Haradinaj: No cancellation of taxes, no dialogue without recognition of Kosovo

In an interview with the KoSSev website on July 4, Haradinaj said that the mutual recognition of Serbia and Kosovo without partitioning and annexing territory "is the solution to all woes."

"We exist, Kosovo exists, it is a state and Serbia must find the courage to recognize that one of its neighbors, which has a very tragic past because of [Slobodan] Milosevic and his regime, is offering mutual recognition and free trade," Haradinaj said.

He warned Belgrade: "You cannot sell [goods] by force here. Not Serbia nor anyone else can sell things by force in Kosovo. If we do not have political relations, we will not have economic [relations] either."

"Now, if we want a solution, there is one - recognizing Kosovo... Kosovo is ready for a new type of relations with Serbia, but that comes with recognition. The gesture of recognition must be very authentic," Haradinaj said.

As for the dialogue with Belgrade, Haradinaj said that it was not going in a good direction and that a framework was necessary for continuing the dialogue.

"We are seeking a framework for the dialogue and the framework for the dialogue is to sit down [and discuss] recognition," the Kosovo premier said.

Asked if he was ready to unlock the dialogue with Belgrade and how Haradinaj insisted that he was ready "for mutual recognition with Serbia."

"That is the solution, we do not have to avoid the truth... That is a compromise. You know what kind of sacrifice Kosovo made. Kosovo is ready for recognition and new relations and leaving the past behind us," the Kosovo premier said.

Haradinaj also said that he understood that for many Kosovo Serbs "Serbia may be their first," but that they needed to respect "their house, and I would say, the state of Kosovo."

"Because Kosovo is not just a state for Albanians, Kosovo is also a state for the Serbs living in Kosovo and we share our home," Haradinaj said.