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Belgrade asks, Hashim Thaci answers

Petrit Selimi, Kosovo Deputy Foreign Minister, asked me to publish in English this Danas interview with Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, which is appearing today in Serbian.  I do this with the proviso that I would of course publish similar material either from the Prime Minister’s political competitors in Kosovo or from the authorities in Belgrade. 

Danas:  How are the talks unfolding of your party on the creation of the government and who are you talking to? Is there a chance of the wide coalition between PDK, LDK and AAK?

HT: Let me first say that these were fully democratic elections, organized for the first time in the entire territory of the republic, including north. All parties accepted the results and PDK won the elections with a very comfortable margin. We are now waiting for the final certification of MP seats and the constitution of Kosovo parliament. After these necessary lega steps are taken, we expect for the President to grant us the mandate for negotiating a coalition and creation of the new government. We are open to discuss with all parties that are keen on moving ahead with economic program, job-creation and european integration.

Danas: In case you are not leading the government, you think the dialogue with Serbia will stop?

HT: As clear winners of elections, we expect to lead the government in the next 4 years. The issue of mandate is now before the Constitutional Court, and we will respect any decision of the court. Whatever format of the government takes place, dialogue with neighbors is a essential condition of European integrations. Kosovo managed to establish clear border with Serbia and there is no doubt that Serbia had to accept the constitutional and legal framework of Kosovo as the only legal one in north of Kosovo. This is a one-way street that will continue to be the spine of establishing normal relations in Balkans. Me as a Prime Minister and any future Prime Minister in years to come will follow the european track that is conditional on continuing with the dialogue.
Danas: What message would Kosovo send if Ramush Haradinaj, a former head of a criminal clan and a commander of KLA, would become a PM?

HT: Leaders of political parties of Kosovo are democratically elected leaders and not criminals. KLA was one of the most successful guerrilla armies in modern european history and as the leader of KLA I am very proud that we have achieved the freedom through fighting the evil regime of Slobodan Milosevic.

Danas: What positions in the government will Serbs take?

HT: Serbian minority has a constitutional role as a guaranteed place in the government of Republic of Kosovo. The exact nature of their involvement in next government will be negotiated after the results are certified.

Danas: What would be the main aims of a new government, if you do become a PM?

HT: The main focus of my government will be jobs, jobs and jobs. Everything else is a derivative of our plan to start a New Mission of economic development. Our first mission was to become free from the bad regime of Serbia, our second mission was to declare independence and establish internationally recognized position and the new mission will be to fast forward the economic development based on solid results of our work in previous years. We built 1500 km of roads and highways in last 7 years, we build 140 schools and we had average GDP growth of 4.5% in last 6 years. This is a very good basis to continue with our reforms and job-creation efforts.

Danas: In what way would your government work on improving the safety of Serb community and return of the Serbs?

Serbian community is safe in the new, independent Kosovo. Statistically, you are safer as a Serb in Prishtina than in Belgrade. We must ensure that we implement the dialogue so the situation is normalized. People need normality to feel safe and people need normality to move on with their lives. We will work together to ensure confidence in our country, though we should not forget that Kosovo was under genocidal threat only 15 years ago. We are still digging bodies hidden in Serbia and we need to close the painful chapters so we can move to fully normal relations which will be of benefit for Albanians, Serbs, Turks, Bosniaks, Romas, Jews and all the other Kosovars.

Danas: What are your expectations from the next phases of dialogue in Brussels?

HT: In the end of the entire process, we will have a full recognition of reality including independent Kosovo as essential part of Balkan architecture. I have no doubt whatsoever that we are moving towards that direction.

Danas: Do you think that your statement that “setting up of the Peace Park is a shameful act of a new barricade”, helped subsequent troubles in Kosovo Mitrovica?

HT: Let me repeat it again, establishment of a new barricade in the middle of the bridge is a shameful act. It will not be accepted by EU, it will not be accepted by all citizens of Mitrovica, both south and north – because people are tired of divisions, they want good economy and cooperation. I expect the barricades, even i they are called “peace parks” to be lifted so people can move freely. I urge the leaders of municipal communities to think of how to solve their local problems, and not to increase the problems. We will be firm. No parks, or sport courts, or gardens, can be built in the middle of highways or bridges, neither in Prishtina, nor in Belgrade, neither in New York or Mitrovica. This so-called park makes mockery of peace efforts. But we must not fall pray of provocations of those that are trying to delay implementation of Brussels Agreement. It’s even more important is that we focus on establishing Kosovo court in north and that we enable full integration of this part in our legal system.

Danas: You expect stabilization of situation in north?

HT: Sometimes it seems that scenes you see on TV are dramatic. But life of the ordinary people is less dramatic and is focused on how to earn salary, how to fight corruption, how to move freely. Situation in Mitrovica is moving towards resolution. Mitrovica Serbs now have legal representatives instead os parallel Serbian structures and within democratic context we will further cement the progress we achieved in last year.