President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, said in an interview with Croatian daily paper Vecernji List that Kosovo’s European perspective will depend on the success of the dialogue for normalisation of relations with Serbia and that the time of conflicts is gone. However, Thaci said the issue of Kosovo status has been solved “once and for all” through the process led by President Martti Ahtisaari. “Kosovo is an independent country. Serbs in Kosovo, as a minority community, have guaranteed rights which are advanced and incomparable to any other minority community in Europe,” Thaci is quoted as saying. He added that once Kosovo and Serbia sign a legally-binding agreement, Kosovo will apply for UN membership. “The agreement and normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia would have to imply Kosovo’s pathway to full UN membership,” Thaci said.

With regards to the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities, Thaci said Kosovo sticks by to its international agreements, including the one signed with Serbia on 19 April 2013. “The Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities will be formed in full accordance to the Constitutions of Kosovo, Kosovo laws, and the verdict of the Constitutional Court.” Thaci said this view is in line with that of the EU. “The Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities will not be a third level of government or have executive powers, and it cannot serve as basis for the creation of a special Serb entity in Kosovo,” Thaci underlined.