Pristina, 18 August 2008
(The full speech of Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi in today's press conference)
Dear media representatives,
according to my competencies, I want to put before you the success and challenges of the Republic of Kosovo over the last six months - thus, the success of Kosovo, but also the obstacles, the difficulties and the challenges with which Kosovo and the Kosovo people have been faced.
These six months have for Kosovo been historic and decisive months, for our country and our people.
As you know, only one month after the inauguration of our government, we all together - the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo, with the support of the whole political spectrum and according to the will of the people of Kosovo, with the full backing and understanding of our international friends and partners, the United States of America and the European Union - declared Kosovo an independent, sovereign and democratic state.
This was an historic success - or a collection of historic successes - in the centuries-old struggle of our land and our people. Institutions and people celebrated with great dignity, pride and responsibility.
Kosovo immediately went on with its state-building agenda. The institutions established the symbols, flag, seal and anthem of the state.
The state of Kosovo, thanks to close co-operation with our western partners and our clear vision, has been recognised by some 45 of the strongest states of the democratic world, and the process of recognitions continues.
Many states are today in the process of recognising us. Several have not yet officially recognised Kosovo but recognise the passport of the Republic of Kosovo, so recognition is proceeding step by step.
Every act of international lobbying by Kosovo's institutions has been and is being done in close consultation and co-ordination with western partners, the same co-operation and the same partnership that brought Kosovo's liberation and democratic transition, as well as the declaration of Kosovo as an independent, sovereign and democratic state.
So, close co-operation with the west has been, is and will remain the vision of Kosovo, the vision of our institutions, for as long as the people of Kosovo trust me to lead Kosovo. Every deviation from this path is an unnecessary gamble for our country and our people.
Our population has a clear pro-western vision, trusting the USA, trusting the EU, and trusting NATO.
We must all thrive, and those who want to achieve more must work harder to change realities and not merely live with desires and unrealisable dreams. Kosovo cannot throw over its partnership with the west for any temporary association with influences dangerous to the future of our country and to our integration with NATO and the EU. Of this there is no doubt.
During this period Kosovo has established her modern Constitution, the first constitution based on the will of Kosovo's citizens. It's a constitution on western lines, a constitution with positive support for the rights of minorities and which guarantees the territorial integrity of the Republic of Kosovo.
During this period Kosovo and her institutions - the Government, the Parliament, the President, all central and local bodies - have fulfilled all of the international obligations laid on them by President Ahtisaari's document.
Another Kosovo success is the start of issuing of Republic of Kosovo passports for our citizens. If we compare this with other former Yugoslav states, some of them worked not just for three or four months but for years to get to issue their own passports, whereas we have got to the point of issuing our own passports within four or five months of declaring Kosovo a state.
In the meantime we have worked to ensure that as the Republic of Kosovo, as the Government of Kosovo, we are for the first time investing in the north of Kosovo. Around 2 million euros are being invested in the road infrastructure alone of northern Mitrovica, along with investment in canalisation, water supply and rebuilding of houses. In this direction the Government will not be slowing down, but will on the contrary become even more active.
We have established integrated government for our minorities as well. Kosovo today has institutions that are democratic but also multi-ethnic. There's been another success, because following independence the process of minority returns has continued, with no trend for minorities to leave Kosovo. This is another achievement that is well-regarded by the international community and which has convinced the international community that the independence of Kosovo is a success story, is in the interests of all of her citizens, and merits recognition by 45 of the strongest states worldwide.
Kosovo displayed extraordinary success in the Donors' Conference, securing 1.2 billion euros. This was financial support, but it also represented political support. It was at the same time a sign of faith from the democratic world in Kosovo as an independent, sovereign and democratic state, and a sign of faith in good governance.
Meanwhile, Kosovo has applied successfully to the International Monetary Fund and to the World Bank. We have received positive responses and have begun the procedures for full membership. These will be completed in the very near future, following the standard process and temporary period necessary for membership for an independent country.
Kosovo has de facto opened a clear perspective towards NATO and EU candidacy, while building excellent relations with all regional states.
The independence of Kosovo has sent a message and created a reality of peace, stability and regional co-operation. Along with Albania, with Macedonia, and with Montenegro, even Serbia realises that in the not-too-distant future of the integration process she will recognise the independence of Kosovo.
In this period Kosovo has established, as never before, very solid institutional stability, while also building excellent human and political relations, and above all in this six-month period we have created a state united territorially but also in civic terms.
