Hashim Thaçi: At this pace, relations between Kosovo and Serbia will normalize in 100 years

Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi wrote in an author's text for the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that he believes that "signing the final Agreement on normalization and reconciliation" between Kosovo and Serbia would be an achievement.

This "historic agreement should also include mutual recognition as the only way to put an end to all disagreements forever" – Thaçi stated, reports the Kossev portal.

- Kosovo and Serbia have been negotiating under the auspices of the European Union and with strong support from the United States of America, with aspirations for normalization of relations, for over six years now. However, we must admit that great strides have been made in this direction, the peak being the signing of the First Agreement on the Principles of Governing and Normalization of Relations between Kosovo and Serbia in 2013. Full normalization, however, remains an unachieved goal.

The two countries and our peoples strive to build a better future, in which everyone is fully integrated into the European family (in Kosovo's case, also into the Euro-Atlantic families) and a future in which they enjoy a higher standard of living and prosperity that is different from the current reality. But these goals can hardly be achieved with the constancy of what is at the core of the frozen conflict between our two countries.

So far, Kosovo and Serbia have had three rounds of international negotiations: in Rambouillet, in 1999, in Vienna from 2005-2007, and now in Brussels – since 2011. I was part of all negotiations and I am proud to say that Kosovo has always complied with the agreements mediated by the international community. Serbia, on the other hand, does not accept Kosovo's independence and continues to set many obstacles to harm our attempts to internationally strengthen Kosovo's position.

Due to this hostile attitude, Serbia's aspiration to join the EU remains uncertain. Thus, the two countries are blocked, and their Euro-Atlantic future depends on their ability to reach a final historic agreement on normalization of relations and reconciliation.

The negotiations in Brussels have dragged on. The April 2013 agreement was a political triumph, but four years have passed since it was reached, and some points of the agreement have still not been implemented.

While the technical nature was a prerequisite for starting the talks, the time has now come to face the known problem; issues that make the implementation of technical agreements more difficult – the lack of reconciliation and mutual recognition.

Trust in negotiations has been called into question even when we make progress in certain areas, because it is clear to every observer of these talks that the antagonism between the states is as visible as it has always been. For example, while the talks in Brussels produced an agreement on Kosovo's participation in regional organizations, Serbia continues to wage a strong campaign against Kosovo's requests for membership in international organizations, even when the cultural heritage of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo, or Kosovo Serbs, would benefit from such memberships (the request for UNESCO).

All gradual successes in individual points have been important. However, at this pace, our relations might only normalize after perhaps 100 years. It has become clear that the time has come for a greater and clearer vision and for leadership that will permanently resolve the issues between us.

The fundamental issue is, of course, that we continue to see each other as adversaries. Hiding our deep divisions under the rug is not a solution and will not lead to reconciliation. We cannot reconcile ourselves with where we are going if we have fundamental disagreements about where we come from. This is why I have redoubled my efforts in addressing some of the most difficult issues concerning our past – by forming a Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

We believe that signing the final Agreement on normalization and reconciliation between our two countries would be an achievement. Through it, we would peacefully engage in resolving all disagreements. Finally, a historic agreement between Kosovo and Serbia should also include mutual recognition as the only way to put an end to all disagreements forever.

Achieving this final goal is extremely difficult for both countries and requires brave and smart leadership. I strongly believe that the leadership, both in Kosovo and in Serbia, is committed to what the people expect from us – to achieve peace among us. For this to happen, we all need to be creative and ready for further compromises. It should be clear to everyone that this needs to be done for the stable peace of our peoples and for the generations to come.

Just as the final resolution of our conflicts recognizes historical and current realities, it must also address the demands of the future. The future of Kosovo, as well as Serbia, and the rest of the Balkans, lies in being neighbors and friends within the European Union. I am convinced that normalization and reconciliation are the first step in freeing ourselves from the burden of the past and a step that will lead us to a brighter future. It is clear that when we act in this way, the European Union should recognize our efforts, and as we change gears in our part of Europe, the speed should also change in the accession train in Brussels and major European capitals. We must ensure that we do not miss "the last train" for stable peace – Thaçi wrote.

Translation of the text from German taken from the official website of the President of Kosovo