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Interview

Ceku Says Kosovo Is On The Way to Independence

27 July 2007   Kosovo’s Prime Minister Agim Ceku has just returned from Washington, where he met US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Ceku tells Jeta Xharra in an exclusive interview that the US has promised Kosovo politicians independence if 120 days of additional talks with Belgrade fail to reach a negotiated solution. He also talks about Kosovo’s diplomatic efforts and elections in Kosovo.

Xharra: Mr. Prime Minister is Kosovo closer to independence since your meeting with Secretary Rice?

Ceku: There is no doubt we are much closer to independence. To be honest, we are not coming back from the US with any great news. We come back with a more solid support, promised and committed support for Kosovo’s independence, and I think that the support of the United States is a key element for Kosovo to become independent soon.

Xharra: You said you were promised. What exactly did Ms. Rice promise you?

Ceku: She said that Kosovo will become independent after the 120-day period.

Xharra: When exactly after this 120-day period will it become independent? Did you set a date?

Ceku: No, this is what is missing and this is why I said we didn’t bring back anything new. We went there to get an explanation and a clear vision of how we are going to achieve this. We went there to set a date. We received strong commitment, strong support and guarantees that Kosovo will be independent after the 120-day period, but we did not get a date. We asked a few things from Ms. Rice. The first one was to recognize Kosovo’s independence this year. We also asked that this additional period should not allow crossing of the red lines. Red lines for us are: the independence of Kosovo, which is non-negotiable and has no alternative. The second is [UN special envoy Martti] Ahtisaari’s package. It’s the biggest compromise we made and we cannot make anymore compromises and we will not discuss bigger compromises. The third, we firmly said no to Kosovo’s partition. We were clear about these things and we were promised that the US stands behind them too.

Xharra: They stand behind you, but they did not say they will recognize independence this year?

Ceku: They did not say. They didn’t want to give exact dates. I said we asked for an exact date but they didn’t give us one. In principle, after the 120-day period; when we know when it begins, then we will calculate the dates …We asked for the 120-period to start immediately, and we were promised it will start very soon. The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon is expected to invite both parties next week to try harder in finding a joint solution. That day will be considered as the beginning of the 120-day period. From now, we have to start working so that Kosovo becomes independent after 120 days. The independence will happen with the declaration by the Assembly of Kosovo, the recognition of the independence by the United States, European countries and other places. We have to work so that this happens immediately after the 120 days. We have to finish work on drafting the constitution, symbols, laws required by the Ahtisaari package. We have to finalize every detail, then take over responsibility from UNMIK [the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo].

Xharra: There is one unclear thing. How is it possible that US Under-Secretary for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns early last week said that the independence will be recognized this year whereas after the meeting with Ms. Rice, it seems that you applied sp little pressure that there is no set date? It is not settled that Ms. Rice or the US will recognize the independence this year? Does this mean the Americans are relaxed because you haven’t offered an exact date for this year?

Ceku: They received our message very clearly. We do not think that there is a reason for further talks, we do not think there is anything left to negotiate, but we will be part of this process. We have made it very clear; this is the last delay. The people of Kosovo cannot wait any longer and these 120 days are the last delay. Really! We have articulated our requests very clearly and I don’t think they had a pleasant time with us at the meeting.

Xharra: Before you left, you said that the date of declaring independence will be 28 November. Do you still think this should be the date?

Ceku: I have suggested this date for many reasons. First of all, I was trying to have us, the Kosovar leadership, take the responsibility and the leading role. We see there is hesitation; everybody wants to be the second in this process. Take responsibility and keep the support of the international community by respecting their requests! Which are these requests? By respecting the additional 120 days. OK, we don’t say it today but after 120 days! By respecting Ahtisaari’s package. By respecting the Contact Group principles. By respecting the request for the EU presence in Kosovo. We have created a document that is called the U plan for Kosovo’s independence. U stands for unity. The plan of unity. It is not Agim Ceku’s plan, it’s our plan, Kosovo’s plan.…In the assembly session, which is due to be held, the assembly is supposed to come up with a statement which says on this day [we will declare independence], and I proposed that day to be 28 November if by that day the international community does not solve the Kosovo issue.

