"No status without Serbia's consent"

Ministry for Kosovo State Secretary Oliver Ivanovic says that the status of Kosovo will not be resolved until it has been accepted by Serbia. Kosovo's ethnic Albanians in February 2008 unilaterally proclaimed independence, but Belgrade rejected it as an illegal attempt at secession. "No status without Serbia's consent" Speaking in Kosovska Mitrovica on Saturday, Ivanovic told FoNet news agency that Serbia "has no intention of accepting this status", and that talks "on issues that matter" on Kosovo's future should commence between Serbs and ethnic Albanians. The government official acknowledged, however, that there was no agreement on the issues that should be discussed. "Albanians think those are only the technical questions, since they believe that they have resolved the status, but it seems to me they subconsciously know that the status has not been determined," Ivanovic was quoted as saying. He also rejected claims that by fighting for Kosovo, Serbia was "closing the door toward the EU". "Serbia is a self-respecting state, and as such, has the respect of others, especially since it is seriously trying to make progress in those areas that are set by the EU as a condition (for membership)," said he, but added: "However, if renouncing Kosovo is a condition to join the EU, I'm convinced that 90, if not more, percent (of citizens) will be against our joining the EU." Ivanovic noted that this was something that should be seriously considered by the international community, "since it's important to sustain euro-enthusiasm, if they wish a stable Balkans". "The strategy for solving the Kosovo and Metohija issue is Serbia's entry into the EU. The issue of Kosovo cannot be solved without Serbia, whether Europeans like it or not," he said. According to the state secretary, growing social problems in Kosovo are tantamount to a "ticking bomb", that authorities in Pristina do not care about sufficiently, and asserted that if "(ethnic) Albanians engaged is social unrest, Serbs could be the collateral damage". The recent decision of the Kosovo Albanian government in Pristina to "ban" Serbian officials from entering Kosovo was "proof of a lack of political maturity, and inertia on the part of the international community", stated Ivanovic. "The international community, that wishes to lecture us about democratic principles, does not apply appropriate measures when those principles are violated in such a crude manner," he told the news agency. Ivanovic also said that Hashim Thaci was trying to "make cheap political points", and advised him "not to strain relations with someone he will negotiate with, ahead of those negotiations". "No decree brought here forbids Serbian officials from visiting Kosovo," the official noted. As for the Belgrade-Pristina talks, Ivanovic stated that their format was unknown, and that the Serbian side insisted on negotiations that would include representatives of the UN, EU and the U.S. "I suggest that there must be three international community representatives, and the Serbian and Albanian sides," said he. He also commented on the phantom "declaration of independence of northern Kosovo municipalities", that was reported about in the media, and the authors of which remain unknown. Ivanovic noted that no party supported the alleged document, and that, "in itself", the paper had no significance. However, he described the ethnic Albanian UDI as "the opening of Pandora's Box, that will not be closed easily", but concluded that the "declaration" would not increase tensions in Kosovo and Metohija. Oliver Ivanovic is seen in Kosovska Mitrovica today (FoNet)

"No status without Serbia's consent"

Speaking in Kosovska Mitrovica on Saturday, Ivanović told FoNet news agency that Serbia "has no intention of accepting this status", and that talks "on issues that matter" on Kosovo's future should commence between Serbs and ethnic Albanians.

The government official acknowledged, however, that there was no agreement on the issues that should be discussed.

"Albanians think those are only the technical questions, since they believe that they have resolved the status, but it seems to me they subconsciously know that the status has not been determined," Ivanović was quoted as saying.

He also rejected claims that by fighting for Kosovo, Serbia was "closing the door toward the EU".

"Serbia is a self-respecting state, and as such, has the respect of others, especially since it is seriously trying to make progress in those areas that are set by the EU as a condition (for membership)," said he, but added:

"However, if renouncing Kosovo is a condition to join the EU, I'm convinced that 90, if not more, percent (of citizens) will be against our joining the EU."

Ivanović noted that this was something that should be seriously considered by the international community, "since it's important to sustain euro-enthusiasm, if they wish a stable Balkans".

"The strategy for solving the Kosovo and Metohija issue is Serbia's entry into the EU. The issue of Kosovo cannot be solved without Serbia, whether Europeans like it or not," he said.

According to the state secretary, growing social problems in Kosovo are tantamount to a "ticking bomb", that authorities in Priština do not care about sufficiently, and asserted that if "(ethnic) Albanians engaged is social unrest, Serbs could be the collateral damage".

The recent decision of the Kosovo Albanian government in Priština to "ban" Serbian officials from entering Kosovo was "proof of a lack of political maturity, and inertia on the part of the international community", stated Ivanović.

"The international community, that wishes to lecture us about democratic principles, does not apply appropriate measures when those principles are violated in such a crude manner," he told the news agency.

Ivanović also said that Hashim Thaci was trying to "make cheap political points", and advised him "not to strain relations with someone he will negotiate with, ahead of those negotiations".

"No decree brought here forbids Serbian officials from visiting Kosovo," the official noted.

As for the Belgrade-Priština talks, Ivanović stated that their format was unknown, and that the Serbian side insisted on negotiations that would include representatives of the UN, EU and the U.S.

"I suggest that there must be three international community representatives, and the Serbian and Albanian sides," said he.

He also commented on the phantom "declaration of independence of northern Kosovo municipalities", that was reported about in the media, and the authors of which remain unknown.

Ivanović noted that no party supported the alleged document, and that, "in itself", the paper had no significance.

However, he described the ethnic Albanian UDI as "the opening of Pandora's Box, that will not be closed easily", but concluded that the "declaration" would not increase tensions in Kosovo and Metohija.