At the same time we have continued to foster good, stable, efficient and transparent governance before public opinion - close co-operation with international players but also close co-operation with the media.
We have maintained that in our uncompromising battle in the war against corruption there will be zero tolerance. This battle is not easy but our commitment to triumph is very great, and I am certain that in this area the rule of law alone will be respected. The old mentality of bad management, of violation of the law, is being transformed along with the mentality inside Kosovo's institutions.
As regards developments in education, and investment, I want to say that we will spare nothing in the education of our young. As far as licensing (of private higher education institutions) is concerned, the Kosovo Government decision is clear-cut - that is to say support in every respect for the professional recommendations of the British Accreditation Council.
I have set before you today several of Kosovo's historic successes during these last six months, but I haven't presented the successes of the Kosovo Government itself. I expect that we will meet again soon for another presentation, on the successes and activities of the Government.
Thank you!
We offer below several key points from Prime Minister Thaçi's answers to journalists in connection with the lobbying process for recognition of Kosovo independence.
If we bear in mind the declaration of independence and recognitions of different countries, as regards Kosovo, the Kosovo story is a great success! I have said and I repeat today that I have complete and unshakeable confidence, and I want you to pass this belief to all the citizens of Kosovo and to our international partners, that recognition of Kosovo by the international community will proceed step by step and in a stable manner.
At the same time I want to stress that not everyone in the world welcomed the declaration of Kosovo as an independent, sovereign and democratic state. Of course there have been obstacles and lobbying against independence. But I want to emphasise that in Kosovo's lobbying for recognition, for independence, for success, for integration with NATO and the European Union, for the normal rule of law, the support of Washington and Brussels has been incomparable.
Our road to recognition is not a lonely road but a road shared, with the international community, with our international friends. Kosovo is on the way to complete success and there should be no room for hesitation or unnecessary doubt.
I realise that there are a range of voices who want yet more. But we can't decide for other countries. They decide about our recognition. We're doing the job that needs to be done. We have established good governance, we're building a democratic state, we're creating a country with no discrimination between her citizens and we're working with a clear vision for integration with NATO and the EU.
The support that we received during the meeting that we had in the White House with US President George Bush was something extraordinary for our country, for our people, and for our integrated future. So, we must rebuild Kosovo differently, in a positive way, so that we go forwards on our stable path.
I recognise and I listen attentively to the various voices on the subject of lobbying. Those voices want more recognitions. We want them as well. But we must recognise reality too. We all worked together in the Team of Unity. From the countries that they visited, not one recognition has resulted. They even wanted the Kosovo Parliament to declare independence without co-ordination with the United States of America and the European Union. Imagine if Kosovo had declared independence without co-ordination with Washington and Brussels - there would be complete isolation from the western world for our country and our people.
My commitment and that of all the people of Kosovo is to close co-operation with the United States of America and the European Union. This is the wish of the citizens of Kosovo and they expressed this wish in the last elections. I want all these voices to be supportive rather than critical. I recognise everyone, there's room for everyone to contribute, but no-one can change Kosovo's pro-western orientation.
We likewise publish Prime Minister Thaçi's answers regarding the tankers that entered Kosovo with false documentation and brought dangerous material (disulphuric acid).
First of all I want to thank the media for raising the issue and, secondly, I want to express sympathy with the reaction of citizens. In their position I would react in the same way.
It's a success for the Kosovo Government that after four years of this criminal smuggling we have managed to block it. For four years you, me, our families, the people of Kosovo, have been poisoned by these tankers entering Kosovo one after another with their dangerous substances and being allowed to enter. Now investigating bodies are researching this situation and the Government is expecting those responsible to be brought to justice. This isn't a political issue, it's smuggling that has continued for four years and that we have interrupted.
For four years dangerous material has been brought into Kosovo! No-one spoke out! No-one stopped it! No-one interceded! No-one raised this issue! Everything was done in a completely open way! Something like this can be tolerated no further. I am determined about this.
They will be brought to justice, whoever they are, whoever is behind them and has worked to poison Kosovo and to enrich themselves, to poison two million people and to enrich a small clique.
The Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning has selected a Croatian company, professionally competent to destroy these materials in a way that is professional, transparent and safe. The experts rather than the Government will decide about the destruction. We have, finally, consultation with KFOR authorities.
I ask for citizens' understanding in respecting the role of the experts. It is in their interests and those of us all, it is in the interests of their health, and it is to the detriment of the criminal networks who have brought this dangerous material into Kosovo.