Top officials wrap up meeting on Kosovo talks

BELGRADE Top state officials finished their meeting on the eighth round of the dialogue with Pristina around 15:00 CET. Marko Djuric says the situation is "dramatic". The presidential advisor stated after the meeting that the situation was “as dramatic as before the Dayton and Rambouillet talks”. Top officials wrap up meeting on Kosovo talks The meeting in the Serbian Presidency started a little after 12:00 CET. Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, PM Ivica Dacic, First Deputy PM Aleksandar Vucic, Deputy PM Suzana Grubjesic and Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic attended the meeting. “We are in a dramatically difficult situation, just like ahead of the negotiations in Dayton and Rambouillet. The top state officials will constantly hold sessions until the negotiations,” Djuric said. He added that members of the Serbian delegation that would travel to Brussels on April 2 would be selected and their names released on Monday. “Political responsibility will be divided among all participants,” the president’s advisor noted and assessed that Serbia was in a “dramatically difficult position” and that the country and citizens would face serious consequences regardless of the outcome of the talks in Brussels. When asked what he meant when he said “dramatic situation” and “difficult consequences”, he said that Serbia had a dilemma and had to choose between two very difficult paths. "One path is accepting solutions which are not ideal and which are very hard for the whole country, and the other is a path where we are not in the position to accept what is on the table, because the other side was unwilling to compromise," Djuric explained. He did not want to comment on media reports that British and German foreign ministers would be involved in the eighth round of the dialogue on April 2 in Brussels. “The top state officials have full confidence in those who have been running the talks so far, so all options are possible,” Djuric stressed. He noted that “"Serbia will not participate in other parties' preparations in the process” and reiterated that a decision on members of the Serbian team would be made on Monday. He added that it was very important for the Serbian delegation to have an opportunity to assess elements offered by the other side on April 2 in order to be able to make a decision. The senior state officials already met on Monday and noted after the meeting that the Serbian delegation would go to the next round of the dialogue on April 2 with precisely defined powers for a community of Serb municipalities. Parliamentary Committee on Kosovo and Metohija Chairman Milovan Drecun said at the time that nine criteria had been defined at the meeting based on which the Serbian negotiating team would decide what was acceptable. He told B92 on Wednesday that those criteria “are nothing new”. Vucic's office has announced that he will hold a press conference on Saturday and he is expected to say whether he will participate in the new round of the talks on April 2 in Brussels. According to media reports, he has been invited by both EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and the U.S. However, Vucic wants foreign ministers of some of the most influential EU member states, such as German or British FMs, to take part in the next round and be an additional guarantor and support. Daily Vecernje novosti reported on Friday that Vucic would not travel to Brussels on April 2. Marko Djuric and Aleksandar Vucic seen in front of the Serbian Presidency (Tanjug) B92 Beta Tanjug

Top officials wrap up meeting on Kosovo talks

The meeting in the Serbian Presidency started a little after 12:00 CET. Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić, PM Ivica Dačić, First Deputy PM Aleksandar Vučić, Deputy PM Suzana Grubješić and Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkić attended the meeting.

“We are in a dramatically difficult situation, just like ahead of the negotiations in Dayton and Rambouillet. The top state officials will constantly hold sessions until the negotiations,” Đurić said.

He added that members of the Serbian delegation that would travel to Brussels on April 2 would be selected and their names released on Monday.

“Political responsibility will be divided among all participants,” the president’s advisor noted and assessed that Serbia was in a “dramatically difficult position” and that the country and citizens would face serious consequences regardless of the outcome of the talks in Brussels.

When asked what he meant when he said “dramatic situation” and “difficult consequences”, he said that Serbia had a dilemma and had to choose between two very difficult paths.

"One path is accepting solutions which are not ideal and which are very hard for the whole country, and the other is a path where we are not in the position to accept what is on the table, because the other side was unwilling to compromise," Đurić explained.

He did not want to comment on media reports that British and German foreign ministers would be involved in the eighth round of the dialogue on April 2 in Brussels.

“The top state officials have full confidence in those who have been running the talks so far, so all options are possible,” Đurić stressed.

He noted that “"Serbia will not participate in other parties' preparations in the process” and reiterated that a decision on members of the Serbian team would be made on Monday.

He added that it was very important for the Serbian delegation to have an opportunity to assess elements offered by the other side on April 2 in order to be able to make a decision.

The senior state officials already met on Monday and noted after the meeting that the Serbian delegation would go to the next round of the dialogue on April 2 with precisely defined powers for a community of Serb municipalities.

Parliamentary Committee on Kosovo and Metohija Chairman Milovan Drecun said at the time that nine criteria had been defined at the meeting based on which the Serbian negotiating team would decide what was acceptable. He told B92 on Wednesday that those criteria “are nothing new”.

Vučić's office has announced that he will hold a press conference on Saturday and he is expected to say whether he will participate in the new round of the talks on April 2 in Brussels. According to media reports, he has been invited by both EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and the U.S.

However, Vučić wants foreign ministers of some of the most influential EU member states, such as German or British FMs, to take part in the next round and be an additional guarantor and support.

Daily Večernje novosti reported on Friday that Vučić would not travel to Brussels on April 2.