"Partition of Kosovo unacceptable”

"Partition of Kosovo unacceptable”

“Serbia is prepared to continue discussions and it is in the position to, aprat from some some lines which cannot be crossed, be flexible and to discuss all solutions, but we cannot discuss a partition because a decision by the international community to divide Kosovo is simply not on the table,” Jeremić told B92.

The Reuters agency stated, however, that most Western diplomats see dividing Kosovo up as the best and possibly, the only solution for the Kosovo status crisis.

Michael Emerson of the Center for European Policy Studies in Brussels, said that splitting Kosovo was possible, because the talks have remained in a dead lock even after the weekend meeting of U.S. President George Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Jeremić told Blic that Serbia was prepared to accept a continuation of discussions and even a deadline for them to end, but only under the condition that the talks are fair and not shadowed by predetermined status solutions.

He said that even though putting a time limit on the discussions was not the best option, it was much more important for them to be fair and open, adding that the Serbian side was ready to compromise on the time frame.

“We insist that the European Union clearly states that new negotiations are needed and takes the position of leader in that case,” Jeremić said, reacting to the recent statement from Brussels that the EU will take over responsibility for the Kosovo status question if Russia continues to reject all resolutions within the United Nations Security Council.

Kosovo comes in focus

Beta reports Thursday that the future status of Kosovo will be one of the main topics of separate visits by top officials from Belgrade and Priština to the European capitals during the next few days.

After visits to Slovakia and Austria, on July 5, Jeremić will meet German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeyer in Berlin, while President Boris Tadić is to talk with top-ranking officials in Brussels at the end of the week.

It was announced in Priština that Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu and Democratic Party of Kosovo leader Hashim Thaci would have talks with the German foreign minister in Berlin, on July 6.

Next week, Sejdiu and Kosovo Premier Agim Ceku will go to Brussels, at the invitation of the EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana.

Kosovo is also expected to be one of the chief topics at an international congress dedicated to southern Europe, to be held in Dubrovnik, on July 6 and 7, attended by NATO General Secretary Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and Assistant U.S. State Secretary Daniel Fried.

Also among the announced participants are the prime ministers of Croatia, Macedonia and Albania, of the countries expecting an invitation for membership in NATO, as well as Kosovo Premier Agim Ceku, and Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister Gordana Đurović.