Kosovo President: I will not go to Brussels and negotiate with Lajcak

Gazeta Express

04/06/2020 8:53

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci said he would not cooperate with the EU’s special representative on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, considering that his country – Slovakia does not recognise Kosovo’s independence. Thaci speaking to T7 program Pressing said he would prefer the US take leading role in dialogue.

In March, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell appointed former Slovakian foreign minister Miroslav Lajcak as special representative for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue. “The Dialogue process is not a competition of politicians in Kosovo. We need unity. I hope a full coordination with Hoti as prime minister. I will play my constitutional and legal role. I do not miss meetings with Serbian leaders. And I already stated that I will not go to dialogue in Brussels. This is because Mr. Lajcak has made it known that he does not recognise Kosovo and I will not go and negotiate in a dialogue process between Pristina and Belgrade,” Thaci said, adding that Lajcak refers to Kosovo in dialogue only as Pristina. “I have told Lajcak: ‘It would be a good job, but you will not succeed if you do not treat Kosovo as independent and sovereign state,’” Thaci said. He also said the EU should liberalise visas for Kosovo to regain trust in EU institutions.

At the question of the host who will lead the dialogue with Serbia now after appointment of new prime minister Avdullah Hoti, Thaci said: “I will play my constitutional role in negotiations when Kosovo is treated as independent and sovereign state. The state hierarchy is clear. But I would like to see Mr. Hoti continue these processes in Brussels.” According to Thaci, Kosovo cannot succeed in dialogue without internal cohesion and a comprehensive negotiation team.     

He criticised former prime minister Albin Kurti and his political rival of secretly negotiating with Borrell and Lajcak and for straining relations with the United states. “They exchanged ideas on dialogue and an agreement, and now what? Everything is pitch dark! No transparency at all,” Thaci said. According to Thaci, Kurti should hand over a report to the newly appointed PM Avdullah Hoti on what was discussed over the last three months between him Lajcak and Borrell.

Thaci denied Kurti’s statements that he already agreed with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic to sign a deal, saying that Kurti’s statements of a secret deal being mediated by the US special envoy Richard Grenell, are “just paranoia and conspiracies.” Thaci said that Kurti was not welcomed in Washington and accused him of preferring to “negotiate with those who have not recognised Kosovo’s independence” rather than the US.  He also said Kosovo leaders should fully trust the US leadership under President Donald Trump’s administration and mediation of his special envoy on Dialogue, Richard Grenell. “US leading the dialogue guarantees an agreement which would strengthen the state of Kosovo and opens the way for Kosovo to join NATO, EU and UN,” Thaci stated.

Kosovo president in his interview denied reports that he contributed in overthrowing Kurti’s Government in a successful no-confidence motion on 25 March. According to Thaci, it was the Parliament of Kosovo who with 82 votes decided to oust Kurti’s Government. Thaci also denied his interference in forming new Government saying that he gave “only friendly advice” to a Kosovo MP Haxhi Shala of Nisma on Wednesday ahead of voting new Government. Shala said that he would vote against forming of new Government but later changed his mind. He told MPs that he had been convinced to vote in favour of Hoti led Government after a visit to his house by President Thaci and former prime minister Ramush Haradinaj.

Kosovo President has reiterated his accusations against former PM Kurti and his ministers of “secretly visiting the Post of Kosovo wiretapping room,”, a public accusation which was denied by Vetevendosje and Post of Kosovo. But Thaci insisted that based on the reports of Kosovo’s security institutions, Kurti and former minister of Interior Xhelal Svecla visited the wiretapping room of the Post of Kosovo. He said that Kurti and his ministers should be held accountable for their actions while serving in the Government.   

Thaci has also accused Kurti’s deputy in Government Haki Abazi, saying that based on reports of country’s security institutions Abazi at least three times has visited Kopaonik during the COVID-19 pandemic and met with Serbia’s security officials. “Abazi went to Kopaonik in Serbia and met three times Serbia’s Government officials during the pandemic. He met security officials. Kosovo authorities should act and reveal what he discussed with them,” Thaci said. /GazetaExpress/