“Controlled negotiations” unacceptable for Belgrade

“Controlled negotiations” unacceptable for Belgrade

“We reject both predetermined negotiations and the policy of using force as an unacceptable way of treating Serbia,” Koštunica’s media advisor said.

“Controlled negotiations can only be an insult to common sense, and the policy of using force cannot mean anything but jeopardizing the dignity of every sovereign country,” Đurić continued.

“Instead of this, Serbia proposes actual negotiations and advocates the policy of respecting law instead of the policy of using force,” he said, and added a future compromise over the province’s status should be based on the UN Charter and the Serbian Constitution.

“Putin, Bush might address UN Resolution 1244”

Director of the Forum for Ethnic Relations Dušan Janjić said that in spite of earlier statements that Kosovo’s status might be settled in October or November, it now seemed the deadline would be extended.

Commenting on hints of a fresh round of talks between Belgrade and Priština, and an extension of the UN 1244 resolution for additional 120 days, Janjić said it was all questionable.

“I will refer to an extension of the 1244 resolution for four more months and say it is a complete nonsense, as the resolution is already valid and ongoing. But the nonsense has one purpose: to serve as a test,” he said.

“The real Kosovo debate will begin in a meeting between U.S. and Russian presidents George Bush  and Vladimir Putin on July 1, and than the UN 1244 resolution will appear on the agenda, instead of Ahtisaari’s plan” Janjić said.

“All efforts are being made to satisfy Russian interests and indirectly Chinese as well. What Russia is asking is to put the issue of Kosovo back to the Contact Group,” he argued.

Janjić stressed that the key difference of opinion over 1244 was in effect the disagreement over the role of the UN Security Council and the world powers regarding the Balkan affairs.

"Priština will not refuse new talks"

Earlier Monday, a Priština daily reported that Kosovo’s status negotiation team will not reject new negotiations if the international community recommends them.

The negotiation team members believe that new consultations will not help, but will definitely not say “no” to the international community, especially after the statement by U.S. President George Bush, who said that Kosovo would be independent.

“Ahtisaari’s package was the possible compromise. If anything else is being asked of Priština, then we have to seriously reconsider our stance. There was no problem with Ahtisaari, he is not an Albanian hero, nor a Serbian traitor,” Hajredin Kuchi, vice president of the opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo, said.

Negotiation team member Ylber Hysa said that all the possibilities for discussions had been drained and that a continuation would bring Ahtisaari’s plan into question.

“Changes in Ahtisaari’s plan would bring into question a compromise in favor of the Serbs,” Hysa said.