Prishtina, September 29th 2018 – President of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, addressed today the ranks of the Kosovo Security Force, where he called for unity in realisation of Kosovo’s short term aspirations.
Speaking after the return from New York, where he followed the proceedings of the UN General Assembly, President Thaçi pointed out that he has received the support of many world leaders for Kosovo’s aspirations, be it membership in Interpol or visa liberalisation, or the creation of the Kosovo Army and achievement of a peace agreement with Serbia.
“In talks with our international allies, we received full support for our projects, , both short term and midterm ones”, stated Presdient Thaçi, and added that, “above all, we received the support for our Euro-Atlantic path and confirmation that this is an only path”.
Speaking on the immediate steps on Interpol membership, President Thaçi said that “Kosovo is prepared for the Interpol General Assembly”, and that “now, it is important to join forces and united work towards this aim”.
President Thaçi asked for the unity of the political spectrum on the issue of visa liberalisation as well.
“Kosova has fulfilled all technical criteria placed by EU” said the President and added that Kosovo now” rightly expects the decision for removal of the visa regime to be approved as soon as possible”.
”It is crucial that we are united in our stance, in our message and our statements” , said President Thaçi.
“We all speak in one voice on the necessity of visa removal for the citizens of Kosovo. Let us protect in a single voice the interests of Kosovo, of the citizens of Kosovo”, added President Thaçi.
Touching on Kosovo’s long term ambitions, our country’s NATO and EU membership, President Thaçi said that he is proud to be the President of Europe’s most pro NATO and pro EU country in Europe.
He stated that Kosovo Security Force, in cooperation with NATO and western partners, has reached the level in which it is ready to take upon itself additional responsibilities, those of a proper army.
“Therefore, let us get together and approve at the Parliament of Kosovo the laws which pave the way to the establishment of the army and bringing Kosovo closer to NATO, all the way to full membership”, potentiated President Thaçi.
And on the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, President Thaçi said that for the realization of aspirations such as a seat at the United Nations, NATO and EU membership, it is required that a peaceful agreement between Kosovo and Serbia is reached.
“It is true that we have deserved that our traversing towards UN, NATO and EU be a bit more different, faster and easier. That it did not depend on the peace agreement with Serbia”, said President Thaçi, and added that the “regional and international reality imposes the achievement of a normalisation agreement to both countries”.
“I have proposed the option of the correction of border between Kosovo and Serbia, and I have argument that the eventual agreement of the peaceful correction of the border with Serbia ensures Kosovo’s recognition by Serbia and the seat at the UN. What is even more important, this opens the opportunity for the unification of Presheva , Bujanoc and Medvegja with our country” said President Thaçi.
According to President Thaçi, this also requires that the whole political spectrum and the society is united in our requirements and ambitions.
“Let us get together, to clarify what we want to achieve, what we want to gain, but also what we are willing to pay to achieve them”.
At the end of his address to the Kosovo Security Force, President Thaçi said that the “subject matter of his speech today was the word unification”.
“Let us get together for Kosovo, its benefit, and the benefit of each and every citizen” was the request made by President Thaçi.
” Let us get together to see beyond personal, party, electoral interests, daily interests, and let us work together for Kosovo”, ended his address President Thaçi.