You all know that the declaration of independence was done in a coordinated manner with the European Union and the United States, and was done at the very last moments with Russia as well.
We were told, as leaders of Kosovo, to take upon us implementing fully the Ahtisaari package, which was drafted by the United States, the EU, and the Russians together, Ahtisaari being the emissary of the United Nations, so it was a UN-led process. It was according to this manner that we moved towards finding a solution for Kosovo's political status.
I personally was part of this process, which lasted for three years in Vienna, Austria. I have to say that we made a lot of compromises in order to save or to maintain international consensus regarding Kosovo's independence and Kosovo's political status, but at the end, like all our partners and the leaders of this process, we were also disappointed with the insistence of Russia to use its right for veto in the Security Council of the United Nations on the acceptance of the package of President Ahtisaari. This continued in summer and autumn of 2007, and in winter 2008. President Ahtisaari was personally involved in this.
Where do we stand with Kosovo's membership in the United Nations? To be honest and very open, Russians were taking part in negotiations for independence in Rambouillet and in Vienna. They also participated in the peacekeeping forces in the war in Kosovo and they have a liaison office in Pristina, Kosovo, but the Russian attitude, the Russian stance, regrettably remains unchanged, meaning they are opposed to Kosovo and openly oppose Kosovo in the Security Council of the United Nations.
This stance is not accidental. It is not only directed against Kosovo. We have looked at this more broadly from a strategic perspective, and I believe, judging from meetings I've had, that this is Russia's fight against the west, against western principles, western values, and western interests.
I want to believe that Russia will recognize Kosovo's independence one day, and I believe and hope that very soon we will have an agreement on normalization and reconciliation between Kosovo and Serbia. Through this dialogue, we will remove any arguments from the hands of those who are opposed to Kosovo's independence and give more arguments to those who support Kosovo's independence.
With regard to Kosovo's membership in the United Nations, this again will be a process coordinated with our partners. It will not be a one-sided process. Personally, I don't like a Palestinian model for Kosovo. I don't prefer that for Kosovo. After all, these are two very different cases.
After we've finalized the dialogue process between Kosovo and Serbia, I don't believe the Russians will be more Serbs than the Serbs themselves. If we agree with Serbia for reconciliation, co-operation, and good neighbourly relations, then what's the argument for Russian not recognizing Kosovo, unless they really want to fight our partners through Kosovo?
Kosovo is not an enemy of Russia, but it is very clear in its aspirations that its future lies in NATO and in the European Union. We will not give up on these values and aspirations under any circumstances.