"Dialogue is solution for northern Kosovo"

Deputy PM and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic has stated that trust needs to be built between KFOR and Serbs in northern Kosovo. Issues should be resolved through political dialogue, he added. "Dialogue is solution for northern Kosovo" Dacic made the statement on Friday in Berlin, after his meeting with Secretary of State in the German Federal Ministry of the Interior Ole Schroeder. The Serbian official said that dialogue should be continued, adding that political solution is the only possible solution, which will both enable "the continuation of Serbia's EU integration, and represent a compromise between Serbs and (ethnic) Albanians" in northern Kosovo. Dacic expressed regret over the wounding of two German soldiers in recent incidents in northern Kosovo. "One should strive toward a political solution, and simply start from the fact that international forces in Kosovo should secure peace, which means everything should be done to restore the trust between the international forces and the local population, particularly the Serbian side," he said. Ivica Dacic (FoNet, file) "Seasonal problem" Ivica Dacic and Ole Schroder also discussed on Friday the ways to reduce the number of false asylum-seekers to Germany, since in October most of them, around 600, came from Serbia. After the meeting, Dacic noted that the rise in the number of false asylum-seekers in October had a seasonal character and that most of the asylum-applicants were Roma and ethnic Albanians. Dacic said that such a large number of false asylum-seekers from Serbia in Germany constitutes a severe additional burden for the two countries' relations, especially since the Council of EU interior ministers is due to hold a meeting about the issue on December 12 or 13. It would be disastrous if visa liberalization, which is perhaps the greatest practical benefit which EU integration brings to citizens, was to be brought into jeopardy after all that has been done in the area, he said. We agreed that the cooperation between the two countries' police services and Interior Ministries is on a very high level, Dacic said as reported in a release issued by the Interior Ministry. According to the release, he also announced that the two governments should soon sign an agreement on police cooperation.

"Dialogue is solution for northern Kosovo"

Dačić made the statement on Friday in Berlin, after his meeting with Secretary of State in the German Federal Ministry of the Interior Ole Schroeder.

The Serbian official said that dialogue should be continued, adding that political solution is the only possible solution, which will both enable "the continuation of Serbia's EU integration, and represent a compromise between Serbs and (ethnic) Albanians" in northern Kosovo.

Dačić expressed regret over the wounding of two German soldiers in recent incidents in northern Kosovo.

"One should strive toward a political solution, and simply start from the fact that international forces in Kosovo should secure peace, which means everything should be done to restore the trust between the international forces and the local population, particularly the Serbian side," he said.

"Seasonal problem"

Ivica Dačić and Ole Schroder also discussed on Friday the ways to reduce the number of false asylum-seekers to Germany, since in October most of them, around 600, came from Serbia.

After the meeting, Dačić noted that the rise in the number of false asylum-seekers in October had a seasonal character and that most of the asylum-applicants were Roma and ethnic Albanians.

Dačić said that such a large number of false asylum-seekers from Serbia in Germany constitutes a severe additional burden for the two countries' relations, especially since the Council of EU interior ministers is due to hold a meeting about the issue on December 12 or 13.

It would be disastrous if visa liberalization, which is perhaps the greatest practical benefit which EU integration brings to citizens, was to be brought into jeopardy after all that has been done in the area, he said.

We agreed that the cooperation between the two countries' police services and Interior Ministries is on a very high level, Dačić said as reported in a release issued by the Interior Ministry. According to the release, he also announced that the two governments should soon sign an agreement on police cooperation.