Thaçi: Visa guide, a matter of days

The EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Stefan Fule, is expected to visit Prishtina on March 27th, while Prime Minister Thaci, who has been invited to Brussels in the last days, after Stefan Fule and Catherine Ashton, met today the EU President, Herman Van Rompuy.

In an interview for Top Channel, Prime Minister Thaci expressed his position for the agreement with Serbia, for the situation in Northern Kosovo, the Resolution 1244 and Kosovo’s European perspective. He promises from Brussels that the Visa Liberalization Guide is a matter of days.
 
Top Channel: Mr.Thaçi, the European summit confirmed the candidate status for Serbia, and this was achieved thanks to the agreement with Kosovo. Will Kosovo achieve anything from this progress of Serbia?

Hashim Thaçi, Prime Minister of Kosovo: The European Future of Kosovo is different from the European future of Serbia. We are two independent and sovereign countries. Serbia is following its way. The decision has been taken by Brussels, while Kosovo has its safe European future. Also for Kosovo was presented the feasibility study; the accelerated visa liberalization; the trade and contractual agreements with the EU; the accelerated membership in the EBRD. Certainly it is in the interest of all citizens and states of the region, in the interest of peace, stability, regional cooperation, so that our region can be Europeanized. Serbia should behave in a European way with the Republic of Kosovo. Unfortunately, this will be seen in a near future, the behavior with Kosovo. But our goal and vision is to make Kosovo part of the NATO and the EU as soon as possible, in a deserved way.

Top Channel: We can say that Serbia crossed the obstacle, but the situation seems unchanged. The roadblocks and the destructive behavior is still there. What will happen with Northern Kosovo, Mr. Thaci?

Hashim Thaci: The decision of the Council of Ministers and the European Leadership for Kosovo and Serbia are separate. They haven’t affected the relations between Kosovo and Serbia. The EU is determined as regards Kosovo and Serbia, but naturally, every agreement between our countries helps the European accelerated processes. Kosovo is one, is unique. Its territorial integrity has been internationally recognized and in North there will be law and order, free elections, legitimated leadership and we will cooperate with the local authorities that will be elected by the local citizens.

Top Channel: Will there be a political solution for north, as NATO requires?

Hashim Thaçi: The document of President Ahtisari will be fully respected, and this is the best solution for everyone, in order to progress and have our integration project for the Serbs that live in North, same as for Serbs that live in other parts of Kosovo, and so that they can integrate on merits.

Top Channel: Kosovo agreed to be represented with the footnote that includes the Resolution 1244 and the ICJ Opinion. It is said that this will be melted as a snowflake. What guarantees do we have for this?

Hashim Thaçi: I want to emphasize that Kosovo belongs to the past of Serbia. The future is European, for Kosovo and Serbia alike, and for all other countries of the region. Kosovo will be represented on its own in 36 to 41 regional, European and international organizations. Kosovo will be presented with the Opinion of the ICJ and the Kosovo Independence Declaration. The Resolution 1244 will be a historic remain, due to the Russian veto at the Security Council. This is a balanced solution, but a move ahead, towards the Euro-Atlantic perspective of the Republic of Kosovo.

Top Channel: Commissioner Fule announced the start of the feasibility on March, a study that will assess the political, economic and legal capacities of the country. How prepared is Kosovo, when we keep in mind the recent progress report of the Commission?

Hashim Thaçi: The feasibility study starts during this month. We will also have the visa liberalization guide in the days to come. Mr. Fule visited Kosovo on March 27th. What is extraordinarily important is that the concrete European perspective for the Republic of Kosovo has started. We must fulfill our obligations, and Kosovo will soon be a country that will enjoy the right of the visa liberalization for its citizens.

Top Channel: In the conclusions for Kosovo, the five EU countries that do not recognize the independence say that their decisions in the future will not be judged. In the meetings that you held with high rank officials in Brussels, what guarantees did you receive that the EU countries will sign the SAA?

Hashim Thaçi: The SAA for Kosovo will definitively be signed. What is reflecting for the countries that haven’t recognized Kosovo’s independence is that they support the European perspective of the Republic of Kosovo. Even yesterday, in the meeting that I had with the Baroness Ashton, she clearly confirmed that the European Union is united in the European future of Kosovo.

Top Channel