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FOCUS Information Agency Balkans Faton Klinaku: If Albanian people are denied once again freedom, KLA will raise again 29 August 2007 | 18:37 | FOCUS News Agency The first meeting in the frames of the new 120-day talks on defining the final status of Kosovo is starting tomorrow in Vienna. The main goal of these talks, as well as the goal of all the efforts made by the international community, is to find such a solution to the issue which would not cause a new wave of violence in Kosovo and the region. Is it possible, however, to rest to the so-called "black scenario", which often mentioned in the media when it comes to the future of Kosovo? In its attempt to present different points of view on this issue FOCUS News Agency talked to those who had 8 years ago, at leas officially, left the guns - the veterans from the for Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). A reporter of FOCUS news Agency visited the central office of the Organization of the Veterans from KLA in Pristina and talked to the organization's secretary Faton Klinaku. FOCUS: What is the position of your organization about the new round of talks on the status of Kosovo? Faton Klinaku: The organization of the veterans of KLA has ever been against the talks in Vienna between Kosovo Albanians and Serbia. There was a liberation war here. KLA fought against the occupier to liberate Kosovo and now we don't need talks between Albanians and Serbs, i.e. between occupied and occupiers. People in Kosovo must have the right of self definition and the right to decide on their own whether they would like to live in their own state, or they want something else. The talks were unacceptable for us and they are still such since no one could take the right of self-definition from the Albanian people. As a result of the negotiations Kosovo would hardly be able to become a state since if there are talks, there are also compromises. FOCUS: In this case do you think that Kosovo should declare independence on its own? Faton Klinaku: Everywhere around the world new states are established after its people's self-definition. However, the declaration of independence is unacceptable for us if it is made on the basis of Ahtisaari's plan. Kosovo parliament took a decision approving the plan of Marti Ahtisaari, which however is in contrast to people's will. We could accept the declaration of such an independence where the majority of the citizens of Kosovo decides its fate, and we do not accept declaring something that is not a real independence. FOCUS: Do you intend to undertake some actions to protest against the talks? Faton Klinaku: We have always tried to attract people's attention against the talks that were held in Vienna and were in contrast to the will of the majority of the Albanians. As far as the future development is concerned, we are making analyses and we are organizing different debates with citizens and war veterans, so that we could all be ready for protest and other actions when the central bodies of the organization take decision. We have not decided yet on what we are to organize but our members are ready to follow each decision of the leadership. FOCUS: Do you think it is possible violence to erupt again in Kosovo? Faton Klinaku: Possible violence would do a favor to those who do not allow Kosovo and the Albanian to decide on their fate on their own. This would be in favor of Serbia, as well as of other states that act against the interests and will of the Albanian people. Of course, some would like to see violence here again. Those are the people that want to transfer the guilt for the compromises of the politicians and the unrealized will of the Albanians to the people that would go out on the streets, so that to be able to say later that the Albanian people are guilty for the failure in establishing a state. FOCUS: You said that the members of the organization are ready for actions. Does it mean that you are ready to enter a war again? Faton Klinaku: If the international community fails to recognize the right of the Albanian people for self-definition, and the status is defined on the basis of compromises, we would naturally resume the fight. We fought for the freedom of the Albanian people. Every other decision different from that would lead to violence for which both the politicians and the international community would be guilty. If the Albanian people are again denied their freedom we would have to start the fight again. This is clear for us because we fought for the people and we will fight for its again. FOCUS: What is your vision about the future of the Albanians in Southern Serbia and Macedonia? Faton Klinaku: Just like in Macedonia, liberating wars were held in Presevo, Medvedja and Bojanovci too. There the war was held by the Army for the Liberation of Presevo, Medvedja and Bojanovci as the goals was these territories to join Kosovo since they are populated with Albanians. The war in Macedonia also aimed to liberate the Albanian people from the occupier since we view them as occupiers. Macedonians, Montenegrins, and the Serbs in Eastern Kosovo (editor's note - Southern Serbia) are occupiers, and the Albanian people are living in the conditions of classical occupations in their own lands. That is why I think that Albanians could not guarantee their right's observing by means of an agreement, and that the only way to do that is to live in their own state, and out state is Albania. Thye issue is different as far as the decision of the people of Kosovo is concerned. But speaking about the Albanians in Macedonia and Eastern Kosovo, it is clear that they live under classical occupation. The same refers to the Albanians in Greece, who live under the occupation of Greece since Greece denies recognizing their rights. We have always said that each action against the will of the Albanian people could cause different dangers on the Balkans. FOCUS: There is a debate going on in Kosovo about identities. Do you think that Albanians in Kosovo have some other identity than that of the Albanians in Albania? Faton Klinaku: Identities different from that of the Albanian people were thought of by the Serbian occupiers during the rule of Tito. The attempts at imposing some other identity would fail because Albanians are only Albanians and cannot be anything else. Such discussions are initiated by our enemies - Serbs and other occupiers, who want to separate the Albanians people. We have one and the same language and culture and npo matter that the establishment of an independent Kosovo is demanded now, we are part of the Albanians people. FOCUS: Do you think the partition of Kosovo into North Serbian and South Albanian parts is possible? Faton Klinaku: I would like to tell those who speak about such partition and intend to raise the issue at the new talks that this should be done on an ethnic principle, which means that all Albanians must be concentrated into one state. Each partition of Kosovo must be done in accordance with the international principles - right of self-defining, ethnical principle, or majority principle. However, these principles should be applied not only for Kosovo, but for Presevo, Macedonia, and Montenegro as well. Ivan RADEV I_Ra... <http://groups.google.com/groups/unlock?msg=37ab3baabd0be4ee&_done=/group/CRO-NEWS/browse_thread/thread/3e7afdd579d75bd8>@focus-news.net Information Agency FOCUS is a member of FIBEP and is certified under the ISO 9001:2000 standard Focus Information Agency © 2006
