On today’s first meeting of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci said hostilities that have caused wars are still present and dominate social discourse. “There is still a gap between the communities and this could still keep us in the depths of hatred and hostilities caused by war.” Thaci said adding that Kosovo society cannot build a better future if it remains prisoner of the past.

Thaci said the idea behind the decision to set up such a commission is to speak the truth and make peace with the past. He said the first and fastest Albanian-Serb reconciliation was between families of missing persons. “Understanding the sufferings of one another they became almost one family working for a common goal in closing the chapter of their missing loved ones. They are the best example for all of us on how to look to the future.”

Thaci also said that the commission would not be a substitute for justice or for the EU-facilitated dialogue with Serbia. “Our goal is to create a supporting mechanism for the internal, open dialogue between communities in Kosovo.”