ERN
Hello Mr. Ilčić, thank you for the interview. Could you introduce yourself please.
MEP Ladislav Ilčić
My name is Ladislav Ilčić, I’m a MEP (European Conservatists and Reformists group – ECR). Also, Member of the delegation of the European Parliament for relations with Bosnia & Herzegovina and Kosovo and member of three EP Committees: for Fishery – PECH (coordinator on behalf of ECR Group); Agriculture – AGRI and Industry, technology and research – ITRE. Before entering EP, I was also a MP in Croatian parliament (Sabor). Regarding my personal background, I am a professional musician by primary vocation (violinist) and one of pioneers of pro-family NGO movements in Croatia. Happily married and proud father of 6 children.
ERN
Kosovo and Serbia once again. On 24 September, about 30 masked men in combat uniforms opened fire on a police patrol near the village of Bainska where Afrim Bunjaku, a Kosovo police officer, lost his life. Do you believe that this was an incident or a well organized action? And do you believe that Serbian state is behind it?
MEP Ladislav Ilčić
I think that Serbian state is behind everything what is going on in Kosovo, including “Srpska lista”, and Serbian community living in northern municipalities of Kosovo. Without any doubt, I think this was a clear terroristic attack. And I think that Commissioner Borrell made a big mistake by not defining this as a terroristic attack, which shows that he doesn’t understand or he doesn’t want to recognize the role of Serbia and the real intention of this terroristic attack. And I would add one thing more. What I’m very sad about is the role of Serbian Orthodox Church, which seems to be some kind of collaborator in this events, as weapons were found stored in their churches and their monastery. This is something that no church or religious institution, including Orthodox Church, should allow.
ERN
What is your opinion about the movements of the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, asking for KFOR to take control of northern Kosovo? Do you feel that he’s helping the Kosovo State like this in Croatia?
MEP Ladislav Ilčić
We had some UN international peacekeeping forces during Serbian aggression on Croatia and our experiences are mixed. Of course, in one hand, they helped to establish ceasefire, but there were many problems regarding their involvement on keeping the “status quo” – which made the Serbian separatist rebels much more content then Croats who expected full integration of their occupied territory. Talking about failures of UN, just remember Srebrenica and what happened there in 1995. when they did nothing to prevent Serbs from slaughtering almost all of the Muslims in this town. Therefore, by having KFOR excessively involved, it could sent the wrong message meaning that Kosovo police cannot handle the situation by themselves, which also gives the wrong perception of decreased sovereignty of Kosovo. I believe that Kosovo police forces are more than capable to take full responsibility for law and order in all municipalities of Kosovo. And after what happened in Banjska, I simply don’t think that any kind of political autonomy is possible there because it’s clear that any sort of Serbian political autonomy in northern part of Kosovo would only cause further instability there with constant separatist tendencies. Additionally, I would advise consideration of some kind of cultural autonomy, if still possible. But, judging from the recent events, after what we have seen, Serbia and Vučić still have such a strong role in northern part of Kosovo with the main aim to keep prolonging the instability. With current Serbian government, troubles for Kosovo will not disappear, unfortunately.
ERN
What do you think about Kurti towards the EU and the internationals? Do you think that with his solid position, he seems against sorry, he has a very solid position against their proposals and often is seen as unrealistic for a small state like Kosovo.
MEP Ladislav Ilčić
There are divided opinions here in European Parliament regarding the current situation. Some of MEPs think Serbia is a bigger player then Kosovo and therefore pursue to see Kosovo case connected to Serbia regarding the integration of this part of Balkans into EU. But, let’s say eventually members of European Parliament realize that they cannot support package arrangements in terms of saying: “Prishtina, go with Belgrade, make agreements and then come here to show accession progress and then we’ll increase the speed of your accession” – because it is no longer possible. Even nowadays, the majority of European Union and members of the European Parliament understand it is not possible. Serbia is the most important factor of instability in southeastern Europe and more and more members of European Parliament understand this. Therefore, Serbia will do everything it can to stop progress of Kosovo to EU accession because Vučić is aware that if Kosovo makes accession progress – Serbia will stay tied up to the very bottom. In short, Kosovo has to keep struggling, and sometimes you have to make some compromises in order to make advancement. I do not know if PM Kurti is able to do it, he seems like a decisive leader but we shall see in the future what his actions shall be. What I know for sure is that perception of Kurt in terms that he is the same kind of troublemaker like Vučić is wrong and unjustly. Introducing sanctions against Kosovo even worse idea.
