli. Are you aware of it, and how do you comment it?
Prime Minister Thaçi: I am not aware of that, but I am in favor of cultivating new ideas, projects, alternatives and strengthening of the legitimate institutions of Kosovo, meaning that the people have elected their institutions by their free will, the Government and all other institutions, including, of course, the opposition parties. The will of the people must be respected by all, therefore the legitimacy is to be respected, and no one should intend to usurp or take over that authority through violence. Such a thing is not accepted by the people of Kosovo or the democratic world.
I am very grateful for the supportive debates surrounding the dialogue process also by the opposition parties, and at the same time by many segments of civil society. Of course, democracy has its rules about participation in the process and trust from constituents, the people and not to destroy or pretend violence against the institutions. That is something the citizens of Kosovo have never accepted and will never accept in the future, and neither will the democratic world, the United States of America and the European Union. It is not good to transfer the examples from countries around Kosovo to Prishtina. And I am convinced that the citizens of Kosovo will never let something like that happen.
Question: Mr. Prime Minister, do you fear something like that might happen?
Prime Minister Thaçi: I as Prime Minister follow my agenda, which is very clear and very result oriented, an agenda that is directly linked with the will of the people of Kosovo and which derives from the vision we have presented to our citizens gaining their trust. Therefore, I am very optimistic and very certain about implementing my agenda.
We just adopted the budget at the Government, including salary increases for all the categories, as presented earlier, for education staff, police officers, civil servants, firefighters, miners, healthcare staff and other categories of Kosovo society. Something like this is happening for the first time in Kosovo, a salary increase up to 50%, at a time when in most of European and other countries the salaries are decreasing. Now it is up to the Assembly to approve the budget. I strongly believe that this salary increase and this budget will further approximate the Kosovo politics so that each of us places the interest of the people above our party interests.
Question: Mr. Prime Minister, you mentioned earlier that the World Leaders of Change Summit to be held in Turkey is a good opportunity to lobby for the recognition of Kosovo’s statehood. Could discussions with Serbia cause delays in this process?
Prime Minister Thaçi: The dialogue on technical issues between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Serbia, as you know, has started well. This dialogue will be concluded with reciprocal recognition of Kosovo by Serbia and of Serbia by Kosovo as two independent states. It will be concluded with the integration of the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Serbia in NATO and the European Union. And ultimately the chapter of conflicts in our region will be closed, making way for peace, stability, regional cooperation and a Euro-Atlantic spirit.
Question: Mr. Prime Minister, about the issue of talks, will they produce a special status for the north of Kosovo?
Prime Minister Thaçi: The territorial integrity of Kosovo is intangible. Kosovo is one and unique and we ourselves decide about our internal regulation in line with the Constitution and applicable laws.
Question: Are you going to insist that Presheva Valley be part of discussions if Serbia asks for a special status for the north?
Prime Minister Thaçi: I want to reiterate one more time: there will be no special status for the north. We decide about our internal regulation in line with the Kosovo Constitution and applicable laws. Such ideas will not come into consideration in any aspect whatsoever. I have said it before and I am repeating today that it will never be a topic in our discussions.
Question: Mr. Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister leading Kosovo delegation in the technical dialogue in Brussels stated yesterday that Serbia is not changing its mentality in terms of Kosovo. Do you consider it is worth talking with Serbia if it sticks to using the same old approach?
Prime Minister Thaçi: The Kosovo-Serbia dialogue is part of the Euro-Atlantic agenda for a European Kosovo. We have our interests. Of course, we also want Serbia to start changing and move towards recognition of the new reality in Kosovo. But, about Serbian approaches, they decide themselves, we have our agenda, we will keep and advance the Euro-Atlantic agenda for Kosovo.
Last modified: July 31, 2022