In an interview for the Austrian daily magazine "Die Presse", the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hashim Thaçi, stated that Serbia with the recent agreement "de facto" has recognised Kosovo. He also claimed that now the situation is undeniably better, considering that 15 years ago Serbia attempted to conduct genocide.
Die Presse: A few months ago, Ivica Daciç changed his position from Prime Minister to Minister of Foreign Affairs, now you’re doing the same. It seems as you want to necessarily work with him?
Hashim Thaçi: We should depersonalize such processes. I have reached the Brussels Agreement with Dacic, then I continued with Alexander Vucic, and soon we will continue the high level dialogue. We shall implement all of the agreements that we have signed. I will work with everyone who has a good will, including the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia.
Die Presse: You see this good will in Prime Minister Vucic?
Thaçi: Few weeks ago I meet him in New York, without international mediation. We discussed our future agenda. I see in him a good will to continue further.
Die Presse: Are his nationalist statements on Kosovo simply rhetoric used for internal consumption?
Thaçi: We are all political leaders, and naturally, in our speeches, there are messages to our voters, and Vucic is not an exemption from this. However, in our region, nationalism should not be a part of our political speeches. We have reached the Brussels Agreement between Kosovo and Serbia for peace in our region and there cannot be any claim of going back.
Die Presse: European Union (EU) leaders emphasize that before their accession into EU, Kosovo and Serbia should "normalize" their relations. Is this, according to you, close to a formal recognition of Kosovo by Serbia?
Thaçi: The normalization process has entered a new phase, but we have not yet reached that of mutual recognition. A week ago, for example, the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Minister of Justice of Kosovo were in a random visit to Belgrade. The Brussels Agreement will be implemented, although Serbia is hesitating. However, the day of mutual recognition will come soon. This will occur during the EU approximation process. The Serbian political leadership is aware of Kosovo independence.
Die Presse: Could this be a "de facto" recognition, but without saying the word itself?
Thaçi: Serbia has de facto recognized Kosovo.
Die Presse: How do you describe that?
Thaçi: This is de facto occurring at all levels. Kosovo Institutions control the entire country, and we have no de jure presence of Serbia in Kosovo. The Serbians in north of Kosovo are part of the Government and Parliament. In addition, Kosovo has been recognized by 108 countries of the world, Kosovo is already integrated in regional and international organizations. With every day that passes, Kosovo`s independence is strengthened.
Die Presse: There are some EU countries which have not yet recognised Kosovo. You were recently in Brussels. Have you received signals that something is going to change in the near future?
Thaçi: I hope this will be an ice-breaking year. None of the European countries has any reason not to recognize Kosovo. Kosovo’s independence is irreversible, and as soon as these countries will recognize Kosovo they will be giving an energetic impetus to the entire South-Eastern Europe and will accelerate the dynamic of normalization with Serbia. The fact that five EU countries have not recognized Kosovo is an unnecessary message to the region.
Die Presse: How "normal" are the relations with Serbia?
Thaçi: Kosovo and Serbia had a century-long conflict, and the genocide at the end of conflict. Until two years ago, it could not be even imagined that Kosovo and Serbian politicians could sit at a joint table. Discussions are currently being held at all levels.
Die Presse: When will you visit Belgrade?
Thaçi: I?
Die Presse: Yes.
Thaçi: I cannot currently say when. As a student I passed through Belgrade to Vienna in 1989, but I do not know Belgrade, and have longing for. However, this depends of the will of the Serbian Government, when they are willing to invite me. I have invited the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia to visit Kosovo.
Die Presse: Was there a response to your invitation?
Thaçi: I hope these visits will happen.
Die Presse: Has Belgrade already answered your invitation?
Thaçi: There`s good will.
Die Presse: What is happening with the establishment of the Special Court for alleged crimes of KLA, which was established months ago by the old government? When will this Court start its work??
Thaçi: Kosovo has nothing to hide. We have granted our full support to this process and will comply with all our obligations in regard to the Special Court. We hope that the New Parliament will start implementing it in the first few weeks of the New Year.
Die Presse: When it was spoke of it, you were against it. At the end you voted in favour of its establishment?
Thaçi: We were not against it, but we requested more clarifications. We thought that it was not necessary to establish a special court outside Kosovo.
Die Presse: Are you worried that unpleasant things will come forth?
Thaçi: I am a politician and would not like to comment on such legal issues. There might be individuals whom acted incorrectly, but our war was just. We were the good side of the history. The world supported our fight toward liberty. As of the beginning of the fight, there was no terrorist act against Serbian civilians, and we decided to put to an end the fundamentalist extremism and did not allow fundamentalists to enter our army.
Die Presse: The US Embassy in Prishtina has allegedly played a very important role to the establishment of the new Government. What signal does this sent when the USA Embassy is needed to help establish a new government?
Thaçi: I have negotiated with the current Prime Minister Mustafa. This was a coalition of good will, including the Serbians and other minorities. There was no interference from the international community.
Die Presse: Why do you necessarily want to become president in 2016? You will have fewer powers. This does not quite make sense.
Thaçi: I have been Prime Minister three times, including the time during the war. Currently, I am completely focused in my duties. Presidency to me is not a "to be or not to be" issue. I will be working with the current Prime Minister and fully support him. I have sacrificed myself for the best interest of my country. However, today I`m not thinking of 2016.