Thaci: We had US and NATO support, but now we don't

Hashim Thaci says Kosovo does not have international support, "particularly of the US," to change legislation and give the KSF the competences of an army.
Source: Tanjug Thursday, March 9, 2017 | 10:48

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This has been reported by Koha Ditore, an Albanian language newspaper published in Pristina.
Thaci, who serves as Kosovo's president, told Voice of America that "the US and the international community" support a transformation of the KSF (Kosovo Security Force) through constitutional amendments.

"I've worked, for three years now, to solve this issue through constitutional amendments and I would very much like that to happen. We had the support of the US and NATO, but it's become impossible now, especially after the open, clear, and determined statements from the Serb List and Belgrade that they don't allow it, while the Serb List is threatening not to vote on the law," Thaci said.

For that reason, he continued, "it remains for Kosovo either not to have an army, or switch to some other plan."

Thaci also claims that a decision on establishing an army lies within the jurisdiction of Kosovo's institutions, and that "all international actors are informed about the process."

"We all want constitutional changes and we will work on that happening. The process of transformation is institutional, constitutional and legal and within the values and our Euro-Atlantic framework. Therefore, I am completely convinced that the international community will show understanding for the sincere engagement of the Kosovo institutions," he said.

According to him, "Kosovo's army will no engage against anyone and nobody should feel threatened."

Thaci also thinks that forming such an army would not spell an end of the negotiations with Belgrade.

Earlier, Thaci spoke for Radio Free Europe to say that Pristina intends to "continue to work" to change the mandate of the KSF, "regardless of NATO and the US."

Late on Wednesday, Serbian PM Aleksandar Vucic said he was told by NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg that the alliance opposes Pristina's plans to set up an army, and described this as "Serbia's victory."