Minister: Belgrade insists on UN census

Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanovic says that Belgrade's stance is that Kosovo institutions cannot conduct a population and property census in Serb enclaves. Pristina authorities did not agree to an UN-monitored census south of the Ibar River and the UN only agreed to take census in the northern part of the province. Minister: Belgrade insists on UN census "Aside from the fact we do no trust these institutions, the question is how to include the 250,000 IDPs and the significant portion of Serb property which remains damaged or usurped," he told daily Vecernje novosti. The minister also stressed that Belgrade would continue to insist that the census in the Serb enclaves be carried out by the UN, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1244. Asked if there is any indication that Pristina is secretly preparing to manipulate the census, and that some Serb representatives are involved, Bogdanovic said that the recent vote theft at the election in Kosovo showed the Albanian authorities were doing everything to paint the situation on the ground to their advantage and would certainly try to misrepresent the size of the Serb population in Kosovo in the upcoming census. "The position of the Serbian government is that the Serbs south of the Ibar River should not participate in the census unless it is conducted by the UN," he pointed out. He said that the issue of license plates would be discussed during the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue but he did not want to prejudge any solutions because “what is the point of the negotiations if solutions are imposed with unilateral moves”. “We are still negotiating which topics will be on the agenda because it does not only depend on Belgrade, but also on Pristina, but it is clear that it will be issues that are burdening everyday life of Kosovo and Metohija residents, such as electricity, telecommunications,” Bogdanovic was quoted as saying. He believes that the beginning of the talks brings optimism and that statements from both the Serbian and the Albanian side, but also from the EU, prove this. “This really brings hope that we will get to compromise solutions for all disputable issues through the negotiations, in order to improve mainly the life of the Serbs in the province, but also all residents of Kosovo,” he stated. According to him, all issues that are being discussed, including seemingly simple ones and the most serious ones, are burdened with the issue of status and that is why it is inevitable to talk about the status which is still unresolved for the Serbian side and it cannot be permanently solved without Serbia’s consent.

Minister: Belgrade insists on UN census

"Aside from the fact we do no trust these institutions, the question is how to include the 250,000 IDPs and the significant portion of Serb property which remains damaged or usurped," he told daily Večernje novosti.

The minister also stressed that Belgrade would continue to insist that the census in the Serb enclaves be carried out by the UN, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

Asked if there is any indication that Priština is secretly preparing to manipulate the census, and that some Serb representatives are involved, Bogdanović said that the recent vote theft at the election in Kosovo showed the Albanian authorities were doing everything to paint the situation on the ground to their advantage and would certainly try to misrepresent the size of the Serb population in Kosovo in the upcoming census.

"The position of the Serbian government is that the Serbs south of the Ibar River should not participate in the census unless it is conducted by the UN," he pointed out.

He said that the issue of license plates would be discussed during the Belgrade-Priština dialogue but he did not want to prejudge any solutions because “what is the point of the negotiations if solutions are imposed with unilateral moves”.

“We are still negotiating which topics will be on the agenda because it does not only depend on Belgrade, but also on Priština, but it is clear that it will be issues that are burdening everyday life of Kosovo and Metohija residents, such as electricity, telecommunications,” Bogdanović was quoted as saying.

He believes that the beginning of the talks brings optimism and that statements from both the Serbian and the Albanian side, but also from the EU, prove this.

“This really brings hope that we will get to compromise solutions for all disputable issues through the negotiations, in order to improve mainly the life of the Serbs in the province, but also all residents of Kosovo,” he stated.

According to him, all issues that are being discussed, including seemingly simple ones and the most serious ones, are burdened with the issue of status and that is why it is inevitable to talk about the status which is still unresolved for the Serbian side and it cannot be permanently solved without Serbia’s consent.