EU's Ashton "could take over as Kosovo talks mediator"

The EU is "not yet certain what course the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina will take," Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti is reporting on Monday. This means that Brussels is uncertain whether the talks will resume at the technical or political level. EU's Ashton "could take over as Kosovo talks mediator" In the latter case, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton might replace Robert Cooper as the EU facilitator for the talks, claims the newspaper. Ashton's spokesperson Maja Kocijancic was quoted in the same article as saying that "for the talks to resume, a new Serbian government is needed". "As soon as Serbia gets a new government, we will hold consultations with Belgrade and Pristina on the way in which the dialogue will be resumed. It is clear that the dialogue has to be continued, and that the previously reached agreements have to be implemented as soon as possible," the spokesperson said. The daily also quotes its EU diplomatic sources who said that there were no plans to change the format of the talks at this point, while raising them to a higher political level "depends above all on agreement of the two sides". "If the two sides agree to change the format, we will not object to that. However, they should also agree on what this would achieve," the sources were quoted as saying. The newspaper also said that according to these statements, "there are currently no preparations for a meeting between Tomislav Nikolic and Etifete Jahjaga under the EU auspices": "If they wish to meet, Nikolic and Jahjaga should first agree on that, and we would support it." "President seeks consensus on Kosovo An adviser to the Serbian president has said that it "cannot be said at this moment" whether Tomislav Nikolic would meet with Kosovo's president. "Nikolic first wants Serbia to reach a consensus and define tactics for the Kosovo issue," said Marko Djuric. Prior to concrete talks with Pristina, the topic and tactics have to be defined, so as not to directly or indirectly recognize Kosovo, Djuric told TV Prva on Sunday. Nikolic "would certainly not do anything that would lead to either implicit or explicit" recognition of independence of Kosovo, he noted, and added that the president "will do everything to find a solution in keeping with Serbia's interests". Ministry for Kosovo State Secretary Oliver Ivanovic stated that he did not think that the country's president or prime minister would take part in the Kosovo dialogue, as such a move would mean recognizing Kosovo "indirectly or directly". The suggestion that top state officials would in the future conduct the Kosovo dialogue was heard last week from Borislav Stefanovic, who was appointed by the outgoing government to head the Belgrade team in the EU-sponsored talks that started in March 2011. They represent the first direct negotiations between the two sides since ethnic Albanians in early 2008 unilaterally declared independence, and Serbia rejected the proclamation as an illegal act of secession. Tanjug Vecernje novosti

EU's Ashton "could take over as Kosovo talks mediator"

In the latter case, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton might replace Robert Cooper as the EU facilitator for the talks, claims the newspaper.

Ashton's spokesperson Maja Kocijancic was quoted in the same article as saying that "for the talks to resume, a new Serbian government is needed".

"As soon as Serbia gets a new government, we will hold consultations with Belgrade and Priština on the way in which the dialogue will be resumed. It is clear that the dialogue has to be continued, and that the previously reached agreements have to be implemented as soon as possible," the spokesperson said.

The daily also quotes its EU diplomatic sources who said that there were no plans to change the format of the talks at this point, while raising them to a higher political level "depends above all on agreement of the two sides".

"If the two sides agree to change the format, we will not object to that. However, they should also agree on what this would achieve," the sources were quoted as saying.

The newspaper also said that according to these statements, "there are currently no preparations for a meeting between Tomislav Nikolić and Etifete Jahjaga under the EU auspices":

"If they wish to meet, Nikolić and Jahjaga should first agree on that, and we would support it."

"President seeks consensus on Kosovo

An adviser to the Serbian president has said that it "cannot be said at this moment" whether Tomislav Nikolić would meet with Kosovo's president.

"Nikolić first wants Serbia to reach a consensus and define tactics for the Kosovo issue," said Marko Đurić.

Prior to concrete talks with Priština, the topic and tactics have to be defined, so as not to directly or indirectly recognize Kosovo, Đurić told TV Prva on Sunday.

Nikolić "would certainly not do anything that would lead to either implicit or explicit" recognition of independence of Kosovo, he noted, and added that the president "will do everything to find a solution in keeping with Serbia's interests".

Ministry for Kosovo State Secretary Oliver Ivanović stated that he did not think that the country's president or prime minister would take part in the Kosovo dialogue, as such a move would mean recognizing Kosovo "indirectly or directly".

The suggestion that top state officials would in the future conduct the Kosovo dialogue was heard last week from Borislav Stefanović, who was appointed by the outgoing government to head the Belgrade team in the EU-sponsored talks that started in March 2011.

They represent the first direct negotiations between the two sides since ethnic Albanians in early 2008 unilaterally declared independence, and Serbia rejected the proclamation as an illegal act of secession.