Xhaferi: "Our unification was saluted by all -- starting from the Albanian-American League up to the dislocated people of Malishevo"

Tetovo, 18 September (ARTA) 1700CET --

The chairman of the Democratic Party of Albanians, Arben Xhaferi initially answers the question concerning the agreement, which was signed between the two largest Albanian parties in Macedonia, PPD and PDSH

Xhaferi: It is very easy to take over the credit. However, politics is not a medium where people make only positive deeds.

Politics has also responsibility. A responsibility for the interests of a society. If a doctor subscribes a wrong diagnosis and treatment, he harms only one individual, while the mistakes of the politician are reflected through the repercussions that the entire society has to bear.

In this sense, I am trying to explain the issue of responsibility, why such agreements were not signed before, and why an internal consensus about the way of communicating and acting (between the parties) is not reached. The idea for cooperation and unification is fundamental to our people. Wherever we are, here or in the Diaspora, we face the claim for unity and now we achieved it. This is not a false unity.

Of course difficulties will emerge, because besides the people's psychological barriers (which are too complicated), we will have to face also their national, intellectual and political viewpoints. However, relying on the idea for a positive approach, I think we will manage to augment the constructive energies of the people and inhibit the destructive ones. The good thing from this agreement is that, it creates the grounds for a mutual confidence, for a consensus, for a joint platform and for establishing a continuous coordination which will enable a positive

selection of the cadre.

KD: Can you be more specific on concrete, politically harmonized actions, to be carried out after the Parliamentary elections in Macedonia, e.g., the University of Tetovo becoming official?

Xhaferi: The divergences between us were not about the program but about the actions and limitations. We consider the prevailing circumstances as extraordinary and historic, they are a moment when our national interests will be determined.

In the light of this determination, we think that, no Constitution, no democracy and no concept of state which does not include the Albanian interest into its framework (on that constitution, democracy or state) must be legitimated. Namely, we insist to initially achieve an agreement about the mutual rights and obligations between Albanians and Macedonians, and then to draft a Constitution which includes these guarantees in its framework. The possibility of expressing the loyalty to a system, which is established relying on the will of the majority of citizens, is allowed.

If we, as political parties (which are established to articulate this interest), will not be able to compel the Macedonian political factor recognize this agreement, then I think that the "Yugoslav" fever will overwhelm Macedonia.

The agreement with PPD will give space for at least some pragmatic interests of Albanians in the field of education (i.e. University of Tetovo become official), culture and media to be fulfilled.

Although I am not entitled to speak about the determinations of PPD, I am convinced that this party possesses a huge political and governing experience, so in the future I expect the Albanian political subject to have a stronger positioning.

KD: After the parliamentary elections, does your party intend to take part in the Albanian-Macedonian coalition Government or will remain an opposition party?

Xhaferi: Taking into account that in this phase, the Macedonian political subject is not "mature enough" for an initial agreement with Albanians concerning the mutual rights and obligations and taking into account that they are still in the phase of the self-centered nationalism, it is very hard the PDSH (as a party which always emphasizes the Albanian interest and the vital necessity for it to be guaranteed by the system) to take part in a Macedonian-Albanian coalition Government.

But, if they will accept an Albanian platform which will provide at least a guarantee that the fundamental demands of the Albanians will be resolved step-by-step, this for sure will be a strong argument which will persuade our membership to accept such an offer.

KD: The above-mentioned cooperation of the Albanian parties in Macedonia was welcomed by the nation-wide public, whereas it caused no particular attention of the Macedonian mass media. What is your comment?

Xhaferi: For me, it is sufficient that this agreement was welcomed by the Albanian public opinion starting from the Albanian-American League, LDSH, PPK, LDSHK, SHBK up to the dislocated people of Malishevo. I would like to use this opportunity and express my gratitude for this support. The international factor suggested us for a long time that it is in our interest if the Albanian political subject will speak in one voice.

This agreement was approached by the Macedonian mass media with suspicion. That seems normal, taking into account that they always insisted to diverge us. Since their analyses did not succeed in preventing the agreement, currently they try to devaluate the effect of this agreement. In the first place, some certain individuals were incited to express their dissatisfaction with the agreement and to run as independent candidates for MP. With such conducts, they prove that only the Albanian individual (and not an Albanian politician) is suitable for them.

The candidates for the Macedonian Government showed many times that, in the future after completing the works concerning the foundation of the State, there will be no need for the Albanian political parties, namely for Albanian politics. According to them, it is sufficient if the Albanian individuals (which would be just embellishments in the branches of their false multi-ethnicity) would articulate the Albanian interests. The Macedonian political parties, besides this project with independent candidates, have included also some Albanians in their lists allegedly to ruin the national political parties.

Frankly speaking, Macedonians have accomplished their national project.

They have turned Macedonia into a state of Macedonians, and currently for the sake of the international image, they do not need national parties. Therefore, they look for individuals who resign from the Albanian politics and accept the Macedonian parties' activities. According to this project, an Albanian should be converted into a citizen striped off the nationality, and turned into a technical subject. Nevertheless, all these plans will fail because the Albanian political capacity is immense and as such, it will survive.

KD: What would be the first positive result (of this agreement) for the Albanians here?

Xhaferi: The agreement, the change of the political climate, the coordination of the actions and the rationalization of the political space.

KD: Can you say something more about the role of the Permanent Coordinating Commission, which is defined in the document of the agreement. What will be its role in the future?

Xhaferi: The mission of the permanent coordinating commission defined in the document will be to enact the agreement, the cooperation and coordination. These objectives are defined as principles of the agreement, but a vast space exists between the principle and its accomplishment. This space will be filled up by the Coordinating Commission, which is obliged to find a convenient way to harmonize the actions and the stands.