The Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo, Kadri Veseli, said in an interview with Voice of America that his country does not make any agreement with Serbia, which violates its sovereignty and territorial integrity. He said that Serbia tends to create situations through which it can benefit for itself.
Veseli said he supports the idea of a temporary suspension of the tariff on Serbian goods to pave the way for the resumption of talks, if necessary. But, according to him, such a suspension cannot be eternal.
Voice of America: Mr. Veseli, the process of negotiations with Serbia has been suspended and the positions of the parties have caused the failure of international efforts to renew the process. What do you think is the way out?
Kadri Veseli: The solution is: Serbia must recognize the independent and sovereign state of Kosovo, the territory we are in. We will also recognize the state of Serbia. We are for the opening of a new era, an era of cooperation and communication. This would facilitate us and Serbia, due to the fact that two decades have passed since the liberation of Kosovo. Serbia knows exactly that it has lost Kosovo. Serbia tends to manipulate, to create situations through which it thinks it will benefit for itself.
Voice of America: Serbia knows very well what needs to be done, in your opinion?
Happy: I think that Serbia knows, but all of us, together, and the international community must help Serbia to accept this reality that it already knows.
Voice of America: Kosovo is under pressure from the European Union and the United States for the suspension of tariffs on Serbian goods as an obstacle to the resumption of talks. You have declined such calls. Doesn't this make Kosovo responsible for blocking the dialogue?
Happy: The tariff is a painful story of Serbia's behavior towards Kosovo. For two decades, Serbia has not recognized the products of Kosovo, it does not allow our citizens to move freely. If you look today, we have hundreds of thousands of our compatriots with children who are waiting across the borders of Serbia and Kosovo to enter Serbia or to leave Serbia to Kosovo. It is all these behaviors that are destructive. We have imposed tariffs as a counter-reaction to this destructive policy of Serbia, but we do not want the tariff to be used as our response and communication with the European Union and the United States of America. This was also the reason why I offered the option through which we say "Yes" to the European Union and the United States of America. But we have to keep one thing in mind in the issue of the tariff: it is not good for the European Union and the United States of America to give encouragement to Serbia by putting unilateral pressure only on Kosovo on the issue of the tariff, while Serbia has put us in fee since 20 years.
Voice of America: Have you raised these problems with American officials in meetings with congressmen?
Happy: We have laid them several times. There is a partial understanding. However, we as institutions of the Republic of Kosovo will be ready to take our responsibilities. But Serbia must reflect that Kosovo is an independent state and cannot do whatever it wants with us.
Voice of America: Although after the meeting in Berlin at the end of April it was said that "the ideas of touching the borders in this process have died", Serbian President Vučić says that he will not recognize Kosovo on the current borders, while Kosovo President Thaçi again demands the unification of Presheva Valley with Kosovo. What is your attitude?
Happy: I have very clear thinking. In the first place, Vuçiqi does it for internal consumption and knows that he has lost Kosovo. Kosovo is a finished issue, as far as we have to sit at the negotiating table. I also heard my Prime Minister now talking about sitting at the negotiating table. We sit whenever the United States of America and the European Union tell us to sit at the negotiating table with Serbia. But we do not make any agreement, which violates our territorial and institutional sovereignty and integrity.
Voice of America: Prime Minister Haradinaj said these days that you and President Hashim Thaçi have opposed him in the presence of Western diplomats regarding tariffs and your relations have already cooled. How much has the approach to talks affected the relations within your governing coalition?
Happy: We have a coalition, but we also have our conceptual differences, which, in the form of how I see the issue of the tariff and the issue of dialogue. And there is a pragmatism where I protect my interest, never allowing the communication with Serbia, the form in which I communicate with Serbia, to be carried equally with the United States and the European Union. This is the difference between me and Prime Minister Haradinaj, who should make this difference. When I talk about Serbia, I also put 1000% tax on it, but when we talk with the United States and the European Union, we have to be pragmatic, we have to be a little wiser. This is the distinguishing issue. My position is very clear from the beginning, it is transparent: Kosovo has the legitimate right to take decisions which are either tariffs or the protection of territorial and institutional sovereignty and integrity. But we must know, all our people know: populism is an opium that creates a favor at a certain moment for certain politicians. For the long term we have to be wise and we have no other path without the US and the European Union, we cannot be successful in our goal. If we put together: the USA, the European Union, as well as the issue of the tariff and Serbia, it is a mistake. We need to find the momentum and the path that distinguishes Serbia from the language that is used against us by the European Union and the USA. For this reason, I said, for Serbia, I also put the tariff at 1000%, but with the European Union and the USA, we show that we are tolerant. I also proposed a suspension (suspension), but that suspension is not eternal. Serbia is manipulating, Vucic is manipulating.
Voice of America: Continuing with the cooling question I mentioned. The opposition warned that September could be the period of the overthrow of the government. Is it likely that Kosovo will go to new elections this fall?
Happy: The new elections are a democratic issue, but what can be seen is that we have a disorganized and perverted opposition that talks more than makes decisions. I would say that the position we are in as a government coalition that I lead...
Voice of America: ... Posita always talks bad about the opposition ...
Happy: ... has some drawbacks and does not have the agility to act more actively. The opposition is totally perverted...
Voice of America: ...So you don't believe that there will be new elections...
Happy: I don't believe that this opposition in the first place has any alternative option, let alone lead the country to early elections.
Voice of America: Mr. Veseli, immediately after you were elected chairman of the Democratic Party, you asked the members of the party who have been accused of corruption to vacate their seats, some of them did, some resisted
Happy: All have released them and none will resist....
Voice of America: ...how much does the opposition of those who have not vacated the countries challenge your leadership?
Kadri Veseli: My life is not politics at all costs, but my life is at all costs my goal which I want to achieve in politics for the interest of the citizens and my country. There is no one who will refuse it. I will follow this process to the end. This is just the beginning of reforms related to institutional and economic reforms of our country. Kosovo is a small country. It has 1.7 million inhabitants. We each know each other, we know how much wealth we have, we know how we got rich, but what is the message is this: we will not allow anyone to jeopardize the achievements that have been achieved after two decades for the sake of the individual. we have had so far. And our orientation is: the rule of law in the full sense, but at the same time the alternative of economic development, in an entrepreneurial economy. This is the direction in which there is no tolerance and I am sorry, although I want to be good, but we do not bargain with principles.
Voice of America: Mr. Veseli, the critics view your appeals that I mentioned with reservations, emphasizing that your name is mentioned in some cases such as the Pronto case or an illuminated affair in the month of May where you are mentioned in a video recording. After this latest case, you have criticized the functioning of the law enforcement bodies. Isn't the responsibility of your party for this situation in the field of the rule of law, when you have 12 years in leadership?
Happy: We will take, as the Democratic Party of Kosovo, and I as the chairman, all the responsibilities like every citizen in the Republic of Kosovo, even the cases you mention until the end. I have asked and actions are being taken. What I have to send a message is: all people, whether a mayor or a villager, a farmer, the person will answer to the law and the law will be merciless for everyone. But at the same time, privileges and opportunities will be given, so that people who have knowledge, who have skills, also take responsibility. Freedom is not only a privilege, freedom also comes with responsibility.