Kurti: Dialogue with Serbs, not Serbia (Danas, Blic)
Our priority will be dialogue with the Serbs from Kosovo, we have an economic and social plan for the northern municipalities of Kosovo and we are not against the Serbs, but Serbia is against us, said leader of the Self-Determination Movement Albin Kurti. Belgrade based daily Danas published a summary of Blic newspaper interview with Albin Kurti.
The previous dialogue held with Serbia in Brussels did not set any conditions for Serbia, and internal issues of Kosovo were discussed, which is why the outcome could not have been just, Kurti believes.
Dialogue creates an impression of the normalization of relations, but essentially only deepens ethnic divisions, he said, adding that the movement is not in principle against dialogue, but against the dialogue which turns Kosovo into a topic, and Serbia determines the agenda.
As the Kosovo government with Brussels, we will start a dialogue with other Balkan countries, including Serbia - that is, dialogue on the dialogue with the EU, Kurti said.
Kurti also believes that Serbia instrumentalizy the local Serbs through the Serbian List, which deforms the will of Serbian citizens.
It is wrong to view Serbs and Albanians only through their national identity, they all have their social roles and professions, different pasts and dreams for the future, explained Kurti.
The Association/Community of Serb municipalities (ZSO) is a project of Belgrade, Kurti says, explaining that it represents the way to another Bosnia, as well as that a non-functional state does not respond either to the Kosovo Serbs, and that this should not be allowed.
When asked about KLA crimes in Kosovo, Kurti does not believe that KLA has carried out war crimes but believes that there were individuals who hid behind this name knowing the national support it has.
Kosovo needs to build its army in proportion to the population
Kurti said this to Blic in regards to Kosovo's army. Kosovo has about two million inhabitants, and according to some studies it is good that one per cent of the population is represented in the field of security, protection and defense, which would mean that we would have between 18 000 and 20 000 members in total, in the ranks of the police and the army.