President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, said in an interview to Radio Free Europe that dialogue for normalization of relations with Serbia is about to take on a new momentum with more frequent meetings set to take place between leaders of the two sides.
Asked to comment on his mentioning of the possibility of organizing a referendum at the end of the dialogue process, Thaci said: “I think people are not yet used to Kosovo organizing a referendum but such an initiative could be organized in full coordination with country’s institutions, by respecting constitutional and legal mechanisms and with a unity of the political spectrum, the civil society, the media, and all the people in Kosovo.” He said the final agreement with Serbia will be “historic” and as such should “be handed over to the people to have its say.”
Speaking about the idea of forming a unity team for talks with Serbia, Thaci said that it would be in Kosovo’s best interest to have all institutions, political parties, civil society, influential figures, media, religious representatives, work together in concluding the process of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.
As for the decision of the Kosovo government to withdraw its Interpol membership bid, Thaci said he did not have any official information as to what happened. “I will get informed in detail and give my official position,” he said adding that Kosovo’s membership to international organizations is “unstoppable” and that Kosovo will definitely become part of the UN.
“Unfortunately, Russia maintains the same position on Kosovo at the Security Council. But our participation at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly is a good opportunity for us to talk to countries that have recognised Kosovo, to thank them and urge them to remain focused on Kosovo, and also to discuss with countries that are in the process of recognition, to [urge them to] speed up the process of recognition, and with the hesitating and refusing countries in order to explain the necessity of recognizing independence of Kosovo.”
