Kosovo President Hashim Thaci told Radio Free Europe today that he agrees with senior U.S. officials that the Kosovo Armed Forces should be created through constitutional amendments. Thaci said the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force into the Armed Forces “must be an inclusive local process and with international partnership, especially with the United States of America and NATO”.  He said he will initiate talks with the political representatives of Kosovo Serbs “to exhaust all possibilities of coordinating with them for the creation of the Kosovo Army”. “Nothing can block the formation of the Kosovo Armed Forces … It is an unalienable right of Kosovo’s people and institutions of an independent and sovereign country,” Thaci added.

Mr. President, U.S. officials that have visited Kosovo have expressed Washington’s concern over the transformation of the KSF through a law. They said they support the transformation but only with constitutional amendments and through an inclusive and transparent process. Is the transformation through a law no longer on the table?

The idea to establish the Kosovo Armed Forces is not new, it is part of the security sector review project. We have full agreement with the U.S. and NATO, since 2014, to establish the Kosovo Armed Forces. I have met Mr. Hoyt Yee yesterday and U.S. Ambassador Delawie. What is most important is that we have the same objective and that is for Kosovo to have its Armed Forces. A gradual and inclusive process, with the participation of all communities including the Serbs. They are already included, but we want them to have a more active role so that we can have multiethnic Kosovo Armed Forces in line with NATO standards. We fully agree that this process should take place through constitutional amendments. The time we have left is a new opportunity, especially after the return of the Serbian List to Kosovo institutions. We will talk with them, listen to their concerns, and everyone must be part of the process, we need to have an inclusive local process with international partnership, especially with the U.S. and NATO.

Does this mean that there will be gradual efforts for constitutional amendments …

Definitely, we are ready to initiate the constitutional amendments. We will talk with the Serb community in the coming days and weeks, with the Serbian List, and with all other communities, in order to have a coordinated and well-organized process. I don’t believe someone can deny the right of Kosovo’s institutions to establish the army, because no one has a right of veto over this. We want to establish the Kosovo Army and to integrate it in NATO, and not an isolated Army of Kosovo. This is why we will coordinate locally and internationally so that we can have general understanding.

Does the Serbian List have any conditions in exchange for their support to the process?

So far they have not presented any platform or idea on how they could join the process, except for their refusal which was encouraged and ordered by Belgrade. I don’t want to believe that after their return to the institutions they will continue with their absolute rejection. They will understand that the formation of the Kosovo Armed Forces is not directed against anyone, on the contrary, it is in the service of our citizens regardless of their ethnic background. This is going to be a multiethnic force in line with NATO criteria and values. In the coming days, I plan to meet them and hold honest and responsible discussions within the constitutional and legal competencies so that we can move forward. We will be very serious about this process. The process is underway and it will be concluded successfully. We will have the Army of Kosovo and we will safeguard our partnership with the international community. What is important now is that the agenda for the formation of the Kosovo Armed Forces is not only a local agenda but a high-level world agenda that will involve the U.S. and NATO. This has been my objective. This process is irreversible.

Do you have a plan how to convince the Serbs because they have been categorical and said that they will never vote in favor of the army?

In politics, you can never say never! You can never say a process will never happen. There is no force that can block the formation of the Kosovo Armed Forces. It is an unalienable right of Kosovo’s people and institutions and of an independent and sovereign country. We need to coordinate the steps and make this an inclusive process during which we will listen to different opinions. At the same time, I want to believe that Serbs have realized that our idea is not directed against anyone, on the contrary, it is in the interest of all for our country to grow stronger.

Must the government withdraw the law?

I think we have enough time left for open discussions with the Serb community, from heads of institutions, and I said it earlier I will lead the process of talks with them. The process will be fully coordinated with the government and the assembly, because Assembly President Veseli and Prime Minister Mustafa were among the first to have been informed about my idea that if Serbs indefinitely oppose constitutional amendments then Kosovo is legally entitled to form its army. Therefore, the agenda will not stop. We will respect all necessary steps. We will exhaust all possibilities of coordinating with the Serbs. We will do everything to integrate them in the process and my experience in cooperating with them through the years tells me that this is possible and that Serbs will be part of the process.

