"No victory in Kosovo — but defeats must end"

BELGRADE Serbia has long lost its chance for a victory in Kosovo and Metohija, "but defeats must end", Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic told the Tanjug news agency. In the latest in a series of interviews he gave during the past several days, the president pointed out that "the final solution for the destiny of Serbia's southern province has to be adopted during his term of office". "No victory in Kosovo — but defeats must end" But the at the same time added that "Serbia has finally stopped recoiling from the international community and ethnic Kosovo Albanians". Asked "what is it that Serbia really wants in Kosovo", Nikolic replied: "We want to settle our relationship with the Albanians, we want to respect our Constitution and (UNSC) Resolution 1244, and both documents refer to the substantial autonomy of Kosovo and Metohija." He added he regretted that "no government dared to adopt a law to which it was bound by the Constitution - the law on the substantial autonomy of Kosovo and Metohija". "If it did, he said, there would be no regulations the constitutionality of which needed to be assessed," according to Nikolic. This, he said, would give strength to the person going to Brussels to negotiate on Serbia's behalf. The president also noted he does not see how the agreements made by the previous government could be implemented, but added that perhaps someone in the EU might take this as the reason for not granting Serbia a date for the beginning of accession talks. Serbia will somehow handle the integrated management of administrative crossings, Nikolic said, but added he was skeptical about what will happen after January 10, when the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is to continue. "I really do not know what we will do" about the freedom of movement, he pointed out. According to him, the freedom of movement envisages that all people living in Kosovo and Metohija should apply for admission to the citizenship of Kosovo and become "Kosovars". "We are left to insist on the platform which resolves all the issues, including this one," he stressed, and added that the EU has also been put to the test and that the questions such as - whether Kosovo is a state and whether it is independent - are not questions to be asked for joining the EU, let alone for starting negotiations. When it comes to Kosovo and Metohija, Serbia is not negotiating with the EU. The EU is only hosting the meetings and "obviously takes the side of Albanians", he said. Besides the EU, many people in Serbia will also be put to the test when the material based on the platform is put before the parliament, he said, adding that the opposition should not qualify the platform as unrealistic and populist. "The Serbian citizens know that we cannot demand more than this and that less is not in Serbia's interest," he said. Asked why the national leadership has not managed to show unity when it comes to the platform not even after constant insistence and whether Serbia can afford to "internally" argue about the document, the Serbian president said that "there are no essential differences, but there are differences about how to formulate something," adding that he is ready for an agreement on these issues. "However, it would be good that those in power who have objections to the platform present them at meetings we are having, and, if I do not want to accept anything, then they are free to comment publicly and express their disagreement," Nikolic said, adding: "The authorities should restrain from public comment, because they create confusion and then one has the right to say "you do not agree on that, how you will face Albanians or the EU when you are not unanimous?" We are unanimous, but sometimes some comment from the EU affects some of our politicians to demonstrate that they are not guilty of this platform!" The platform will be incorporated into a resolution based on the platform's principles and Serbian MPs will be able to comment on it in early 2013, Nikolic said, adding that he will be proud if he manages to provide the vast majority in the parliament, but that he will consider that he did not do the job well if the vote relied solely on government representatives. "The platform and principles are an organically bound material, except that the MPs will declare themselves solely on what is written in the principles. There is no difference there, the platform is not intended for adoption and voting, but the adoption of the principles would mean that the parliament has agreed to the platform," Nikolic underlined. The president said that all remarks will be considered and most probably incorporated into the document, but that this must not stop the adoption of the platform. When asked to comment on negative reactions to the platform coming from the international community, Nikolic said that the first reactions by ambassadors and diplomats were much more positive than the ones which were later instructed by their governments. "The powers that be that have a goal ask from you to act with a view to the goal and they appreciate you a lot as long as you are submissive," Nikolic said, adding that in the manner he became a"cceptable and liked, as Serbia fulfilled its obligations" - but was now "waiting to see what will happen after the platform". "We will see if I have again become unpopular, disliked and a bad statesman. However, I was not elected to fulfill anyone's wishes, but those of the citizens of Serbia," Nikolic said. Being reserved about Serbia's achievements in view of the EU requirements for the start of the membership talks in June, Nikolic said that it is the Kosovo platform that offers answers to all questions, including parallel institutions and freedom of movement, which are mentioned in the latest conclusions of the European Council as conditions for the talks. "I am not even thinking about wins, I am only thinking about how to put a stop to losses - if we reach an agreement, and both Serbs and Albanians are dissatisfied with it, then this will be a true agreement. Serbs are not satisfied with my platform, but they have been brought to a realization that nothing more can be done. We should reach an agreement with which Albanians will no longer be satisfied," Nikolic said. For Nikolic, the right time to resolve the Kosovo issue is in the next few years, during his mandate, since, as he put it, this would mark the end of his political career. "This has to be resolved in this mandate, because I want to leave behind one great problem resolved, but most of all because Serbia cannot wait any longer," Nikolic concluded. Tomislav Nikolic (Tanjug) Tanjug

"No victory in Kosovo — but defeats must end"

But the at the same time added that "Serbia has finally stopped recoiling from the international community and ethnic Kosovo Albanians".

