"Valley Albanians hypocritical"

An official in charge of government activities in the south of the country has reacted to an ethnic Albanians' declaration. Coordinating Body for Southern Serbia President Rasim Ljajic said Sunday that the political declaration, which leaders of the Albanians in the region adopted Saturday, "did not come as a surprise." "Valley Albanians hypocritical" "It was adopted in order to draw attention to that part of Serbia, just as it always happens at the time of important negotiations on the future status of Kosovo," Ljajic told reporters in Belgrade. "It has become a usual practice for ethnic Albanians in Bujanovac, Presevo and Medvedja to express their political will in this way on the eve of any important talks on Kosovo," he said. "Serbia will not pay any special attention to this declaration, which is highly hypocritical," Ljajic added. "The Serbian government will pursue economic and infrastructure development in the region," he concluded. Declaration sparks debate The Democratic Party (DS) and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) reacted today to the controversial declaration. The DS whip, Nada Kolundzija, feels that the documents adopted by local Albanians "puts added pressure on the Kosovo status talks." Meantime, the Liberal Democrats (LDP) say it has come about as a result of the strained relations between Belgrade and Pristina. "I don’t think we should be too concerned here. We should maybe view it as a means of increasing the pressure with regards to the Kosovo question," Kolundzija told journalists in the parliament building. She said that she was sure Serbia had the capacity to resolve all issues pertaining to the human and civilian rights of the Albanians in the three municipalities in the south of Serbia, together with economic matters, in a democratic manner. LDP President Cedomir Jovanovic said that the Albanian declaration represented, above all, "a reaction to the unsuccessful outcome of talks between the Serbian authorities and Kosovo Albanians in New York." "Everything that is currently going on in the south is a result of the radicalization of political relations between Belgrade and Pristina," Jovanovic told reporters at the national parliament. Jovanovic felt that Serbia had "made a mistake" in entering the new talks on Kosovo "with the same old policies."

"Valley Albanians hypocritical"

"It was adopted in order to draw attention to that part of Serbia, just as it always happens at the time of important negotiations on the future status of Kosovo," Ljajić told reporters in Belgrade.

"It has become a usual practice for ethnic Albanians in Bujanovac, Preševo and Medveđa to express their political will in this way on the eve of any important talks on Kosovo," he said.

"Serbia will not pay any special attention to this declaration, which is highly hypocritical," Ljajić added.

"The Serbian government will pursue economic and infrastructure development in the region," he concluded.

Declaration sparks debate

The Democratic Party (DS) and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) reacted today to the controversial declaration.

The DS whip, Nada Kolundžija, feels that the documents adopted by local Albanians "puts added pressure on the Kosovo status talks."

Meantime, the Liberal Democrats (LDP) say it has come about as a result of the strained relations between Belgrade and Priština.

"I don’t think we should be too concerned here. We should maybe view it as a means of increasing the pressure with regards to the Kosovo question," Kolundžija told journalists in the parliament building.

She said that she was sure Serbia had the capacity to resolve all issues pertaining to the human and civilian rights of the Albanians in the three municipalities in the south of Serbia, together with economic matters, in a democratic manner.

LDP President Čedomir Jovanović said that the Albanian declaration represented, above all, "a reaction to the unsuccessful outcome of talks between the Serbian authorities and Kosovo Albanians in New York."

"Everything that is currently going on in the south is a result of the radicalization of political relations between Belgrade and Priština," Jovanović told reporters at the national parliament.

Jovanović felt that Serbia had "made a mistake" in entering the new talks on Kosovo "with the same old policies."