- Title: KOSOVO: Hashim Thaci says new government will fight corruption
- Date: 14th December 2010
- Summary: PRISTINA, KOSOVO (DECEMBER 14, 2010) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Albanian) HEAD OF KOSOVO DEMOCRATIC PARTY, HASHIM THACI, SAYING: "During the election campaign, the parties that competed with each other to accuse me and my party are now competing as to who will be the fastest to approach me," THACI DURING THE INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (Albanian) HEAD OF KOSOVO DEMOCRATIC PARTY
- Embargoed: 29th December 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Kosovo, Kosovo
- Country: Kosovo
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA6SL21WJSJ430Y290ZVJE4O5V6
- Story Text: The Democratic Party of Kosovo, winners of the country's first elections since independence from Serbia, will exclude corrupt officials and nationalists in their coalition government, its leader Hashim Thaci said on Tuesday (December 14) Speaking to Reuters in his first interview since official results showed his PDK party had won 33.5 percent of the vote, Thaci said he had started looking for partners and there was not a shortage of offers in spite of campaign attitudes.
"I will choose the best partners that fit with my concept and vision for a Euro-Atlantic Kosovo," Thaci said. "I am for a region without borders in a united Europe, but some slogans that were mentioned were election slogans to manipulate people," he said.
Thaci said he has the backing of 20 MPs from the ethnic minorities, including Kosovo Serbs, some of whom voted in the election and analysts say emerged as king makers.
The PDK's main rival, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) won 23.6 percent and has publicly said that will not govern again with Thaci.
Thaci also said he will not partner with the third party, the Self-Determination led by ex-student leader Albin Kurti that won 12.2 percent of the votes.
Self-Determination wants Kosovo to decide about uniting with with its ethnic kin in neighbouring Albania, gradually phase-out the international stewardship and stop the privatisation. But Thaci said that after the results were made public on Monday (December 13) evening he got a lot of calls from other parties who want to be included in the new government.
"During the election campaign the parties that competed with each other to accuse me and my party are now competing who will be fastest to approach me," he said.
Except PDK, other parties and independent monitors have complained of irregularities in two Thaci strongholds where turnout was more than 90 percent from 48 percent in the national average.
Pristina media have shown video images, what they say are from these two municipalities, where people are seen filling ballot papers. The election commission has yet to decide whether a partial re-run is needed and Thaci said he is ready to respect any decision from the body election.
Kosovo's government under Thaci will be remembered not only for declaring independence from Serbia in 2008, but also for being the target of raids by the European Union police and justice mission (EULEX) on in numerous corruption probes.
Diplomats in Pristina say that EULEX have not abstained from moving against any suspects before the elections as it could be seen as one-sided. But after the vote, some arrests can be seen.
"I don't wish to use percentages but it (Government) will change fundamentally in all Kosovo institutions (Q: will you change all ministers?) There will be essential changes but the citizens with their vote have confirmed the last government," Thaci said.
Kosovo, one of the poorest countries in Europe, needs its economy to improve to reduce its 48 percent unemployment rate.
Kosovo is still supervised by the West and NATO troops provide security on the ground since 1999.
Thaci who during the election campaign has promised better salaries and creating new jobs said now it is time to work and make the promises reality.
"In practice I will continue with capital investments, creation of new jobs and increasing the social welfare of citizens. I have promised that every year we will have budget increase of 150 million and I will achieve this with cut spending and at the same time we will maximally work against the informer economy, so we have a plan and we will continue to work," Thaci said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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