Kosovo President, Hashim Thaci, said in an interview to Voice of America that his opinion on correcting borders between Kosovo and Serbia implies rejecting every idea for Kosovo’s partition but it does include the request for the unification of Presevo Valley with Kosovo. Thaci said his idea does not imply the exchange of territories and that the correction of borders will not have a domino effect for Kosovo or the region.

Mr. President, in the last couple of weeks, a debate has been opened on the possible partitioning of Kosovo. You have ruled out partition, but you did mention the possibility of correction of borders with Serbia. What does this correction imply?

Let me reiterate that under no circumstance, under no price, no one can impose the partitioning of Kosovo, but at the same time we need to be aware that the delineation of the border between the state of Kosovo and Serbia will happen, or the correction of borders. What does this imply? It means that in the process of dialogue that will happen in the future, we will work together with international stakeholders too to delineate the border between Kosovo and Serbia. Partition will not happen under any circumstance and I want to reemphasize strongly that this cannot even be tabled by Belgrade, because they had this request even earlier. But what I can say is that as part of the correction of borders I have met representatives of Presevo Valley in my office, who have made their request on Kosovo’s address, for their right declared in 1992 to join Kosovo as Presevo Valley. This is something realistic, they presented their request to me, and I have decided that I will table their request in dialogue so that their issue is resolved once and for all. It is going to be difficult, this request will further complicate the process of dialogue and a final agreement, but I feel a moral, national, democratic, constitutional and legal obligation to table their request.

If you table the issue of Presevo Valley, do you expect Serbia to do the same for northern Kosovo?

We haven’t heard about this yet. The request for partition has been constant, not only in the last couple of years, it is a historical request of Serbia and it belongs to the previous century. I am saying what I will do as part of the correction of borders, to say clearly No to partition and yes to Presevo joining Kosovo.

How can this happen?

I think everyone can see that by working closely with international partners, working seriously on finalizing the agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, working with high constitutional and legal responsibility, but also with the vision of a sustainable future, I think the final agreement between Kosovo and Serbia will conclude with mutual recognition, so that Kosovo will not have any obstacles to become a member of the United Nations. I think that only with such a conclusion this agreement would make sense. Let me reiterate, it is going to be a very difficult and painful process, but I want to hope that both sides will benefit from a balanced agreement and for the agreement to be acceptable for the European Union, the United States of America and NATO. A good-will agreement between Kosovo and Serbia will be acceptable for the international community and no one can go against it.

Even if it means exchange of territories or something similar?

I did not talk about exchange or partition. I talked about correction of borders and in this process, I think a solution can be found if there is good will, mutual will, and responsibility for the future. We are seeing a very clear position by the European Union; they are working on modernizing and reforming the EU and no country can advance in their European future without meeting their obligations and overcoming mutual problems. I think that the correction of borders with mutual readiness does not constitute a domino effect for us, it does not open Pandora’s Box, it does not ruin Kosovo’s multiethnic character; on the contrary it preserves it, and under no circumstance does it mean war. On the contrary, this effort and engagement means peace, long-term stability and good neighborly relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

Mr. President, this means that the idea is Kosovo as it is now plus Presevo Valley?

I am aware of Belgrade’s aspirations, so are the rest. Unfortunately, there is more talk in Kosovo about partition and Belgrade’s demand than about the integration of Presevo and their right. My position is that whatever is in Kosovo’s interest we need to push it forward and not to promote Belgrade’s ideas about Kosovo like some individuals and groups are doing. So the time has come for all political parties, the parliament, president’s office, government, civil society, media, to work together in four-six months on a final agreement between Kosovo and Serbia that would include Serbia’s formal recognition of Kosovo, mutual recognition, and also to remove all obstacles for Kosovo’s membership of international organizations.

Why would Serbia accept such an agreement?

We need to look at this from the Euro-Atlantic standpoint. Without an agreement with Serbia, Kosovo cannot join NATO or the European Union. Serbia without an agreement with Kosovo cannot move forward in its European process. Therefore, I want to believe that among leaders in Kosovo and Serbia will prevail reason and the European spirit over local disputes that belong to the previous century.

Mr. President, do you have the support of the international community, especially the United States of America, for your idea on correcting borders?

I think, and I say this will full responsibility, that a local Kosovo-Serbia agreement, an agreement of mutual good will and acceptable for the both sides definitely implies that no one will oppose it, not the European Union, or NATO, or the United States. On the contrary, everyone will be supportive of a good-will agreement between two countries, Kosovo and Serbia, which means peace, stability and a Euro-Atlantic perspective.

