Kosovo’s Acting President Vjosa Osmani sat in an interview with BBC’s HARDtalk focused on changes expected in the country following the February 14 elections.
Osmani, who stands as the main candidate for a 5-year term for President, told the BBC that by voting for Vetevendosje with an overwhelming majority of more than 50%, the people expressed the need for a new political generation “in terms of mindset”.
“It shows that [this mindset] will finally give an opportunity that for the people of Kosovo to find their perspective within our country and not to look at ways on how to get out of here,” she said.
She highlighted that her alliance with Vetevendosje’s leader and candidate for Prime Minister, Albin Kurti was founded in the fight against crime and corruption.
“We absolutely have no compromise with those that get corrupted, we will be bringing meritocracy to the institutions of Kosovo and education and jobs for the youth based on meritocracy,” she said.
The most voted politician in Kosovo, Osmani said Kurti has never belittled the dialogue with Serbia but has only stated that it’s not among the government’s top two priorities, namely fight against corruption and improvement of economy.
She pointed out that she will make sure that Kosovo is not “just present” in the dialogue, but that its interests are represented in the best way possible.
“Kosovo has extended its hand of cooperation to Serbia despite of the fact that they have never asked for forgiveness for the crimes that they have committed,” she said.
Speaking of Kosovo’s relations with Serbia, she noted that justice is a precondition for peace, while Serbia has yet to answer on the whereabouts of over 1600 Kosovo Albanians still missing from the war.
“The leadership of Serbia needs to be ready to talk to us and answer where our loved ones are. That is the answer we need in that negotiation table,” she said.
Asked on the issue of a possible unification of Kosovo and Albania, Osmani said that the Constitution does not allow for it to happen, all the while highlighting that it is difficult to amend it as it requires 2/3 of votes of minorities.
10 out of 20 MPs representing minorities in Kosovo are reserved for the Serb community.
“Fundamentally believing in Kosovo’s freedom and independence, my answer is Kosovo is here to stay, Kosovo is forever,” she said.
Commenting on the war crimes indictment confirmed against former President, Hashim Thaci and other Kosovo Liberation Army former leaders, Osmani said that justice will not be done unless Serbia delivers justice for the “Serb criminals that committed war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide against people of Kosovo”.
“Serbia is today led by one of the former ministers of Milosevic and unfortunately they are still in the state of denial. Kosovo is doing the opposite. Kosovo has decided through a constitutional amendment to establish the Specialist Chambers with headquarters at The Hague precisely because we have nothing to hide, precisely because we believe in justice and precisely because we want justice for all the victims,” Osmani said.
