Prishtina, 1.11.2012
Honorable speaker, Mr. Haliti
Honorable deputies,
Honorable members of the government cabinet,
Honorable citizens of the Republic of Kosovo,
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Allow me at the start of this session to thank you, honorable deputies and the speaker of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo for approving my request to inform the Kosovo Assembly and our citizens regarding the process of dialogue which has started for the normalization of inter-state relations between the Republic of Kosovo and that of Serbia.
My presentation today before you, honorable deputies and Kosovo citizens, has at least two reasons or key objectives:
The first goal is to respect in its entirety my official obligation to implement Article five of the Resolution of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo for the Normalization of Relations between the states of Kosovo and Serbia approved by a large democratic majority in the Kosovo Assembly, two weeks ago.
As you know, this resolution obliges us as the Government and me as Prime Minister or the respective parliamentary committee to regularly inform and report to you on the process of normalizing relations between the Republic of Kosovo and that of Serbia in the Kosovo Assembly.
Honorable deputies
Honorable citizens,
As you will have gathered from the regular communications from the Government of the Republic of Kosovo and the most eminent representatives of world diplomacy, we have now officially begun the process of political dialogue to normalize inter-state relations between Kosovo and Serbia.
This process began in Brussels with the strong support of the United States of America.
The start of the process of normalizing relations between the state of Kosovo and Serbia was preceded by cross-Kosovar consultations and broad political support – and I am grateful to the Kosovar political spectrum for its support.
Strong support for these developments was also given by Albania’s institutions, the Albanian leadership in Macedonia, the Albanian leadership in Presheva, Medvegja and Bujanoc – today, I thank them for their support before and after the meeting.
The best proof and confirmation of this global support is yesterday’s visit to the Republic of Kosovo and the region, by Secretary of State Clinton and Baroness Ashton.
On this occasion, allow me to remind you that such a process, which began after the approval of the Resolution by the Kosovo Assembly, has a broad legal basis deriving from the Kosovo Constitution.
This process has won broad consensual political support and from all social and ethnic backgrounds.
It is also fully in accordance with the European integration process and the meeting of criteria in the European Union acquis communautaire.
It also fulfills the Resolution of the UN General Assembly in 2010, which verified without any doubt, the ICJ Opinion on the legality and legitimacy of the Declaration of Independence and also initiated dialogue between the two states within the European integration process.
After the approval of the Resolution of the Kosovo Assembly, as Prime Minister mandated by this legitimate and democratic Assembly and by the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, I received an official invitation from Baroness Ashton to go to an official bilateral meeting with the Vice President of the European Commission who is also the EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Baroness Ashton.
This meeting occurred on Friday, October 19, 2012.
In addition, Baroness Ashton, sent an official invitation to Serbia’s Prime Minister, Mr. Dacic for a bilateral meeting on the same day.
Besides this invitation for a bilateral meeting, Baroness Ashton considered that the necessary conditions had now been created to mediate-facilitate a joint meeting, at a senior inter-state level between the Prime Ministers of Kosovo and Serbia.
Honorable deputies
Honorable citizens
During the separate meetings we had in Brussels with Baroness Ashton, she presented to us the issues that she wished to discuss in the joint meeting.
Those issues were entirely acceptable and therefore, as a result Baroness Ashton invited us to the joint meeting which she mediated with the strong support of the US.
This meeting occurred in the office of Baroness Ashton.
This first meeting at this senior level, marks the start of a process of normalizing relations between two independent states with the objective of closing a dark chapter from the past and opening a chapter of peace, good neighborly cooperation and Euro-Atlantic integration.
Honorable deputies of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo
Honorable citizens;
Allow me to repeat what I have said a number of times before.
I personally do not suffer from any nostalgia about meeting the leaders of a state that has inflicted a century of suffering, to the level of genocide, on citizens of my country.
I have said and I repeat that our memory of the victims of the war caused by Serbia, our memory of our best sons and daughters who fell at the altar of freedom, our memory for the thousands missing, will always remain fresh.
We will never forget the terror and pain caused by Serbia.
In addition, our sovereign state now has all security mechanisms that guarantee our freedom, our existence, our development and Euro-Atlantic integration.
But, we are all agreed that our bitter past must not hold our future hostage.
On the contrary, our suffering and sacrifice should be our motivation to move as swiftly as possible toward integration in NATO, the European Union and the United Nations.
And for this to happen, we absolutely must be good neighbors with all states in the region, including Serbia.
Honorable deputies,
Kosovo citizens;
As Prime Minister, I would not agree to lead such a process and I would not enter into dialogue, without fulfilling certain pre-conditions.
First, I am sure of the support of political parties, civil society, the academic world and Kosovo’s citizens for European integration and that our historic need to join the European family s a cross-national objective and vision shared by all parties and the will of all citizens of Kosovo.
