Thaci "hopes Kosovo will become UN member soon"

Thaci "hopes Kosovo will become UN member soon"

He addressed a UN Security Council meeting on Kosovo on Thursday and called on the members to acknowledge Kosovo's progress, adding that the new reality required courage to establish new relations between the UN and Kosovo, and that he was convinced it would happen very soon, with Kosovo becoming a member of the UN.

According to Thaci, "northern Kosovo has been a constant point of crisis, potential escalation of violence and uncertainty in terms of which laws and constitution apply there, and the Kosovo Serbs do not trust the government in Pristina."

This year was the year of cementing "Kosovo's territorial integrity," he pointed out.

The local and general elections were held under Kosovo's laws and completed successfully, with the people of Kosovo, the ethnic Albanians, Serbs and others, showed that they share the same hopes of a safe future and new jobs, he noted.

"The citizens of Kosovo today, regardless of they are, are not interested in nationalist speeches and dreams, but want jobs, prosperity and peace," he stated, adding that the international observers had said the elections had been free an democratic, and that the northern Kosovo had been integrated into the Kosovo system.

He remarked that Kosovo would create a special tribunal for war crimes and stressed that he "believes in justice."

Thaci listed the number of recognitions of Kosovo as reaching 108 as being "Kosovo's success" along with "becoming a member of the International Olympic Committee."

Commenting on the political crisis following the June elections, he stated that the two largest parties in Kosovo, as well as parties representing minority populations, had agreed to form a government, which would happen next week.

The technical talks between Belgrade and Pristina continued despite elections in Kosovo and Serbia and many successes have been achieved, but a lot remains to be done, he noted, adding that the task was not easy, but that Kosovo would "fulfill every agreement and obligation in order to integrate the Serb minority."

In terms of the global battle against terrorism and Islamic radicalism, Thaci claims that " some marginal groups in Kosovo advocated for Kosovo citizens to join the conflicts in Syria and Iraq as members of ISIS."

The government has taken steps to stop that by arresting tens of suspects and organizers, including imams who incited hatred, he stated, adding that there would be "no comprise with the radical elements."

He "condemned occasional attacks against the Serbian Orthodox Church" and underscored that the this Church was "an important foundation of shared heritage in Kosovo" while claiming that "not all of the attacks had had an ethnic or religious background."

Concerning the economy, Thaci said that Kosovo "achieved a success when it comes to facilitating business, and that was in the final stages of getting some foreign investors in its tourism and energy industries."