Xharra: Why did you choose 28 November? Everybody knows it is a problematic date; it’s the Albanian Flag Day!

Ceku: It fits right. Calculate! 121 days. It fits with the 120-day period. … In Kosovo, it was celebrated by Albanians only. We wanted to make it a Kosovo national holiday too, not only of Albanians. All citizens of Kosovo will welcome it. Kosovo Serbs too, I’m sure.

The U plan says we declare the independence after 120 days, or on the 28^th November. Visit all European centers until the 28 November, explain to them the process, explain the necessity to declare independence and how independence will look, our vision after the independence. Draft the constitution. Choose the symbols. In fact, finalize them as we’re already working on them. Finalize the work on approving the constitution, symbols, laws, transfer of responsibilities. Hold a conference or a meeting with the European Union on the modalities of the EU entering Kosovo.

Xharra: Based on this, you do not plan to go on holiday?

Ceku: No, no way. No holiday. We need to talk to UNMIK about modalities of UNMIK departure, with NATO and KPS (Kosovo Police Service) to secure borders during these 120 days, with a stronger regime for protection of the borders, to check the entries into and departures from Kosovo. We have to talk to citizens, especially Serb citizens to guarantee and assure them that nothing bad will happen to them when Kosovo gets its independence or when it’s declared. I proposed publishing a leaflet with principles of the independence of Kosovo to show to the world and those who do not believe in the independence that Kosovo will be a country.

Xharra: How is it possible that there are three resolutions on Kosovo approved in the Serbian Assembly, which either say that Kosovo is part of Serbia or that they will not recognize any resolution that doesn’t come from the Security Council, whereas Kosovo doesn’t have a single document issued by the Assembly? How is this possible?

Ceku: First of all, I personally think nobody takes these resolutions of the Serbian Assembly seriously. The process is moving on. The independence of Kosovo is inevitable. Every deputy that voted for that resolution knows this. The whole world knows this.

Xharra: What will be the topics of the new talks with Belgrade? 120 days can be a long period. What will you talk about?

Ceku: We have said very clearly to our friends in the US too, that there is no reason to resume talks. There’s nothing left to talk about! We can meet. Serbia is our neighbor, we cannot ignore this reality and we have to have normal neighborly relations in the future. We live in the same region. We have a joint European future and we have to cooperate. These will be the topics! If we meet, this is what we will talk about. Also for some technical issues for which groups for technical dialogue have been created. The issue of missing people, the issue of documents, movement of citizens, return of funds, documentation, there are many issues, but above all we will use these meetings to tell them and the international community that independent Kosovo will be a factor of stability. That Kosovo is interested in building good relations. We will talk about post-independence issues, to invite Serbia to be a part of a sustainable peace.

Xharra: Is Ahtisaari package going to be renegotiated?

Ceku: No. It won’t. The Unity Team will participate in those talks and we will say no!

Xharra: You didn’t say to Ms. Rice that…

Ceku: Yes, we did!

Xharra: Does the Kosovar side have a backup plan, a joint one? You mentioned the U plan, but have you ever agreed jointly on a backup plan?

Ceku: The backup plan is that if the process fails after these 120 days, we will declare independence. We will take the responsibility and the risk, and we will have to declare independence.

Xharra: Do you think that the other members of the Unity Team will become disobedient towards the internationals like you?

Ceku: I’m not disobedient or obedient. I’m a partner. We are in continuous consultations and coordination. We have achieved everything together; especially with the United States. It is true that we agreed in the Unity Team not to mention dates there. We will not mention dates. As I said, we requested decisively, when we decide, we ask for your support.

Xharra: Do you have the political support to declare independence on that day?

Ceku: No!

Xharra: Would you like to have it?

Ceku: Yes, I would like to have it.

Xharra: OK. Is Kosovo going to have elections in November?

Ceku: Most likely we will.

Xharra: You will not participate in elections, and you will not create a party to compete in these elections?

Ceku: I will not compete, and I will not create a political party. I’m not interested in elections. The status is what interests me. I will focus more in these remaining days of my mandate to be as ready as possible for the independence.


Jeta Xharra is BIRN Kosovo Director. This interview was conducted for BIRN’s “Life in Kosovo” TV debates. Balkan Insight is BIRN`s online publication.