Next, the Resolution approved created new circumstances, and a new agenda in this Assembly.
This agenda is a uniting agenda for progress in fulfilling the key Copenhagen criterion which has become the imperative of the times, and that is “good neighborliness” among all those who want to join the European Union.
After this, we sought international guarantees that this process will be structured and entirely equal, being at the inter-state level for Kosovo and Serbia, with full political reciprocity and that it will open up Kosovo’s path toward integration.
The direct and deep involvement of the heads of American and European diplomacy guarantees us that dialogue is occurring with strategic support for Kosovo.
It is for total functionality, the consolidation and strengthening of the state of Kosovo – a New Kosovo – a European Kosovo.
In addition, we sought the implementation of the agreements reached up to now. On this point, there is still delay and ambiguity which we hope to resolve in the coming weeks.
The agreements reached define the borderline and regulate in law the border crossings, according to the integrated European model, as well as the inalienable right of the Republic of Kosovo to be an equal part of regional organizations, and will be tested in the coming days, weeks and months.
Serbia is obliged by the European Union to fulfill these agreements in their entirety.
My first meeting as Prime Minister of the state of Kosovo with the Prime Minister of Serbia was an outcome of the fulfilling of these minimal criteria and in accordance with the Resolution of the Assembly.
The meeting focused on the framework of dialogue and the nature of the topics.
It is a fact that is not contested by either party that dialogue seeks to resolve issues not relating to status and which do not threaten, in any circumstance, the integrity of the Republic of Kosovo.
On the contrary, it will democratize and open borders according to the European model in the entire region.
Honorable deputies
Honorable citizens
The issues raised in the first meeting by Baroness Ashton and discussed by the prime ministers of the states of Kosovo and Serbia, were:
• Implementation in practice of all agreements reached up to now between the states of Kosovo and Serbia;
• Uncovering the fate of persons who went missing during the war,
• Dismantling and removing from Kosovo parallel structures financed by Serbia,
• Not obstructing Kosovo’s membership in international organizations and forums,
• Protecting Serbian cultural and religious heritage in Kosovo,
• Ending the decentralization process in Kosovo, which means the necessity of forming the new municipality of north Mitrovica and holding free elections in the north of the country,
• Reaching agreements in telecommunications and energy, according to European standards
• As well as, opening a Liaison Office as soon as possible by the Republic of Kosovo, in Belgrade, and by Serbia, in Prishtina.
Honorable speaker;
Honorable deputies;
Kosovo citizens;
Ladies and gentlemen;
The conclusion of the first meeting was an agreement to address the topics discussed and to continue with other meetings.
I believe that the next meeting will occur this month and I am sure that it will be more substantive.
Allow me, once again, to make clear that I am not taking part in this personally because I’ve always wanted to talk to Dacic, but because I am deeply convinced that dialogue will lead to the logical conclusion of opening up the path of Kosovo’s membership in the European Union and NATO.
I know that these meetings are not at all populist, they are hard for me personally, but honorable citizens of Kosovo – all my life, I have taken decisions that were difficult for me, but in the interest of my country and homeland, Kosovo.
First, we will continue to agree about the reality, and later, we will call it a reality and give it its true name – mutual recognition.
It was American and European policy which has enabled Kosovo to undertake significant steps toward finalizing its integrity, sovereignty and membership of NATO, the EU and UN.
You heard this message clearly especially after the visit of Baroness Ashton, Secretary Clinton and the British Foreign Secretary, William Hague.
These were strong messages of support for the political unity we have all reached together in the conclusion of supervised independence and the achievement of the Feasibility Study, as a precondition for visa liberalization.
Honorable deputies,
On this occasion, I would like to thank Secretary Clinton for the many years of friendship and support.
Kosovo’s citizens have only love and respect for Secretary Clinton and the democrat and republican leadership in America that for decades has stood firm in the sacred defense of justice in Kosovo and the entire region.
We are proud of her emblematic words that “Kosovo is an example of the fastest post-conflict progress in the history of nations,” taking a tremendous journey in the five years of independence.
I also thank Baroness Ashton who is in her own home, when she is in Kosovo, because our shared home is in Europe.
Her visit, supported also by Secretary Clinton represents the strengthening of the European agenda and a great boost for all parties and all citizens.
Baroness Ashton and Commissioner Fule have played an important and unforgettable role in achieving consensus within the European Union, so that Kosovo is also an equal beneficiary of the pledge made at the Thessaloniki Summit ten years ago, that the entire Balkans would integrate into the European Union.
Allow me also to thank Foreign Secretary Hague.
Relations with Great Britain are getting stronger in politics, diplomacy and the economy and his first visit to Kosovo represents a new moment in strengthening relations between the two states.
