GREATER ALBANIA IS THEIR OBJECTIVE: Kosovo Albanian Politicians in Their Own Words

GREATER ALBANIA IS THEIR OBJECTIVE: KOSOVO-ALBANIAN POLITICIANS IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Kosova Sot (Excerpts) - October 8/9/13, 2004

With the upcoming elections in Kosovo; the Kosovo-Albanian Newspaper "Kosova Sot" has recently conducted interviews with various Kosovo-Albanian politicians. What follows is the text of some of those interviews. These interviews have been posted to show the open way in which these politicians advocate the creation of a greater Albanian state.

Kosovo's BKD offers "formation of ethnic Albania" - party leader

SOURCE: Kosova Sot, Pristina, in Albanian 13 Oct 04 p 3

Excerpt from interview with Naser Bresa, chairman of the Democratic National Front, by S. Ahmeti: "Bresa: "Ethnic Albania can be created with us", published by Kosovo Albanian newspaper Kosova Sot on 13 October

Ahmeti What do you offer to the electorate that others do not?

Bresa The Democratic National Front Balli Kombetar Demokratik - BKD in Albanian is one of the youngest political entities in Kosova Kosovo and it offers precisely what other entities in the Kosova Kosovo political scene have not offered so far. We offer the fulfilment of the historic aspiration for national unification, or said even more plainly, the formation of an ethnic Albania - an aspiration that dates back to the time of Mithat Frasheri, Abdyl Frasheri 19th century Albanian activists and all others that made huge sacrifices for our national cause, like the nationalists and patriots of the National Front platoons.

Ahmeti If you win, who would you make prime minister and who would be president?

Bresa Our initial objective is to make it into the parliament first. As a new party, we are not megalomaniac nor do we aspire to win the election, but if we succeed in winning seats in the parliament, we will cooperate with all other political entities that have a programme similar to ours, and then we can help to set up the leadership structures. Passage omitted

Ahmeti If you win seats in the parliament and fail to carry out your promises, will you resign?

Bresa I think that all the promises that the Democratic National Front has been making concern general interests of our people, and they are concrete and achievable offers. Our objectives can be fulfilled only through cooperation between the Kosova and international factors.

KOSOVO: LPK LEADER ASSERTS PARTY'S DETERMINATION TO CREATE UNION WITH ALBANIA

Source: Kosova Sot, Pristina, in Albanian 9 Oct 04 p 3

Text of interview with People's Movement of Kosovo chairman Emrush Xhemajli by S. Ahmeti: "Xhemajli: Me prime minister, Gafurr Elshani president", published by Kosovo Albanian newspaper Kosova Sot on 9 October

(Ahmeti) What do you offer in your programme that the others do not offer?

(Xhemajli) In the LPK's (People's Movement of Kosovo) programme for this election, we offer our honesty and what none of the political entities which have governed so far have offered until now. We are determined to realize the declaration on the independent state of Kosova (Kosovo) and the creation of the Kosova-Albania Union.

(Ahmeti) If you win, whom will you appoint as prime minister and whom as president?

(Xhemajli) If we win the necessary majority to create the government and the state of Kosova, then I will be the prime minister, while my deputy, Gafurr Elshani, will be the president of Kosova. We have all the necessary cadres to create the government and we will certainly do it much better than those who have co-governed to date.

(Ahmeti) With which parties would you not agree to co-govern?

(Xhemajli) As the LPK, we do not even want to co-govern and be close to any of those who are not ready to name this country properly: the land of Albania divided in 1913, which wants natural unification and integration into Europe.

(Ahmeti) In your view, are the political parties lying in the campaign?

(Xhemajli) No, I would say that this is an insulting word if we were to say that they are lying, but I would say that these large parties of the shared governance are deceiving.

(Ahmeti) If you are elected, but you do not manage to keep your promises, will you be ready to resign?

(Xhemajli) We keep our word and we are ready to realize all that we promise. The entity I represent and I asked (Kosovo Prime Minister) Bajram Rexhepi to resign when the protests, when the citizens of Kosova lost their lives (17-18 March riots), took place. He should have resigned, but he did not do this. As long as we have recommended this to others, we would also recommend to ourselves to resign if we face such a situation.

Party of Albanian National Unity leader expects shared governance in Kosovo

SOURCE: Kosova Sot, Pristina, in Albanian 8 Oct 04 p 3

Excerpt from interview with Party of Albanian National Unity (UNIKOMB) chairman Muhamet Kelmendi by S. Ahmeti: "Shared governance unavoidable", published by Kosovo Albanian newspaper Kosova Sot on 8 October

Ahmeti What do you offer in your programme that the others do not offer?

Kelmendi As a party, UNIKOMB offers a state through which we believe we can move towards realization of the historic will of the Albanian nation to have a state and be one nation. We do not understand creation of a new nation in the Balkans, but we do understand unification of the Albanian nation, which is currently separated and divided in various parts of the Balkans. Passage omitted

Ahmeti With which parties would you not agree to co-govern?

Kelmendi We are very realistic in our policy and we believe that the policy of shared governance is an issue determined with legal regulations and provisions. We are against the positions of some parties which say that they are fighting for power and opposition. We cannot have power and opposition. The judicial system in Kosova is such that it makes shared governance a condition. We are completely open in this regard and we will work with all entities that are interested in building the state within the concept of the state nation.

Ahmeti In your view, are the political parties lying in the campaign?

Kelmendi During the campaign it is natural for political entities, which do not base their activity on the problems that Kosova has in the economic and social fields, to promise a lot without relying on their possible capacities. It is also very logical to have lies.

Ahmeti If you are elected, but you do not manage to keep your promises, will you be ready to resign?

Kelmendi The main task of an honest politician is to realize what he promises. If he does not realize it, then he should appear before the Kosova Assembly and the electorate and say: Ladies and gentlemen, these are the elements for which I have engaged and these are the obstacles that have appeared. The real and pragmatic politician should withdraw.

SOURCE: Kosova Sot, Pristina, in Albanian 13 Oct 04 p 3
SOURCE: Kosova Sot, Pristina, in Albanian 9 Oct 04 p 3
SOURCE: Kosova Sot, Pristina, in Albanian 8 Oct 04 p 3

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