"Don't expect us to ever recognize Kosovo"

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic said in Paris today that Serbia was ready to discuss a number of modalities in order to solve the Kosovo issue. But he added that nobody should expect Serbia to ever recognize an independent Kosovo. "Don't expect us to ever recognize Kosovo" He added that Serbia was ready to solve the Kosovo issue immediately, and that the solution must be found within the four points that President Boris Tadic presented at the UN General Assembly in New York in September: "Those are special status for northern Kosovo, status and security for Serb holy places, security and safety for Serbs south of the Ibar River, and solving the question of Serb property in Kosovo." He stressed that Serbia was ready to explore ways to reach a historic compromise between Serbs and Albanians, and mentioned the Good Friday agreement, the two Germanys model, as well as examples of Hong Kong, the Aland Islands and South Tyrol in this context. "We are thinking about all that and are ready to talk. Serbia does not wish a frozen conflict and we know a solution must be found before we join the EU, but Serbia cannot accept the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo," Djelic said, and underlined that Serbia likewise opposed partitioning of any other country: "Serbia is against partitioning of any country: Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and also against a partition of a part of our territory - Kosovo. The point is to find a way to share sovereignty, to share power and to find a solution acceptable to all." The deputy premier said the current tensions in Kosovo once again showed that unilateral actions do not contribute to sustainable solutions, and called on international missions in Kosovo - UNMIK, KFOR and EULEX - to adhere to their status-neutral mandates. According to Djelic, Serbia is constantly being told to accept the reality that Albanians in Kosovo do not wish to accept the authority of Belgrade, but that it was also the reality that Serbs in Kosovo do not wish to accept the authority of Pristina. Speaking about Serbia's attempt to secure the status of candidate for EU membership, Djelic said that France had reaffirmed its support for the the bid. Bozidar Djelic (FoNet, file)

"Don't expect us to ever recognize Kosovo"

He added that Serbia was ready to solve the Kosovo issue immediately, and that the solution must be found within the four points that President Boris Tadić presented at the UN General Assembly in New York in September:

"Those are special status for northern Kosovo, status and security for Serb holy places, security and safety for Serbs south of the Ibar River, and solving the question of Serb property in Kosovo."

He stressed that Serbia was ready to explore ways to reach a historic compromise between Serbs and Albanians, and mentioned the Good Friday agreement, the two Germanys model, as well as examples of Hong Kong, the Aland Islands and South Tyrol in this context.

"We are thinking about all that and are ready to talk. Serbia does not wish a frozen conflict and we know a solution must be found before we join the EU, but Serbia cannot accept the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo," Đelić said, and underlined that Serbia likewise opposed partitioning of any other country:

"Serbia is against partitioning of any country: Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and also against a partition of a part of our territory - Kosovo. The point is to find a way to share sovereignty, to share power and to find a solution acceptable to all."

The deputy premier said the current tensions in Kosovo once again showed that unilateral actions do not contribute to sustainable solutions, and called on international missions in Kosovo - UNMIK, KFOR and EULEX - to adhere to their status-neutral mandates.

According to Đelić, Serbia is constantly being told to accept the reality that Albanians in Kosovo do not wish to accept the authority of Belgrade, but that it was also the reality that Serbs in Kosovo do not wish to accept the authority of Priština.

Speaking about Serbia's attempt to secure the status of candidate for EU membership, Đelić said that France had reaffirmed its support for the the bid.