Controversy over statements on North

The north of Kosovo has been in focus lately, this time because of contradictory statements, rather than ethnic tensions.

Izvor: B92

Thursday, 29.07.2010.

13:15

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The north of Kosovo has been in focus lately, this time because of contradictory statements, rather than ethnic tensions. This week, media in Pristina and Belgrade quoted the top U.S. diplomatic envoy in Kosovo, Christopher Dell, as saying that the north could be granted "autonomy". Controversy over statements on North Dell was quoted as saying that Kosovo Albanian PM Hashim Thaci was "ready to consider ways that would respect the specific nature of northern Kosovo in a creative way," which was interpreted as autonomy. But, he denied these reports, by saying that he had in fact praised Thaci for his "benevolence and creative thinking" about the situation in the north, but that he had not mentioned "autonomy". Immediately after this, Belgrade-based daily Blic reported Thaci’s advisor Dukadjin Gorani as saying that a "special status" was one of many possible solutions that Kosovo Albanian government was considering for this area. Gorani also quickly denied his statement. “I was very poorly interpreted in Blic and I think that that kind of bad interpretation is very worrying for us here, since this is intentionally bad interpretation of my statement, in which I said that the Kosovo government was ready to consider the situation and possible future development of the Serb community in the north in a very creative and very functional way,” he pointed out. “But this cannot by in any way mean the creation of some special status or autonomy outside the constitution,” Gorani was quoted. Hashim Thaci today told Albanian language press in Pristina that no "model for the north" had been offered, and that Kosovo's "territorial integrity" would not be brought into question. Meanwhile, Serbs, who predominantly inhabit the northern parts of the province, continue to reject the Kosovo Albanian unilateral independence declaration made in early 2008, and the authority of the government in Pristina.

Controversy over statements on North

Dell was quoted as saying that Kosovo Albanian PM Hashim Thaci was "ready to consider ways that would respect the specific nature of northern Kosovo in a creative way," which was interpreted as autonomy.

But, he denied these reports, by saying that he had in fact praised Thaci for his "benevolence and creative thinking" about the situation in the north, but that he had not mentioned "autonomy".

Immediately after this, Belgrade-based daily Blic reported Thaci’s advisor Dukadjin Gorani as saying that a "special status" was one of many possible solutions that Kosovo Albanian government was considering for this area.

Gorani also quickly denied his statement.

“I was very poorly interpreted in Blic and I think that that kind of bad interpretation is very worrying for us here, since this is intentionally bad interpretation of my statement, in which I said that the Kosovo government was ready to consider the situation and possible future development of the Serb community in the north in a very creative and very functional way,” he pointed out.

“But this cannot by in any way mean the creation of some special status or autonomy outside the constitution,” Gorani was quoted.

Hashim Thaci today told Albanian language press in Priština that no "model for the north" had been offered, and that Kosovo's "territorial integrity" would not be brought into question.

Meanwhile, Serbs, who predominantly inhabit the northern parts of the province, continue to reject the Kosovo Albanian unilateral independence declaration made in early 2008, and the authority of the government in Priština.

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