Kosovo PM Thaci: EU Integration Solution to 'Greater Albania' Problem
World | June 20, 2012, Wednesday| 1254 views
Send to Kindle
Kosovo PM Thaci is pictured here with EU High Representative for foreign policy Catherine Ashton. Photo by EPA/BGNES
The full-fledged EU and NATO integration of the Western Balkans is the solution to the problem with the ethnic Albanian communities living in different states, Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci stated in an exclusive interview for Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency) and Novinite.bg.
"It hasn't been the Albanians choice to live in several different states. On the one hand, this fate stems from history but on the other hand it is connected with the future," Thaci said when asked about the solution of the so called "Greater Albania" problem – with the Albanians as one nation living in many states.
"We wish to live in a region with open borders, in good neighborly relations; we wish to live in a region with European values and on the European model. That is why both Kosovo and Albania will become part of the big European family and of NATO," he added.
Thaci made it clear that he sees a future for Macedonia, which has a large ethnic Albanian community, along the same lines.
"I see the future of Macedonia, too, in NATO and the EU. I have met with Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski as well as with the ethnic Albanian leaders in Macedonia, and I see a desire for cooperation – a desire to create a Macedonia where everybody has equal rights regardless of whether they are Albanians or Macedonians," he said.
"The only solution for Macedonia, and the right one, is the application of the Ohrid Accord. The states of Kosovo and Macedonia have excellent relations, and work to develop it further on all levels. We espouse the same values – the EU values," added the Kosovo PM.
Thaci also reiterated his conviction that Serbia is going to recognize the independence of the Republic of Kosovo which used to be its province.
"Serbia will recognize the independence of Kosovo, and that is not just the only way, but also the right way. By delaying its recognition of Kosovo's independence, Serbia is actually doing harm to itself, and is also harming the peace and security of the region," said Hashim Thaci, who was on a state in Bulgaria on June 18-19, 2012.
Tags: kosovo, Hashim Thaci, Kosovo PM, Serbia, macedonia, ethnic Albanians, EU, NATO, Western Balkans, Boyko Borisov, Prime Minister, Nikola Gruevski, FYROM, Greater Albania
» Subscribe to receive alerts by email for any of these keywords.
