7th April, 2003
Interview with Hashim Thaci
Hello and welcome to UNMIK on Air with David Balham and Luan Qorraj.
On today’s program we bring you an interview with one of the most prominent Kosovan political figures, a war-time KLA leader and the head of the second-largest political party in Kosovo, Hashim Thaci.
For well over three years, the PDk party and it’s supporters were associated with outbursts of inter-ethnic violence and extreme nationalist activities. Although Mr. Thaci and the heads of the PDK have been doing all that is in their power to change the created image- for many, it is still not happening.
Now, in the year which has been marked by UNMIk as “the year of returns” Hashim Thaci says not just that runs should happen, but also adds that nowdays the security situation concerning returns is better than ever:
Hashim Thaci: All refugees, Kosovar citizens, wherever they may live have the right to return to Kosovo and live in their houses and properties. Every day the security situation is more favorable. Therefore kosovar citizens, refugees living in Serbia and Montenegro are welcome to come back. Returns are a human right but this shouldn’t be politically misused by anyone.
Of course, one of the subjects that cannot be missed in any political conversation these days, is the Prishtina-Belgrade dialogue should it happen or not, when should it happen and what should be discussed. For the PDK leader there is no doubt that there should be direct talks between Prishtina and Belgrade the only thing he says he’s sory for is the fact that Kosovo is being bypassed in regional reports:
Hashim Thaci: The dialogue should start in an appropriate time and the dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade, on all matters that can be discussed and can be agree by both Kosovar, Serbian and the regional countries governments should start. I am sorry, and I do greet all cooperation by the regional countries in bilateral and multilateral reports, that Kosovo is not integrated within those reports and inter neighboring cooperation. The dialogue should happen, cooperation should happen between good people for good causes in order to create democratic reality in the region.
And adds that, before the talks on final status begin, considering the opposing stands of the two governments, Prishtina and Belgrade should reach an agreement on the timeframe after which the status question should be raised:
Hashim Thaci: Kosovo is going through an important process of democratization and it will create an independent reality. We will also create good neighboring reports with everyone, including Serbia, Montenegro Albania and Macedonia. My opinion is that during this phase, when we have misunderstandings considering the political status, Kosovo and Serbia should reach an agreement, with the international mediation, on a status moratorium for a limited time so that we should gradually reach western status of both places, Serbia and Montenegro so that we would gradually integrate within the European and Euro-Atlantic structures as separate entities.
Hashim Thaci: It is true that Kosovo Albanians wish to reach independence for Kosovo as soon as possible. It is also true that the Belgrade authorities are trying to bring back Serbian sovereignty into Kosovo as soon as possible. And those two are diametrically opposing to each other therefore we should reach a status moratorium.
And asked about
cooperation with the Hague tribunal Hashim Thaci is certain that Kosovo has
been an example of how it should function
Hashim Thaci: Kosovo has cooperated and will continue to cooperate with the Hague Tribunal. It has been shown that Kosovo is an example of cooperation with the organs of international justice- it is an example for the region.
Still, for Mr. Thaci- the last goal of Kosovars is clear: an independent Kosovo where all decisions about the future of the place are taken in Prishtina, not anywhere else, by all people who live here.
Hashim Thaci: When it comes to decisions on Kosovo and it’s citizens those should be taken in kosovo by the legal and democratic institutions which are transparent in their work and have included all communities and political groups. We should push further the process of integrating all minorities within Kosovar institutions – including the KPC and the KPS and other security mechanisms. Kosovo belongs to all Kosovar citizens not only to Albanians. We should build citizens democracy.