The greatest thanks for the conclusion of one phase and start of another new era belong to you, the representatives of political parties who with national and political conscientiousness have contributed to unity for joint objectives.
We are open to the participation of all representatives of the opposition and civil society, and the academic world, in forthcoming processes.
Honorable deputies,
The second reason obliging me to inform and report to you today is to confirm from the Kosovo Government, and with the strong backing by the Governments of the Quint states, that the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo will be the only operational framework throughout dialogue.
The Kosovar platform is clear and focused and has been approved by international partners.
I repeat the points which were also in the respective progress reports for the two states:
• Discussion will seek the full implementation of the agreement for the integrated management of borders enabling the European operation of border services.
• The border points will have Kosovar customs officers, Kosovar police, and EULEX presence, according to the invitation of President Jahjaga and a new mandate, bearing in mind the need identified to extend the full authority of EULEX in the entire territory of the Republic of Kosovo, including the northern part of the country.
• Termination of illegal telephone and distribution services which present an intervention in the free market and violation of international law
• Full withdrawal of all illegal security structures. They are the remains of an earlier regime; they are the remains of the former time of occupation.
• The expansion and full exercise of EULEX’s authority and of the laws of Kosovo is a natural next step and we will work together with the international community so that citizens in the north have the same access to the justice system.
• Legalizing the banking system and creating full transparency of Serbia’s eventual financial support for education and health in the north, according to the Ahtisaari Plan
• At the same time, I address representatives of the Serb community, political representatives but also Serb citizens, all legitimate representatives of the Serbian people in Kosovo and the Serbian Orthodox Church: Kosovo does not intend to manage or direct the life of Serbs or any citizen in Kosovo. We intend to respect their democratic will and integration into institutional life.
You are free to talk, to live, to work and to hope and dare, just like all other citizens of democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo.
We promised during the Vienna process that Kosovo would be a state with an open, secular society which respects diversity, where the patriotism of one person is not under threat from another, and on a secure path to NATO and the EU, which means the highest respect for human rights and freedoms.
Other communities also have their full constitutional rights guaranteed.
Honorable deputies,
Honorable citizens of Kosovo,
Allow me to remind you that this year our peoples have two anniversaries.
It is a century since the start of the Balkan wars which fragmented the Balkans after 500 years in the Ottoman Empire and it is a century since the start of the modern Albanian state.
Much time has passed and much blood has been spilled since that time.
The state of Kosovo was created, not on the basis of ethnic Balkan wars, but on the basis of European principles and international justice.
Even so, we understand that justice has not been fully achieved.
We will remain faithful to defending the ideals and vision of Kosovo’s citizens and the war of the Kosovo Liberation Army.
We will win reparations for the damages done by Serbia.
You can be sure that crime will always be punished.
The missing will return to rest at peace in their homeland.
But, after we have won the war and declared independence, the time has now come to end our century-long journey and to return to Europe.
I am honored that you have authorized me to use dialogue in the interest of our citizens.
As a result, we will use the integration process for deep democratic social, economic and political reforms.
In the next period, the Kosovo Government will report regarding the opening and closing of various phases of dialogue.
We welcome the commitment of the entire political spectrum, the parliamentary committees and also, experts.
Honorable deputies,
Kosovo citizens;
The conclusive result of dialogue will be inevitably the normalizing of relations and logically, in a later phase, recognition of Kosovo as a state by Serbia.
But, this year we have made progress and we can say freely that this year is truly a European year for the Republic of Kosovo.
Kosovo has made great progress in improving the investment climate.
According to the IMF, we also have protected macro-economic stability and we have increased budgetary income beyond the plans we had.
Recognitions are coming at an unstoppable rhythm, getting closer to the formal 100 which will create a positive momentum for the Republic of Kosovo.
Honorable deputies,
Honorable Kosovo citizens;
We still have many challenges.
And, I am aware that only united as a political spectrum and as citizens, can we overcome them.
I invite you to leave party interests behind and to one side– so that we can concentrate above all on state interests and a vision for the future and that we can cooperate for European integration.
I invite you to remain united behind our state objectives and interests.
Our national and Euro-Atlantic goal, values and vision must keep us together.
Our civic and political unity in Kosovo strengthens the position of our friends in support of our just cause.
Whenever we have worked and acted united, we have achieved historic success for our country and people
– It was like this in our war of freedom between 1990-98-99,
– It was like this at the historic Conference of Rambouillet,
– It was like this in talks over status at Vienna, 2005-2007
– It was like this when we decided to declare the independence of our country on February 17, 2008,
I strongly believe that united like this, we will continue in the future.
We overcame our bitter past united – Only united will we overcome in the future.
Thank you for your attention.
