"New declaration on Kosovo unnecessary"

Parliament Speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic says she does not expect to receive the draft declaration on Kosovo from the government in the coming hours or days. "For now there is no information whether the act will arrive, which practically means I am not expecting it in the coming hours or days," she told reporters in parliament on Monday. "New declaration on Kosovo unnecessary" Speaking on Sunday, Djukic-Dejanovic stated that "a new declaration on Kosovo is not necessary". "We should know the government's official stand on the issue, but it is true that if we do not alter our policy on Kosovo-Metohija and there are no concrete reasons for taking new stances, a new declaration is not needed,” Djukic-Dejanovic told Tanjug. She thus echoed a statement made earlier the same day by Serbian President Boris Tadic, who said a new parliamentary declaration on Kosovo was not necessary because a framework for the government policy on Kosovo is provided by previous declarations. "If there is no declaration, it is not the end of the world - it would be good if it passed, but it is not necessary," Tadic said in an interview for the Belgrade-based Prva TV. The parliament speaker emphasized that there were "several possibilities", including for parliament to receive a document from the Serbian government at the request of the Committee on Kosovo-Metohija. "If that would not be the case, the Committee could propose that the report, which has already been delivered to the parliament, be debated at a plenary session," she was quoted as saying. In that case, the session would be convened, Djukic-Dejanovic stressed. "Lack of unity counterproductive" Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said Monday it would be politically harmful and counterproductive to discuss the draft declaration on Kosovo in the parliament if there is no unity on the issue. According to him, it would not be good for the people to witness discord in the parliament, and a debate is justified only if there is unity. The minister said the draft has not been made public because the government has yet to discuss it. "Such an important issue must not be solved quickly and in a rash manner," Dacic said. Dacic noted that some politicians in Serbia want to stop all talks with Pristina, while others believe Serbia should accept Ahtisaari's plan. "There are problems with the implementation of some parts of the agreement from the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. The Serbian government has the position of implementing what is written in the Constitution... we need to be practical and find solutions which can be implemented on the ground," he said.

"New declaration on Kosovo unnecessary"

Speaking on Sunday, Đukić-Dejanović stated that "a new declaration on Kosovo is not necessary".

"We should know the government's official stand on the issue, but it is true that if we do not alter our policy on Kosovo-Metohija and there are no concrete reasons for taking new stances, a new declaration is not needed,” Đukić-Dejanović told Tanjug.

She thus echoed a statement made earlier the same day by Serbian President Boris Tadić, who said a new parliamentary declaration on Kosovo was not necessary because a framework for the government policy on Kosovo is provided by previous declarations.

"If there is no declaration, it is not the end of the world - it would be good if it passed, but it is not necessary," Tadić said in an interview for the Belgrade-based Prva TV.

The parliament speaker emphasized that there were "several possibilities", including for parliament to receive a document from the Serbian government at the request of the Committee on Kosovo-Metohija.

"If that would not be the case, the Committee could propose that the report, which has already been delivered to the parliament, be debated at a plenary session," she was quoted as saying.

In that case, the session would be convened, Đukić-Dejanović stressed.

"Lack of unity counterproductive"

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ivica Dačić said Monday it would be politically harmful and counterproductive to discuss the draft declaration on Kosovo in the parliament if there is no unity on the issue.

According to him, it would not be good for the people to witness discord in the parliament, and a debate is justified only if there is unity.

The minister said the draft has not been made public because the government has yet to discuss it.

"Such an important issue must not be solved quickly and in a rash manner," Dačić said.

Dačić noted that some politicians in Serbia want to stop all talks with Priština, while others believe Serbia should accept Ahtisaari's plan.

"There are problems with the implementation of some parts of the agreement from the Belgrade-Priština dialogue. The Serbian government has the position of implementing what is written in the Constitution... we need to be practical and find solutions which can be implemented on the ground," he said.