Ljajić: Direct talks after ICJ decision

Labor Minister Rasim Ljajic said that talks between Belgrade and Pristina would be possible after the ICJ gives its opinion on Kosovo’s independence. “A compromise regarding the future status of Kosovo is necessary, and it can only be reached through negotiations,” Ljajic said. Ljajic: Direct talks after ICJ decision He said that the right time for starting the talks with Pristina will be after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) gives its stance on the legality of Kosovo’s unilaterally proclaimed independence. He said that a result in which the Kosovo Albanians win and everyone else loses is not sustainable, and is not good for Kosovo, because it cannot become a member of any international forum. Ljajic said that it was good that a compromise was found for allowing Serbia to participate in the regional conference in Sarajevo, scheduled for early June. “This enables us to remain at the table where we are being discussed, and again, we did not accept the participation of Kosovo as a state entity at the conference,” Ljajic said. He said that his SDPS party will be participating in the coming local elections in Kosovska Mitrovica independently. “We will present our policies towards Kosovo, the people who will implement the policies, and a different approach for solving concrete problems that the people who live there are facing,” Ljajic said. Ljajic said that a different, better thought-out policy towards Kosovo is needed; especially taking into consideration that Serbia sets aside EUR 500mn annually for Serbs living in Kosovo. “I am not sure that this money is being spent in the best possible way. We cannot allow the Kosovo institutions to build more houses for returnees than we are building,” Ljajic said. He said that Serbia must think about economic recovery in Kosovo, which is a condition for convincing Serbs to stay there and for people to return to Kosovo. Ljajic said that 1,500 citizens in Kosovska Mitrovica are receiving some kind of social aid and welfare. A large majority of citizens living in the city earn in between EUR 60-110 each month, but at the same time, there are people earning EUR 1,800 and people who earn in between EUR 4,000 and 5,000 each month, Ljajic said. Rasim Ljajic (Tanjug)

Ljajić: Direct talks after ICJ decision

He said that the right time for starting the talks with Priština will be after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) gives its stance on the legality of Kosovo’s unilaterally proclaimed independence.

He said that a result in which the Kosovo Albanians win and everyone else loses is not sustainable, and is not good for Kosovo, because it cannot become a member of any international forum.

Ljajić said that it was good that a compromise was found for allowing Serbia to participate in the regional conference in Sarajevo, scheduled for early June.

“This enables us to remain at the table where we are being discussed, and again, we did not accept the participation of Kosovo as a state entity at the conference,” Ljajić said.

He said that his SDPS party will be participating in the coming local elections in Kosovska Mitrovica independently.

“We will present our policies towards Kosovo, the people who will implement the policies, and a different approach for solving concrete problems that the people who live there are facing,” Ljajić said.

Ljajić said that a different, better thought-out policy towards Kosovo is needed; especially taking into consideration that Serbia sets aside EUR 500mn annually for Serbs living in Kosovo.

“I am not sure that this money is being spent in the best possible way. We cannot allow the Kosovo institutions to build more houses for returnees than we are building,” Ljajić said.

He said that Serbia must think about economic recovery in Kosovo, which is a condition for convincing Serbs to stay there and for people to return to Kosovo.

Ljajić said that 1,500 citizens in Kosovska Mitrovica are receiving some kind of social aid and welfare.

A large majority of citizens living in the city earn in between EUR 60-110 each month, but at the same time, there are people earning EUR 1,800 and people who earn in between EUR 4,000 and 5,000 each month, Ljajić said.