Why all the insistence to create the army now?

In fact we are running late. It is as if the issue of the Kosovo Armed Forces was being forgotten also by our international partners and this was the concern. The idea to form the Kosovo Armed Forces is a constitutional and legal responsibility. It is our right. We are not forming an army to attack someone, on the contrary, we only want to have our army, in line with NATO standards and integrated in NATO. We need to have a defense force that is in the service of all citizens throughout Kosovo’s territory. Therefore, our idea to form the Kosovo Armed Forces is not related to developments in the region. Kosovo cannot pay the cost of alleged regional instability by forming its Armed Forces, because this would be total political ignorance because Kosovo is not responsible for Russia’s growing role in Republika Srpska. Kosovo is not responsible for Russia’s growing role in Serbia and for bringing Russian military jets and other military technology and Russian bases in Serbia. Kosovo can also not pay the price for Russia’s dangerous tendencies in Montenegro or political blockades in Macedonia. Kosovo has its own path. It has built excellent relations with all neighboring countries, Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, and we are in the important process of normalizing relations with Serbia. Therefore, I think that the formation of the Kosovo Armed Forces will help political dialogue too and it will facilitate the normalization of relations with Serbia. I think everyone should understand our right, and with the exception of Serbia, all countries in the region unanimously support this.

We have seen a revolt by citizens in Kosovo’s roads yesterday, they were protesting and blocked roads for several hours in opposition to Serbian presidential elections here. Brussels too was quick to react. But should Kosovo allow another country to have an election campaign within its territory?

The Kosovo Government has made the right decision for Prime Minister Vucic to visit Kosovo Serbs. I think freedom of movement and mutual visits do not harm anyone, on the contrary they bring normality and mutual understanding. We are determined to respect actions for polling stations for Serb voters because they too have the right of dual citizenship just like other citizens of Kosovo. Therefore, participating in election rallies would not be the end of the world. I have fully supported the decision of the Kosovo Government. The time limitation is rather questionable. But allow me to reiterate that blocking roads is not a solution. We have engaged in dialogue, we have worked to have freedom of movement for people, goods and officials, therefore, it is completely unacceptable to block roads.

Has Kosovo agreed in Brussels to these visits, as the EU was saying yesterday?

These matters are not discussed in Brussels. I think this is an autonomous decision of our countries, because we are independent and sovereign countries. Prime Minister Vucic has failed a regular request with the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo, and in a way this is a recognition of the state of Kosovo. So I think that everything was done in line with earlier practices. There is nothing new in this respect.

But Vucic never came. He said he does not accept Pristina’s conditions?

That is his decision. I have said it earlier that the time limitation was rather questionable, because after all three or five hours it is the same.

According to your information, will there be Serbian elections in Kosovo on Sunday?

This is within the authority of Kosovo’s security institutions and in cooperation with the OSCE. Therefore, everything will be done in line with earlier practices.

With Serbs returning to the Kosovo Assembly and institutions, can one expect work to resume on the formation of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and do you know if they will support demarcation [with Montenegro], or even the army, within one package?

Kosovo is running late with the Association, especially after the ruling of the Constitutional Court. The statute of the Association must be drafted as soon as possible. As far as demarcation is concerned, I think everyone must know that if we don’t meet this requirement – the only remaining for visa liberalization – the European Union will not change its position and the people of Kosovo will remain isolated. Therefore I think that the return of Serbs is a good opportunity to work toward voting in the Assembly. This would be good for Kosovo’s society, for consolidating our state and the right of our people for freedom of movement. If we don’t form the Association, if we don’t pass demarcation and win visa liberalization, we as a country and society will remain unrightfully blocked, but also because of our own fault.

Are you expecting a debate in the Assembly on these matters?

I think the debate has been over for three years now and we are still going around in circles. Kosovo must have its direction. It must decide whether it wants to move forward or stay in one place. We need to make the right decisions – we are ready to overcome these challenges or start anew.

If these challenges are not overcome, are elections a possible solution?

This is up to the political parties. As President, I will respect the Constitution and laws of Kosovo, for regular elections, but if there is an agreement between the political parties I will respect their will.