Danish minister: Kosovo status talks postponed

Danish minister: Kosovo status talks postponed

"We (now) know that it has been postponed," Gade said Monday. "We have had a discussion concerning this issue today."

Gade made his comment during a news conference after visiting his troops in Priština and meeting with NATO's commander in Kosovo, German Lt. Gen. Roland Kather.

"Even though the status negotiations have been postponed, it is vital that there still is a good security situation in the area. And hopefully the settlement of the status for Kosovo is coming up sooner rather than later," he said.

Kather said that Kosovo Albanians "got the message" that the democratic process in Kosovo is difficult, complex and requires time and patience.

The agency reports that Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku on Monday also “tried to placate his ethnic Albanian brethren” saying that, "No one is speaking of postponing the status ... but more time is needed to achieve a consensus."

Serbia drafts Kosovo document

Minister for Kosovo Slobodan Samardžić says Serbia drafted a document containing new ideas for Kosovo’s future status.

“The plan has been mapped out based on the discussions Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica and Russian President Vladimir Putin had during their meeting in St. Petersburg,” he said.

However, he added he could not reveal any details regarding the content of the document,  which was “sent to Russia for review”.

“We are waiting for Moscow to respond,” Samardžić told a press conference in Kosovska Mitrovica Monday.

He stressed that the document, apart form some new elements, was based on Serbia’s position that Kosovo could only enjoy broad autonomy within Serbia.

Asked how Serbia would react in case Kosovo unilaterally proclaimed independence, Samardžić replied that Serbia would “declare such a declaration void.”

“Our reaction would be in line with the Constitution,” Samardžić stressed.