"U.S. should not encourage independence"

Belgrade expects from the U.S.and other Contact Group members not to encourage ethnic Albanians’ bid for independence. Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said on Friday that “Serbia expected from the Troika and Contact Group member states, particularly the U.S., to state clearly they will not in any way make statements that might encourage the independence of Kosovo.” "U.S. should not encourage independence" President Boris Tadic said that, however, U.S. envoy to the Troika Frank Wisner "did not give guarantees the U.S. administration would refrain from such actions," but that he told Belgrade officials after the meeting he was "fully committed to a compromise solution to Kosovo’s status." “We will know for sure that Wisner’s words are genuine once Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stops issuing further statements mentioning the independence of Kosovo,” Kostunica underscored. The Belgrade delegation and the Troika mediators discussed Serbia’s plan for substantial autonomy for Kosovo and the timetable for the next round of direct talks scheduled for October 14 in Brussels. Minister for Kosovo Slobodan Samardzic told reporters that Belgrade elaborated on its substantial autonomy concept, adding that the proposal would make the agenda of the coming meeting in Brussels, but added that “a way to make the Albanian side agree to discuss the plan is yet to be found.” The negotiating Troika then met with the Pristina team to discuss the next meeting between the two sides. “Of course we said we will wait until December 10 and call for action on the part of the international community." "In the event of no such action taking place, we would not wait too long to assume responsibility and make appropriate steps,” Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku said in New York last night. Boris Tadic and Vojislav Kostunica talk to reporters upon returning to Belgrade (FoNet) "Contact Group, Troika achieved maximum" Director of the Forum for Ethnic Relations Dusan Janjic said Saturday that the Contact Group and the Troika achieved the maximum in the first direct negotiations in New York, which resulted in the adoption of the New York Declaration. "Belgrade and Pristina are not any closer to a compromise after the talks, and much more is up to Washington and Moscow," Janjic said. "The New York declaration has made it clear that the deadline for completing the present negotiations is December 10, after which they will not be pursued but the process itself will continue," he noted. The declaration was a response to Belgrade's requests for no pressures or statements that might create a negative atmosphere, but it also satisfied Pristina by not ruling out independence, he added. "One can therefore conclude that the Troika has achieved the maximum, that there was no breakthrough and that it was emphasized that the future endeavors will focus on deciding as soon as possible when and if the EU will arrive in Kosovo," Janjic said.

"U.S. should not encourage independence"

President Boris Tadić said that, however, U.S. envoy to the Troika Frank Wisner "did not give guarantees the U.S. administration would refrain from such actions," but that he told Belgrade officials after the meeting he was "fully committed to a compromise solution to Kosovo’s status."

“We will know for sure that Wisner’s words are genuine once Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stops issuing further statements mentioning the independence of Kosovo,” Koštunica underscored.

The Belgrade delegation and the Troika mediators discussed Serbia’s plan for substantial autonomy for Kosovo and the timetable for the next round of direct talks scheduled for October 14 in Brussels.

Minister for Kosovo Slobodan Samardžić told reporters that Belgrade elaborated on its substantial autonomy concept, adding that the proposal would make the agenda of the coming meeting in Brussels, but added that “a way to make the Albanian side agree to discuss the plan is yet to be found.”

The negotiating Troika then met with the Priština team to discuss the next meeting between the two sides.

“Of course we said we will wait until December 10 and call for action on the part of the international community."

"In the event of no such action taking place, we would not wait too long to assume responsibility and make appropriate steps,” Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku said in New York last night.

"Contact Group, Troika achieved maximum"

Director of the Forum for Ethnic Relations Dušan Janjić said Saturday that the Contact Group and the Troika achieved the maximum in the first direct negotiations in New York, which resulted in the adoption of the New York Declaration.

"Belgrade and Priština are not any closer to a compromise after the talks, and much more is up to Washington and Moscow," Janjić said.

"The New York declaration has made it clear that the deadline for completing the present negotiations is December 10, after which they will not be pursued but the process itself will continue," he noted.

The declaration was a response to Belgrade's requests for no pressures or statements that might create a negative atmosphere, but it also satisfied Priština by not ruling out independence, he added.

"One can therefore conclude that the Troika has achieved the maximum, that there was no breakthrough and that it was emphasized that the future endeavors will focus on deciding as soon as possible when and if the EU will arrive in Kosovo," Janjić said.