“Panic” and “smokescreen”: “There will be no exodus of the population, or domino effect”

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci sent a public message today to „the skeptics of the peace agreement between Kosovo and Serbia“. Thaci did not specify who he was referring to, but he claimed that these „skeptics“ are „ spreading fears about the alleged destabilization of the region with ease“ and are „deepening ethnic divisions in the Balkans“., instead of repeating his earlier messages – that there will be no exchange of territories or partition, Hashim Thaci, in his newest address changed the discourse and informed the public that there will be no „exodus of the population, or domino effect“. The Kosovo President’s speech arrives in the midst of media headlines on „delimitation“, „border correction“, and the concrete information coming from Thaci’s closest associates, saying that „the exchange of territories is on the table“ and „it’s worth discussing a swap of Presevo Valley with the north of Kosovo“.

„They (the skeptics) are causing panic and blowing smoke, using the same arguments as those right before the declaration of independence (of Kosovo),“ Thaci said, expressing regret that those who oppose the „Kosovo-Serbia peace agreement“ are doing it by „causing fear“.

„The peace agreement based on the border correction between Kosovo and Serbia, in case it is achieved, will be fully in line with the international law. Such an agreement foresees the formal recognition of Kosovo by Serbia and the merger of Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovac, as well as opening the way towards the EU, NATO and the UN. The peace agreement strengthens stability by ending the last conflict in the Balkans,“ Thaci said.

However, in this public message, the Kosovo President changed his earlier terminology.

Instead of „no partition,“ „no exchange of territories,“ or „relocations of the population,“ as he claimed earlier, he now said „to the skeptics who have been very passionate these days“:

„I can assure them that there will be no border corrections along ethnic lines, there will be no exodus of the population, nor a domino effect.“

„Moreover, this peace agreement will put a heavy stone on top of the so-called Pandora’s box. And if anyone continues to argue, referring to the possible agreement of a peaceful border correction as a precedent, then in the future this case could be used as a positive precedent, a precedent necessary for the resolution of interstate disagreements only through peaceful means, not war,“ he concluded.