Home > News & Events
Prime Minister of Kosovo speaks on ICJ ruling
Prime Minister Hashim Thaci of Kosovo spoke at SIPA on September 8 about the challenges and opportunities facing his country in the wake of a much-anticipated court ruling on its declaration of independence. His speech was hosted by the Harriman Institute.
Serbia, which claims Kosovo as a province, sought a ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legality of Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence. In July, the ICJ ruled that the declaration did not violate international law.
Thaci hailed the ruling as "a victory of Kosovo and of international justice."
The prime minister said he hopes that Kosovo's independence will now be accepted as permanent and irreversible. He noted his country's foreign policy achievements, including "neighborly relations" with Montenegro, Macedonia, and Albania, membership in the International Monetary Fund, and diplomatic recognition by 70 countries.
View a photo album. 
Listen to a podcast of Thaci's remarks. 
Thaci,a leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army, portrayed Kosovo's independence movement as a struggle for freedom from oppression. "We were occupied for a century by the violent administration of Serbia," he said.
Thaci also spoke about Kosovo's readiness to establish diplomatic relations with Serbia and to cooperate on issues of common concern, such as water, energy, and missing persons. The United States and the European Union would like to help Kosovo and Serbia establish better relations, he said.
Much of Thaci's speech, which was titled "Kosovo's Road to Euro-Atlantic Integration: Challenges and Opportunities after The ICJ Decision," dealt with economic and political progress in the fledging republic. The ICJ ruling gave European and American investors more confidence in Kosovo, and they are gradually making more commitments in the country.
Kosovo has maintained positive economic growth despite the global financial crisis, but unemployment remains high, and one of the government's main challenges is creating jobs, Thaci said. The government is initiating a variety of infrastructure projects, including a highway from Albania to Serbia, with another planned to neighboring Macedonia. Opportunities for economic growth include electrical power generation, mining, agriculture, and ski resorts.
Last year, Kosovo held what Thaci termed its "first free elections" for local government offices. "The world was surprised at the turnout of Kosovo Serbs in these elections," he said.
In contrast, Thaci criticized the attempt by northern Kosovo's Serbian enclave to establish separate governmental institutions, calling them "illegal structures." He noted that Kosovo's constitution recognizes minority rights and described Kosovo as multiethnic and democratic, inclusive of Serbs as well as Kosovar Albanians.
Kosovo's task now, Thaci said, is "strengthening and consolidating its statehood." He said that his government recently created an office to serve northern Kosovo and set aside 5 million euros to fund development in the region.
The prime minister described Kosovo's long-term goal as closer economic and political ties with the European Union and the United States.
"The people of Kosovo have great dreams," he said. "We dreamed and we worked hard for freedom, and it came. We dreamed of independence, and it came. Today we dream of being part of the European family and of NATO, and this day will come."
Tim Shenk, 09/08/2010