Former guerrilla eyes the premier’s seat in Kosovo

Hashim Thaci promises to make province an independent, sovereign country

PRISTINA (AFP) – Once a leader of separatist guerrillas, Hashim Thaci now hopes to be a part of history by becoming the first prime minister of an independent Kosovo after Saturday’s elections. “Immediately after December 10, we will take decisions to make Kosovo an independent and sovereign country,” Thaci told AFP in an interview.

Kosovo’s parliamentary and local elections are being held less than a month before the conclusion of last-ditch efforts by international mediators to reach a status settlement by December 10. While the leaders of Kosovo’s majority ethnic Albanians insist on independence, Serbia is only prepared to offer broad autonomy. The two camps remain firmly entrenched in their positions as the deadline looms. “We will make decisions in coordination with our international partners since we have secured international support from Washington and Brussels,” said Thaci.

Thaci said that 22 of the European Union’s 27 members have already agreed to recognize the independence of Kosovo.

The latest opinion polls have put Thaci’s Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) ahead with 31 percent of support, followed by 29 percent for the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) of late Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova.

“Here is the new prime minister of Kosovo,” “Thaci, Thaci” and “Victory” were the slogans of his supporters at an election rally in the southeastern town of Kacanik, near the border with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

“The independence of Kosovo presents a unique opportunity which we have to use in order to secure a clear perspective for our country,” vowed Thaci, raising a clenched fist and thumb, a campaign gesture that supporters repeated.

“Kosovars and Serbs (from Serbia) cannot live in the same house. But they can live as good neighbors in a joint home, in the EU,” said Thaci.