Thaci: Border management, the main issue

TCH : During the technical dialogue, you declared several times that it would be only a political dialogue. What made you change your mind and participate in this level?

Hashim Thaçi, Prime Minister of Kosovo: It is not changing your mind, but taking responsibilities that belong to us as Prime Ministers of our states. On my behalf, it will be in full accordance with the Constitution and the laws of Kosovo, and also with the Parliament’s resolution. The normalization of the relations between Kosovo and Serbia is reached in political levels. It’s a process that will bring Kosovo and Serbia to a mutual recognition and that will accelerate Kosovo’s membership process to the NATO, EU and the UN, and will bring normalization in the entire region. These are constitutional and legal responsibilities, but also responsibilities in front of the international community, the EU, the US, so that Kosovo and Serbia, with a bitter pas of war, could build a good neighbouring for the prosperous future of both people.

TCH : The first meeting started with a drink and the second with a dinner. Is this a normalization of the relations, as the EU considers it, between Kosovo and Serbia?

Prime Minister Thaçi: This is the start of commitment in a high political level. The meetings are held in a positive and constructive spirit. There has been a substantial difference from the first meeting. We agreed to implement quickly all agreements reached so far, especially the implementation of the border management, the agreements for regional cooperation, for working urgently to find out the destiny of the people who were lost during the war and other necessary commitments for changing the situation on terrain, which is on the interest of all citizens.

TCH: Why did you agree that Kosovo’s path to the EU should not be conditioned by a direct relation with the EU and the dialogue with Serbia?

PM Thaçi: We are neighbours and the normalization of our relations is a condition from the EU. This is a condition for Kosovo and all the other countries, naturally also for Serbia. But it is also on the best interest of Kosovo and Serbia’s citizens, since this normalization would accelerate a safer future, a prosperous and developing future for both countries, as two countries with Euro-Atlantic orientations, or at least this is Kosovo’s aspiration.

TCH : What do you expect from the third meeting with Mr. Dacic, one of your sworn enemies in the past?

Thaçi: We have had confrontations in the last 22 years. He was in Milosevic’s camp and I have led the Kosovo Liberation Army. We, as Kosovo, won the battle and the war. Kosovo is free, independent and sovereign. We are as winners here, but we are responsible for the future generations. Our responsibility is to normalize these relations. Our responsibility is to build and develop Kosovo, and we must close the chapter of conflicts and create a new era of communication and cooperation, where the Euro-Atlantic values must prevail for the entire region. One of these matters that we discussed for the development of our countries is a possible project for building the Prishtina-Merdara-Nish highway, for which we discussed in presence of Baroness Ashton for having funds from the European Commission, a financing that is on Kosovo’s and Serbia’s interest, and that would facilitate the movement of people and goods not only in Kosovo and Serbia, but the entire region.

TCH : What status will there be after the dialogue?

Thaçi: Kosovo’s status is very clear. It was resolved permanently on 17 February 2008. Kosovo is a sovereign state and will be integrated in the NATO and the EU.

TCH : Was this the same position held by the other part that you met in this dinner?

Thaçi: We haven’t reached this phase yet, but I can freely say that the entire International Community also supports our commitment, especially the EU and the US. I expect that in a near future, Serbia will recognize the Republic of Kosovo as a sovereign state.

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