MPs to vote only on platform's "starting principles"

BELGRADE Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said on Monday that it was "never planned" to send the Kosovo platform in its entirety to parliament. Rather, the Serbian parliament "should voice its opinion on the starting principles of the platform", he explained. MPs to vote only on platform's "starting principles" “One part is comprised of the starting principles, which are due to be passed by parliament, and they are further elaboration of the things we spoke about: that we do not want to recognize Kosovo's independence, that we are interested in the status of Serbs in the so-called interim period and interim arrangement when the status of Kosovo and Metohija is not resolved, and that has to be linked to the EU integration process,” Dacic told reporters. The starting principles will be turned into a document, in the form of a resolution and declaration that will be put forward to parliament, the other part of the platform being concrete proposals for the resolution of issues and they will not be sent to parliament, as that should be done at the end of the negotiating process, Dacic was quoted as saying. During a visit to the base of the Counter-Terrorist Unit (PTJ) of the Serbian Interior Ministry, Dacic said that it has yet to be agreed when the document on Kosovo will be on the parliament's agenda. “When I said that the platform is not the Bible, I did not mean that it should not be adhered to, but that the things in the platform have yet to be fully defined, and as you know, certain changes to the text have been made in the last few days,” Dacic said. The part referring to the end of the Belgrade-Pristina technical dialogue has been changed as it is not realistic and in the interest of the state, as these are the only ongoing negotiations at the moment. “In such a situation, one should work towards securing unity, political stability and the broadest possible consensus, although I am aware that the consensus in its full sense is rather hard to reach in Serbia on any topic, including the one on Kosovo and Metohija,” Dacic said. (Tanjug, file) "Parliament will not vote" Advisor to the Serbian president Marko Djuric said on Sunday evening that the Belgrade-Pristina technical talks will be continued, and that parliament will not vote on the platform on Kosovo, but "on basic principles for the talks". MPs will voice their opinions on basic principles for the talks that are closely linked to the platform, Djuric said. Djuric dismissed media speculations "that there is some kind of disagreement" on the platform between Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and Prime Minister Ivica Dacic. Underscoring that parliament will vote on the principles for the talks, and not the platform, Djuric said that this would be the first time after 13 years that the Serbian side would enter talks with clearly set goals. "The further talks will be held with a view to achieving certain goals proclaimed in the draft document we discussed in recent days, among other things, and negotiators taking part in the dialogue would be obligated to strive towards fulfilling these goals envisaged in the working document," he said. According to Djuric, citizens can be satisfied with the fact that “our political elite mustered political courage to say what we want to achieve in this political process." Tanjug

MPs to vote only on platform's "starting principles"

“One part is comprised of the starting principles, which are due to be passed by parliament, and they are further elaboration of the things we spoke about: that we do not want to recognize Kosovo's independence, that we are interested in the status of Serbs in the so-called interim period and interim arrangement when the status of Kosovo and Metohija is not resolved, and that has to be linked to the EU integration process,” Dačić told reporters.

The starting principles will be turned into a document, in the form of a resolution and declaration that will be put forward to parliament, the other part of the platform being concrete proposals for the resolution of issues and they will not be sent to parliament, as that should be done at the end of the negotiating process, Dačić was quoted as saying.

During a visit to the base of the Counter-Terrorist Unit (PTJ) of the Serbian Interior Ministry, Dačić said that it has yet to be agreed when the document on Kosovo will be on the parliament's agenda.

“When I said that the platform is not the Bible, I did not mean that it should not be adhered to, but that the things in the platform have yet to be fully defined, and as you know, certain changes to the text have been made in the last few days,” Dačić said.

The part referring to the end of the Belgrade-Priština technical dialogue has been changed as it is not realistic and in the interest of the state, as these are the only ongoing negotiations at the moment.

“In such a situation, one should work towards securing unity, political stability and the broadest possible consensus, although I am aware that the consensus in its full sense is rather hard to reach in Serbia on any topic, including the one on Kosovo and Metohija,” Dačić said.

"Parliament will not vote"

Advisor to the Serbian president Marko Đurić said on Sunday evening that the Belgrade-Priština technical talks will be continued, and that parliament will not vote on the platform on Kosovo, but "on basic principles for the talks".

MPs will voice their opinions on basic principles for the talks that are closely linked to the platform, Đurić said.

Đurić dismissed media speculations "that there is some kind of disagreement" on the platform between Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić and Prime Minister Ivica Dačić.

Underscoring that parliament will vote on the principles for the talks, and not the platform, Đurić said that this would be the first time after 13 years that the Serbian side would enter talks with clearly set goals.

"The further talks will be held with a view to achieving certain goals proclaimed in the draft document we discussed in recent days, among other things, and negotiators taking part in the dialogue would be obligated to strive towards fulfilling these goals envisaged in the working document," he said.

According to Đurić, citizens can be satisfied with the fact that “our political elite mustered political courage to say what we want to achieve in this political process."