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DR. VJOSA OSMANI SADRIU
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO
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President Jahjaga responds to “Vetëvendosje”

Honourable Mr Kurti, Chairman of the “Vetëvendosje” Movement,

I consider your public letter, dated November 6th 2012, to be an institutional act for the purpose of having full transparency and due to the fact, as you state in the letter” that you felt obligated to write this open letter to me in order to make public certain worrying and unacceptable malfunctions of the institution of the President of the Republic of Kosovo during the period that this institution has been under my leadership”.

In your letter you state that in one of my statements to the “KosovaPress” news agency I have said that “Vetëvendosje” Movement has manipulated the masses during the “totally legitimate” actions and protests held on October 22nd and 23rd.

You also state your assessment that “the protests are directed against the Government of Kosovo, who is conducting negotiations and talks, without any principle and without any conditions or guarantees, with Serbia”.  You also quote me the Article 83 of the Constitution of Kosovo: “ President is the Head of State and represents the unity of the people of the Republic of Kosovo” and continue further with “ it does not belong to you to hold political sides, or to raise unfounded accusations upon a political force, that is actually third largest in the country”, by adding another clarification “ of course, Madam President, we are conscious that it is difficult to represent unity, because you have been put at the top of that institution by an agreement between three political parties and a foreign Ambassador, in a non democratic and un-institutional manner”. 

Honourable “Vetëvendosje” Movement,

I am forwarding to you the full transcript of the interview given to the   “KosovaPress” news agency as well as the audio-visual recording, and I would welcome the fact that you will find the civic courage to print the interview in full in your booklet.

My response to your letter, as an institution, as the President of the Republic of Kosovo will concentrate on the following issues:

1.    In the letter you sent to me you say that “you have clearly stated that “Vetëvendosje” Movement has manipulated the masses during the totally legitimate actions and protests, held on October 22nd and 23rd…”

–    For the protest to be legitimate and legal, they must be reported in time to the competent bodies and must respect the conditions prescribed by laws approved by the Parliament of the Republic of Kosovo.

2.    In your letter you also say that: “… those protests were directed against the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, who is conducting negotiations and talks without principle and without any conditions or guarantees with Serbia…”
    
–    As the President of the country, I hold on to the position that dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, as two sovereign and independent states, has no other alternative and that this is the only way towards the normalisation of the relations between the two states. The foundation platform of the Republic of Kosovo in this dialogue process is the Constitution of the Republic and the laws of the land. The mediation of the European Union and the strong support of the United States of America are the Guarantee. Dialogue is the only way towards the normalisation of the relations and peace and stability in Balkans and further afield.

3.    For the continuation of the dialogue between the Republic of Kosovo and Republic of Serbia, underway in Brussels, with the mediation and facilitation of European Union and strongly supported by the United States of America, at the Parliament of Kosovo a Resolution has been adopted, that obligates all the parliamentary parties and subjects, irrespective on how parties have voted on it. This is a base principle of democracy and state-building.

4.    You write that “… it is difficult to represent unity because you have been put at the top of that institution with an agreement between three political parties and a foreign Ambassador, in a non-democratic and un-institutional manner”.

–     Constitutional determination that President represents the unity of the people does not necessarily mean the political unity as well. This unity is expressed through the respect for and application of the Constitution and the laws of the land, it has to do with legitimacy and legality and not with the principle of the political party consensus.

5.     President of Kosovo is elected and not appointed. You were yourselves witnesses that the candidacy proposal was in harmony with the Constitution and the laws of the land, that the race was fought between two candidates and that the election ensured with the Yes vote of the two thirds of the members of the Parliament, in the first round of the voting, an occurrence not seen so far, even when the candidate was a part of the political agreement and of the governing coalition.

–      If you consider this non democratic and un-institutional, I would  encourage you to take your case to the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Kosovo, in full respect of its decision. I, as well as you, will fully respect the decision reached by the Court.
   
6.     You also wrote “You behave as a representative of the Police executive and not as a representative of the national unity of the Republic of Kosovo”.

I am glad to have worked for the Police of the Republic of Kosovo, an institution valued so highly for its work, professionalism and its political impartiality. Today, as a President, I respect the Constitutional and legal obligations.

7.    You also say that I have with eagerness accepted the invitation and have participated as a guest of honour at the DPK anniversary.

–        As a factor of unity, it is my obligation to participate, by invitation, to address or send a telegramme, to the anniversaries of political parties and other public subjects. I participate as a Head of State, not as a guest of honour

Honourable “Vetëvendosje” Movement,

You are welcome to continue our institutional cooperation, in full respect of the laws and the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo, for the future of the country and the wellbeing of all of its citizens.

With respect,
Atifete Jahjaga
President of the Republic of Kosovo

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