Asked "what is it that Serbia really wants in Kosovo", Nikolić replied: "We want to settle our relationship with the Albanians, we want to respect our Constitution and (UNSC) Resolution 1244, and both documents refer to the substantial autonomy of Kosovo and Metohija."

He added he regretted that "no government dared to adopt a law to which it was bound by the Constitution - the law on the substantial autonomy of Kosovo and Metohija".

"If it did, he said, there would be no regulations the constitutionality of which needed to be assessed," according to Nikolić.

This, he said, would give strength to the person going to Brussels to negotiate on Serbia's behalf.

The president also noted he does not see how the agreements made by the previous government could be implemented, but added that perhaps someone in the EU might take this as the reason for not granting Serbia a date for the beginning of accession talks.

Serbia will somehow handle the integrated management of administrative crossings, Nikolić said, but added he was skeptical about what will happen after January 10, when the Belgrade-Priština dialogue is to continue. "I really do not know what we will do" about the freedom of movement, he pointed out.

According to him, the freedom of movement envisages that all people living in Kosovo and Metohija should apply for admission to the citizenship of Kosovo and become "Kosovars".

"We are left to insist on the platform which resolves all the issues, including this one," he stressed, and added that the EU has also been put to the test and that the questions such as - whether Kosovo is a state and whether it is independent - are not questions to be asked for joining the EU, let alone for starting negotiations.

When it comes to Kosovo and Metohija, Serbia is not negotiating with the EU. The EU is only hosting the meetings and "obviously takes the side of Albanians", he said.

Besides the EU, many people in Serbia will also be put to the test when the material based on the platform is put before the parliament, he said, adding that the opposition should not qualify the platform as unrealistic and populist.

"The Serbian citizens know that we cannot demand more than this and that less is not in Serbia's interest," he said.

Asked why the national leadership has not managed to show unity when it comes to the platform not even after constant insistence and whether Serbia can afford to "internally" argue about the document, the Serbian president said that "there are no essential differences, but there are differences about how to formulate something," adding that he is ready for an agreement on these issues.

"However, it would be good that those in power who have objections to the platform present them at meetings we are having, and, if I do not want to accept anything, then they are free to comment publicly and express their disagreement," Nikolić said, adding:

"The authorities should restrain from public comment, because they create confusion and then one has the right to say "you do not agree on that, how you will face Albanians or the EU when you are not unanimous?" We are unanimous, but sometimes some comment from the EU affects some of our politicians to demonstrate that they are not guilty of this platform!"

The platform will be incorporated into a resolution based on the platform's principles and Serbian MPs will be able to comment on it in early 2013, Nikolić said, adding that he will be proud if he manages to provide the vast majority in the parliament, but that he will consider that he did not do the job well if the vote relied solely on government representatives.

"The platform and principles are an organically bound material, except that the MPs will declare themselves solely on what is written in the principles. There is no difference there, the platform is not intended for adoption and voting, but the adoption of the principles would mean that the parliament has agreed to the platform," Nikolić underlined.

The president said that all remarks will be considered and most probably incorporated into the document, but that this must not stop the adoption of the platform.

When asked to comment on negative reactions to the platform coming from the international community, Nikolić said that the first reactions by ambassadors and diplomats were much more positive than the ones which were later instructed by their governments.

"The powers that be that have a goal ask from you to act with a view to the goal and they appreciate you a lot as long as you are submissive," Nikolić said, adding that in the manner he became a"cceptable and liked, as Serbia fulfilled its obligations" - but was now "waiting to see what will happen after the platform".

"We will see if I have again become unpopular, disliked and a bad statesman. However, I was not elected to fulfill anyone's wishes, but those of the citizens of Serbia," Nikolić said.

Being reserved about Serbia's achievements in view of the EU requirements for the start of the membership talks in June, Nikolić said that it is the Kosovo platform that offers answers to all questions, including parallel institutions and freedom of movement, which are mentioned in the latest conclusions of the European Council as conditions for the talks.

"I am not even thinking about wins, I am only thinking about how to put a stop to losses - if we reach an agreement, and both Serbs and Albanians are dissatisfied with it, then this will be a true agreement. Serbs are not satisfied with my platform, but they have been brought to a realization that nothing more can be done. We should reach an agreement with which Albanians will no longer be satisfied," Nikolić said.

For Nikolić, the right time to resolve the Kosovo issue is in the next few years, during his mandate, since, as he put it, this would mark the end of his political career.

"This has to be resolved in this mandate, because I want to leave behind one great problem resolved, but most of all because Serbia cannot wait any longer," Nikolić concluded.