Opposition leader Thaci calls for active EU role in democratizing Kosovo

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Text of report by independent internet news agency KosovaLive

Prishtina [Pristina], 1 April: PDK [Democratic Party of Kosovo] chairman Hashim Thaci today called for greater involvement of Brussels in Kosova [Kosovo] and for clarification of the EU's position on the issue of status of Kosova.

He made these comments after a meeting with Fernando Gentilini, representative of EU Common and Foreign Security Policy High Representative Javier Solana.

The leader of the Kosovar opposition said that, after the failure of UNMIK [UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo] to guarantee the functioning of institutions, he had called on Brussels to take an active role in ensuring the democratic functioning of the Kosova Assembly and transparency in the work of the government and also in persuading the EU to be clearer in its statements and position on the issue of Kosova's status.

According to him, there can be no turning back on the issue of Kosova's political status and Kosova is not going to be partitioned. "At the same time, I have called for their greater involvement in ensuring that Kosova institutions reach a political consensus," he said.

Explaining his claim about "UNMIK's failure to guarantee the functioning of democratic institutions", he noted that "the Kosova parliament meets only two hours a month". He also went on to point out "UNMIK's lack of interest in guaranteeing the democratic functioning of the Kosova parliament".

Solana's representative Fernando Gentilini said that this was a crucial time for Kosova and, for this reason, it was important that all Kosovar leaders worked together and in cooperation with the international community in order to prepare as thoroughly as possible for the impending challenges.

Gentilini also told the PDK chairman that it was very important that Kosova continued with the implementation of the priority standards, especially focusing on the process of decentralization of power.

Source: KosovaLive web site, Pristina, in Albanian 1 Apr 05