Kosovo has not asserted full authorities in the north and also Presevo Valley is in Serbia…

I don’t want to draw parallels. What I can say is that when I met Presevo Valley leaders, they acted responsibly, they institutionalized their demand addressed to Pristina, the state of Kosovo, to include in the process of dialogue their right expressed through the will of the people. At the same time, I want to underline that we are also working on implementing all agreements reached in Brussels, including those relating to the north of the country.  There has been an important progress, particularly regarding police integration, the justice system, freedom of movement, customs, border, and efforts will therefore continue to make sure the process is peaceful, understanding and within the scope of fair game and reciprocity aspect.

Mr. President, observers say your recent statements are contributing to a lot of confusion and expressed concern that an agreement between yourself and President Vucic has already been reached. How do you respond to such opinions?

Absolutely not, no letter or idea was put on the table concerning final agreement. Two meetings took place so far, meaning we are in the early stage and the process will become much more dynamic as of September. I think my ideas have only clarified the process, that of border correction is a reality we have to address sooner or later and whoever ignores it is very politically naïve because we have 400 kilometres of Kosovo-Serbia border that we have to deal with and close this issue once and for all. No one will admit you to NATO or EU with border uncertainties so what I see is not being observed in the aspect of populist, electoral, problematic, and conflict policies. So I favour reaching a final agreement and of course I anticipate strong resistance from Belgrade, I expect stubbornness but [Serbia] also needs to make up its mind: does it want European integration or to remain hostage to their paranoid past in relation to Kosovo. If it wishes to remain hostage to their old policy towards Kosovo, then they lose both Kosovo and European perspective. I am convinced all forces that want peace and stability will come together. Kosovo will be united, and we will jointly move towards finalizing this agreement that also closes another historic injustice of the past and opens perspective for the future.

Mr. President, politicians in Serbia are openly talking about Kosovo’s partition. What is your comment?

I reiterate: under no circumstance, under no price, will the partition of Kosovo be imposed, full stop. I know President Vucic is unwavering in relation to Kosovo and perhaps the entire political spectrum in Belgrade but these ideas belong to the past centuries and are truly regrettable and impossible.

Are you concerned over possible unrests if ideas of partition persist?

For as long as there is will to talk, responsibility to hear one another, for as long as an agreement of good will is possible between the parties, this will only bring peace, stability, understanding, good neighbourhood and Euro-Atlantic perspective. I work for the final Kosovo-Serbia agreement to be of European, Euro-Atlantic spirit, what would imply regional stability and final peace in the Western Balkans. Those who speak of war, want to put unnecessary obstacles to the peacemaking process between our two countries and the Western Balkans in general.

Mr. President, concerns have been raised lately on the possibility of the international partners’ change of position towards Kosovo?

I don’t think our partners have changed their approach to Kosovo. There is strong support of European Union. We just received visa liberalisation recommendation stating Kosovo has met all criteria. The US support is strong, unchanged, NATO support is the same, but one thing is also true: the world is watching us from close and today, the US, European Union, NATO, want an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia. If we continue this way, no one in Kosovo should think that if we boycott dialogue we will hinder Serbia’s European perspective, Serbia will move forward. We are witness to political games that unfolded in Macedonia, 27 years of delays to join NATO. The moment Macedonia-Greece agreement was reached, they received invitation to join NATO. We have no time to lose because of individual politics, group or populist interests or even voices of war. We need to work for understanding, peace, stability and European spirit.

Mr. President, a final question, how do you think you can bring together the entire political spectrum in these talks?

We will work hard to be as united as possible. This is how we were in Rambouillet and we won, we were the same in Vienna and we won so I am convinced that a final Kosovo-Serbia agreement will accelerate Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic journey and I know everyone is interested in moving faster to NATO and European Union. We will not allow any more mistakes as was the case with delays in establishment of Kosovo Armed Forces in 2014 which prevented us from today being part of Partnership for Peace and we will not allow delays as will border demarcation with Montenegro which halted us in the visa liberalisation process. We have lost four years for the army and three for visa liberalisation. We will work hard to create as broad a unity as possible, but we will not allow individuals or certain political parties keep this process for the future of the Republic of Kosovo hostage. At the end of the day, I will work for the final Kosovo-Serbia agreement to be concluded through the say of the citizens of Kosovo, through referendum.