Prishtina, March 16, 2017 – The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, took part today in an open debate with journalists and political analysts of the Serb community in the Media Center in Čaglavica.
There, President Thaçi, once again presented the arguments in support of the transformation of the KSF into the Army of Kosovo, saying that this necessary legal initiative is undertaken in accordance with the Constitution and laws of Kosovo.
With the new mission and tasks, President Thaçi has said that the KSF will be a modern, professional and multi-ethnic army, ready to protect all the citizens of Kosovo, of all communities.
In the Media Center in Čaglavica, President Thaçi has also spoken about the Serb community and its political representatives.
He said that it is important to make distinctions between the Serb community in Kosovo, the political representatives and their interests in relation to the interests of Serbia on the other side.
“The Serb community in Kosovo has proven to be constructive, cooperative and interested to build a common future in Kosovo, in peace and prosperity. Kosovo is your home. It is our common home, which we are building all together”, has said President Thaçi.
Mentioning the Serb community members, the President has said that like they contribute to public order and tranquility within the Kosovo Police, they also as part of the KSF contribute and will continue to contribute in the future to future peace and stability for all.
President Thaçi also spoke about the relations between Kosovo and Serbia, saying that the dialogue process needs to get a new quality.
“The Serb community is not against the transformation of the KSF. Serbia is against it. Serbia still rejects in every form the state of Kosovo and prevents the consolidation of the state of Kosovo, even when it is in the interest of the Kosovo Serbs, thus damaging the Serb community in Kosovo”, said President Thaçi.
The President has called on the political representatives of the Serbian citizens of Kosovo to return to the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo, because, as he said, the interests of citizens who have given them the vote is best protected by taking part in the work of the institutions, not by boycotting them.
“Perhaps it is the interest of Serbia to keep the political representatives of the Kosovo Serbs out of the Kosovo institutions, but this definitely is not in the interest of the Serb citizens in Kosovo. Important decisions for all are awaiting us, not just this one on the KSF, but also other strategic decisions, like the one on the Association, on the Demarcation and others”, added President Thaçi.
The President said that he is happy about the fact while he sees the willingness in everyone to cooperate to do the best for the citizens of Kosovo. But, in his opinion, the best is achieved by working within the institutions rather than staying outside of them.
In front of the journalists and political analysts of the Serb community in Čaglavica, the President also spoke about his idea on the establishment of the Commission for Truth and Reconciliation in Kosovo.
President Thaçi has said that Kosovo is also the state of the Kosovo Serbs and everyone must see their future in Kosovo.