ERN
And do you think that you putting Lajčák and Borrell, are they the right people in the right position there for solving the issues between Serbia and Kosovo?
MEP Ladislav Ilčić
Borrell is certainly one of the worst commissioners of foreign affairs in the European Union and therefore I do not think that he can solve any kind of problems. We can see it clearly from his past engagements. For example, he visited Cuba recently and it is absurd that tax payers from European Union give money to Cuba which has an open collaboration with Russia. At the same time, Russians are waging war against Ukraine and we formally support Ukraine, so this entire EU foreign policy engagement is producing such a confusion and obvious conflict of interests. Moreover, Lajčak, who is burdened with this fact that he comes from Slovakia which did not recognize Kosovo, needs to pursue the policy of keeping everybody at the negotiating table. In addition, this burden is something what certainly makes things less easy, so to say. I think that after the European elections next year things will change, hopefully, especially regarding highest positions of EU officials in this matter.
ERN
And do you think that the European Union should be more aggressive towards Russia, towards Serbia? Do you think that they fear that Serbia will go on the side of the Russians?
MEP Ladislav Ilčić
Yes, I fully agree. Russia wants to have certain instability in southeast part of Europe to move focus out from Ukraine. I had a few speeches when we had reports on Serbia where I emphasized that Serbians look up to Moscow much more than to Brussels. On the other hand, Serbia would like to sit on two chairs, to receive money from European Union for various projects and at the same time to stay oriented towards Russia as Serbia’ s main strategic partner. Of course, this scenario is not possible. We experienced in Croatia the same type of aggression that Ukraine experienced nowadays because of the totalitarian and supremacist idea of Russian world, “Ruski svet”, which is basically the same idea as “Srpski svet”. Both of these ideas do not recognize basic existence of different nations, identities and cultures. Serbs declined existence of Croatian nation same way as Russians don’t recognize Ukrainians as a nation. We remember well Serbian claims from the 90s that all of other nations and lands around them, including Croatia, N. Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Bosnia & Herzegovina – are all Serbian possession or people living in this countries are Serbs, but of different faith, slightly different languages and so on. Although they have this unrealistic approach, Serbs will have to decide eventually where they want to belong. Serbia will have to decide shortly if they want to be pro-European oriented country or pro-Russian puppet state. Finally, as I’ve already mentioned it this also means that they cannot receive money from European Union if they decide to follow Russia or keep pursuing alliance with Russia. Pressure is much higher on Serbia then on EU.
ERN
Okay, and what do you think of Vučić? Like, on the one side, he sits on the table with Kurti and the Europeans, and on the other side, after the incident, he said, we will never recognise Kosovo. Do you think that he’s playing with the European Union or do you think it’s something else?
MEP Ladislav Ilčić
First of all, I think that he’s a kind of person with no strong attitudes. He is primarily interested in power and therefore likes to be presented like a right wing politician who takes care of all national interest in the Serbian publicly, but I don’t think that he is a genuine or honest conservative politician. On the other hand, we have to consider the fact that most Serbians cannot imagine scenario by which Serbia recognizes Kosovo. In practice, this means that the one who would recognize Kosovo would almost certainly lose the elections and be declared as a national traitor. I also think that Vučić isn’t too motivated to see Serbia joining EU because he is well aware that EU would never tolerate such a corruptive, autocratic and repressive regime as Vučić has established for himself.
Regarding Kosovo’ s chances, the first aim should be that other five countries, EU member states, recognize Kosovo, but also to enable a clear EU accession path for Kosovo, without any preconditioned package arrangements. Therefore, if we manage to do this, and I think that in the Delegation of the EP for relations with Bosnia & Hercegovina and Kosovo we did a really serious steps to move this package arrangement aside and enabled possibility for Kosovo to make accession progress for itself – we’ll create a more solid ground for decision about the speed of Kosovo’ s entry to European Union. In current terms, I believe that Kosovo does not depend on Serbia that much as it depended before. Serbia will always have its own problems, but we have to ensure the position in which Kosovo will not depend on Serbian setbacks. Finally, that will be a great step forward and worthy victory for Kosovo and its citizens.
ERN
Dear Mr. Ilčić thank you for the interview.
MEP Ladislav Ilčić
Thank you too.
