"Two changes made to Kosovo platform text"

BELGRADE The technical dialogue with Pristina will continue after Serbia's platform for Kosovo was changed "in the part which concerns ending the technical dialogue". This is according to presidential adviser Marko Djuric, who was one of the guests on B92 TV's "Impression of the Week" talk show late on Sunday. "Two changes made to Kosovo platform text" He explained that President Tomislav Nikolic and PM Ivica Dacic agreed to make two changes to the platform, the other related to the sentence that "nothing will be agreed on until everything is agreed on". This point has been reformulated "to explain that negotiators representing the interests of Serbia will be under obligation to reach agreements according to the goals proclaimed in the platform - that is to say, that there can be no agreements except those in line with the platform", Djuric said, and added that this was "a firm position". He at the same time denied that these changes took place after pressure was exerted from the U.S. and the EU, asserting that the authorities "did not carry out anyone's orders". The government's policy remains "both EU (membership) and Kosovo, although that is very difficult", this adviser added. Djuric stated that constant consultations "on this subject" had been ongoing for months. "The talk that there are great divisions when it comes to the platform can only make Pristina happy. During the past 13 years the country has been constantly stepping back, every since the arrival of the international forces. We wish to raise our voice and state the minimum of our interests," he said. Marko Djuric (Tanjug, file) Former government negotiator in the EU-sponsored Kosovo talks, now opposition DS party MP Borislav Stefanovic, took part in the same program. "The stepping back started a long time ago, nobody traded Europe for Kosovo and gave up on Kosovo, the previous government did not sign the Kumanovo agreement, we entered a real political situation with the goal of providing real results," he stated, and added: "Now there is confusion, there's a presidential platform, he gave a concrete platform, which is 98 percent impossible to implement in practice. The solution are excellent, but unrealistic, there is dichotomy now, there is the presidential and the government policy." Stefanovic also claimed that there were "four different policies within the government": "Dinkic is saying nothing, Dacic is saying that the platform was not carved in stone, Vucic is not making himself heard, and it is nonsensical to say there are no problems. It looks like five people from five sides wrote it." Borislav Stefanovic (Tanjug, file) Former presidential adviser, now Faculty of Philosophy professor Leon Kojen said that the disagreements over the platform were to be expected, and that the document attempted to create a distance between this government and the previous one - "because until the platform, this government followed in the footsteps of the previous". "Now this platform needs to be seriously analyzed, and we need to say whether it serves the purpose of protecting the state interests. The Serbian language version is more comprehensive, it contains a preamble, which is missing in the English version. Also, another part is missing from the the second part of the English version, and this incomplete version should not have been sent abroad," Kojen explained. He added that it was "one thing to claim that Serbia would not give up on preserving the territorial integrity and sovereignty, and a completely different one that Serbia would not recognize Kosovo". Marko Djuric noted that "constructive criticism" was expected from diplomatic representative offices. "The preamble was meant for the public in Serbia, must we stress to everybody our long-term interests when it comes to Kosovo? We are offering very concrete solutions. (Ethnic) Albanians are given legitimacy and legality in Kosovo and Metohija." Leon Kojen (FoNet, file) B92

"Two changes made to Kosovo platform text"

He explained that President Tomislav Nikolić and PM Ivica Dačić agreed to make two changes to the platform, the other related to the sentence that "nothing will be agreed on until everything is agreed on".

This point has been reformulated "to explain that negotiators representing the interests of Serbia will be under obligation to reach agreements according to the goals proclaimed in the platform - that is to say, that there can be no agreements except those in line with the platform", Đurić said, and added that this was "a firm position".

He at the same time denied that these changes took place after pressure was exerted from the U.S. and the EU, asserting that the authorities "did not carry out anyone's orders". The government's policy remains "both EU (membership) and Kosovo, although that is very difficult", this adviser added.

Đurić stated that constant consultations "on this subject" had been ongoing for months.

"The talk that there are great divisions when it comes to the platform can only make Priština happy. During the past 13 years the country has been constantly stepping back, every since the arrival of the international forces. We wish to raise our voice and state the minimum of our interests," he said. Former government negotiator in the EU-sponsored Kosovo talks, now opposition DS party MP Borislav Stefanović, took part in the same program.

"The stepping back started a long time ago, nobody traded Europe for Kosovo and gave up on Kosovo, the previous government did not sign the Kumanovo agreement, we entered a real political situation with the goal of providing real results," he stated, and added:

"Now there is confusion, there's a presidential platform, he gave a concrete platform, which is 98 percent impossible to implement in practice. The solution are excellent, but unrealistic, there is dichotomy now, there is the presidential and the government policy."

Stefanović also claimed that there were "four different policies within the government":

"Dinkić is saying nothing, Dačić is saying that the platform was not carved in stone, Vučić is not making himself heard, and it is nonsensical to say there are no problems. It looks like five people from five sides wrote it." Former presidential adviser, now Faculty of Philosophy professor Leon Kojen said that the disagreements over the platform were to be expected, and that the document attempted to create a distance between this government and the previous one - "because until the platform, this government followed in the footsteps of the previous".

"Now this platform needs to be seriously analyzed, and we need to say whether it serves the purpose of protecting the state interests. The Serbian language version is more comprehensive, it contains a preamble, which is missing in the English version. Also, another part is missing from the the second part of the English version, and this incomplete version should not have been sent abroad," Kojen explained.

He added that it was "one thing to claim that Serbia would not give up on preserving the territorial integrity and sovereignty, and a completely different one that Serbia would not recognize Kosovo".

Marko Đurić noted that "constructive criticism" was expected from diplomatic representative offices.

"The preamble was meant for the public in Serbia, must we stress to everybody our long-term interests when it comes to Kosovo? We are offering very concrete solutions. (Ethnic) Albanians are given legitimacy and legality in Kosovo and Metohija."