British FM favors withdrawal of resolution

British Foreign Secretary William Hague started his official visit to Belgrade on Tuesday with a meeting with Serbian President Boris Tadic. Hague was expected to confer with Serbian officials on possible changes to the draft resolution on Kosovo that Serbia submitted to the UN General Assembly. British FM favors withdrawal of resolution Serbia's draft resolution should be discussed in the UN General Assembly on September 9. William Hague told B92 in Belgrade today that it would be best for Serbia to pull its Kosovo resolution. He said that this is the best way for Serbia to reach a compromise with the European Union was to withdraw its draft resolution submitted to the UN General Assembly for debate. Hague said that it would not be good for Serbia to suffer a loss when the UN General Assembly votes on its resolution, but said that the situation would not be any better either it Serbia was to get the majority of the UN General Assembly to support its resolution—as far as relations with the EU are concerned. Meanwhile, Tadic's cabinet said in a statement issued after the meeting that Serbia is ready for a compromise on the resolution, but not to recognize Kosovo. According to this, Tadic stated that Serbia was counting on EU's assistance for the solution of the Kosovo issue, and said Belgrade advocated dialogue with Pristina. Tadic also said that Serbia's strategic goal was EU membership. Tadic and Hague are seen in Belgrade today (Beta) Jeremic meets with Hague Serbia's Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic met with British Foreign Secretary William Hague in Belgrade on Tuesday and the two concluded that their countries' positions on Kosovo remain at odds, but added that the talks would be continued. "We agreed that we have to cooperate in the coming days and months and reach a compromise, not only in terms of Kosovo, but regarding the European future of the Western Balkans as well," said Jeremic. Hague stated that Serbia should coordinate its proposed UN resolution on Kosovo with the EU, and Jeremic expressed the government's willingness to negotiate with the EU and get as much support for the document as possible. The British foreign secretary thinks that the easiest way to a compromise is for Serbia to withdraw the resolution so that a new one could be drafted, but Jeremic feels that such a thing is not acceptable for Serbia. The two officials agreed that the future of Serbia and the Western Balkans lies in the EU, but they had differences about the actual path to that goal. There are certain red lines Serbia will not cross, Jeremic noted. According to the Serbian foreign minister, there is a higher level of understanding between the two countries after Hague's visit, which will boost cooperation on all issues. Serbia and Great Britain share the same view when it comes to the Western Balkan countries' EU membership, said Jeremic. The meeting with Hague was not about arm twisting and bargaining, Jeremic noted, adding there are no differences in strategic views between London and Belgrade. Hague said Serbia and all other Western Balkan countries belong in the EU, and that his country was a great advocate of that. The British official remarked that he did not reach an agreement on Kosovo with any of the Serbian officials he met on Tuesday, but added that they did have a fundamental exchange of opinions. Britain wants Serbia to discuss Kosovo with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, said Hague. However, reports said that the British official expressed his fears that Serbia "might be stopped midway on its road towards the EU if it does not reconcile its past with its future".

British FM favors withdrawal of resolution

Serbia's draft resolution should be discussed in the UN General Assembly on September 9.

William Hague told B92 in Belgrade today that it would be best for Serbia to pull its Kosovo resolution.

He said that this is the best way for Serbia to reach a compromise with the European Union was to withdraw its draft resolution submitted to the UN General Assembly for debate.

Hague said that it would not be good for Serbia to suffer a loss when the UN General Assembly votes on its resolution, but said that the situation would not be any better either it Serbia was to get the majority of the UN General Assembly to support its resolution—as far as relations with the EU are concerned.

Meanwhile, Tadić's cabinet said in a statement issued after the meeting that Serbia is ready for a compromise on the resolution, but not to recognize Kosovo.

According to this, Tadić stated that Serbia was counting on EU's assistance for the solution of the Kosovo issue, and said Belgrade advocated dialogue with Priština.

Tadić also said that Serbia's strategic goal was EU membership.

Jeremić meets with Hague

Serbia's Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić met with British Foreign Secretary William Hague in Belgrade on Tuesday and the two concluded that their countries' positions on Kosovo remain at odds, but added that the talks would be continued.

"We agreed that we have to cooperate in the coming days and months and reach a compromise, not only in terms of Kosovo, but regarding the European future of the Western Balkans as well," said Jeremić.

Hague stated that Serbia should coordinate its proposed UN resolution on Kosovo with the EU, and Jeremić expressed the government's willingness to negotiate with the EU and get as much support for the document as possible.

The British foreign secretary thinks that the easiest way to a compromise is for Serbia to withdraw the resolution so that a new one could be drafted, but Jeremić feels that such a thing is not acceptable for Serbia.

The two officials agreed that the future of Serbia and the Western Balkans lies in the EU, but they had differences about the actual path to that goal.

There are certain red lines Serbia will not cross, Jeremić noted.

According to the Serbian foreign minister, there is a higher level of understanding between the two countries after Hague's visit, which will boost cooperation on all issues.

Serbia and Great Britain share the same view when it comes to the Western Balkan countries' EU membership, said Jeremić.

The meeting with Hague was not about arm twisting and bargaining, Jeremić noted, adding there are no differences in strategic views between London and Belgrade.

Hague said Serbia and all other Western Balkan countries belong in the EU, and that his country was a great advocate of that.

The British official remarked that he did not reach an agreement on Kosovo with any of the Serbian officials he met on Tuesday, but added that they did have a fundamental exchange of opinions. Britain wants Serbia to discuss Kosovo with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, said Hague.

However, reports said that the British official expressed his fears that Serbia "might be stopped midway on its road towards the EU if it does not reconcile its past with its future".