PM: Kosovo negotiations won't continue for now

BELGRADE Serbian PM Ivica Dacic said on Friday that there would be no continuation of the dialogue "because no acceptable agreement has been reached so far." When asked whether he would go to a new round of the negotiations, Dacic said: PM: Kosovo negotiations won't continue for now “If we went to Brussels, we would go to the signing or to a final round and it is unknown when and whether that will be, although I do know that it is important that it happenes by April 16 because of the date. But I remind you that a decision on a date (for the start of the EU accession talks) will be made in June”. At the 4th regional ministerial conference dubbed “The fight against organized crime, corruption and judicial cooperation in the region of Southeast Europe” in Belgrade on Friday the prime minister said that Serbia deserved to get a date for the start of the EU accession negotiations even if it did not reach an agreement with Pristina. He stressed that April 16, when Ashton will file her report to the European Commission, was not a D-Day for Serbia's EU integration. “April 16 is neither D-Day nor will all of our dreams about the EU and Kosovo will fall apart. April 17 will come,” Dacic said. “We want the continuation of the dialogue and believe that this should be accompanied by progress in the EU integration and that Serbia deserves to get the date,” he told a press conference. The PM stressed that there was nothing new in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and that Serbia requested an improvement of the offered deal on powers for the community of Serb municipalities in Kosovo. The last round of the talks ended without an agreement on April 2 in Brussels. Belgrade was given eight days to inform Brussels whether it would accept the offer or not. The Serbian government rejected the proposal on April 10. Ivica Dacic said on Friday that Serbia was seeking "improvements in agreements with Pristina in some key areas," adding that this issue will be discussed in the coming days. Speaking at a regional ministerial conference in Belgrade, Dacic said that the government's conclusion concerning the offer Serbia was given in the latest round of the Brussels-based dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina has not changed and there are no hidden messages and nothing to subject to negotiations. “It is easy to talk with us, especially with me, as I always say what I have to say,” said Dacic, adding that Serbia's goal is to reach an agreement. According to Dacic, the agreement will have nothing to do with a mutual recognition or normalization of relations with Kosovo, it is an agreement concerning a community of Serb municipalities in Kosovo. Dacic pointed out that the interim authorities in Pristina once talked about a broad autonomy for Serbs, speaking about southern Tyrol, but that now that Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic has made a concrete proposal, they are refusing even to consider it. “Some believed that we will agree to everything for the sake of a date and this is not fair,” Dacic said, adding that these actors also thought that Belgrade will by all means accept something that is impossible to implement. “I respect the position of the U.S., but this is not about them, it is about us,” Dacic said. Responding to a question about a possible arrival of European foreign policy Catherine Ashton to Serbia, Dacic said that her visit to the region was announced last month and that she will probably be in Belgrade on April 17. He added, however, that he is not sure if she will come and that he has received no information about it. When asked if certain deadlines may be imposed on Serbia, Dacic said that the deadlines that are being set are not official but rather dates when Catherine Ashton should submit a report discussing whether Serbia has fulfilled the requirements for obtaining a date for the start of EU membership talks. “After all, if we do not get a date, are we to stop the talks?” asked Dacic, adding that, despite everything, all things will go back to the negotiating table. “We want a date and we think we deserve it,” Dacic said. Ivica Dacic in Belgrade on Friday (Tanjug) B92 Beta

PM: Kosovo negotiations won't continue for now

“If we went to Brussels, we would go to the signing or to a final round and it is unknown when and whether that will be, although I do know that it is important that it happenes by April 16 because of the date. But I remind you that a decision on a date (for the start of the EU accession talks) will be made in June”.

At the 4th regional ministerial conference dubbed “The fight against organized crime, corruption and judicial cooperation in the region of Southeast Europe” in Belgrade on Friday the prime minister said that Serbia deserved to get a date for the start of the EU accession negotiations even if it did not reach an agreement with Priština.

He stressed that April 16, when Ashton will file her report to the European Commission, was not a D-Day for Serbia's EU integration.

“April 16 is neither D-Day nor will all of our dreams about the EU and Kosovo will fall apart. April 17 will come,” Dačić said.

“We want the continuation of the dialogue and believe that this should be accompanied by progress in the EU integration and that Serbia deserves to get the date,” he told a press conference.

The PM stressed that there was nothing new in the Belgrade-Priština dialogue and that Serbia requested an improvement of the offered deal on powers for the community of Serb municipalities in Kosovo.

The last round of the talks ended without an agreement on April 2 in Brussels. Belgrade was given eight days to inform Brussels whether it would accept the offer or not. The Serbian government rejected the proposal on April 10.

Ivica Dačić said on Friday that Serbia was seeking "improvements in agreements with Priština in some key areas," adding that this issue will be discussed in the coming days.

Speaking at a regional ministerial conference in Belgrade, Dačić said that the government's conclusion concerning the offer Serbia was given in the latest round of the Brussels-based dialogue between Belgrade and Priština has not changed and there are no hidden messages and nothing to subject to negotiations.

“It is easy to talk with us, especially with me, as I always say what I have to say,” said Dačić, adding that Serbia's goal is to reach an agreement.

According to Dačić, the agreement will have nothing to do with a mutual recognition or normalization of relations with Kosovo, it is an agreement concerning a community of Serb municipalities in Kosovo.

Dačić pointed out that the interim authorities in Priština once talked about a broad autonomy for Serbs, speaking about southern Tyrol, but that now that Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić has made a concrete proposal, they are refusing even to consider it.

“Some believed that we will agree to everything for the sake of a date and this is not fair,” Dačić said, adding that these actors also thought that Belgrade will by all means accept something that is impossible to implement.

“I respect the position of the U.S., but this is not about them, it is about us,” Dačić said.

Responding to a question about a possible arrival of European foreign policy Catherine Ashton to Serbia, Dačić said that her visit to the region was announced last month and that she will probably be in Belgrade on April 17. He added, however, that he is not sure if she will come and that he has received no information about it.

When asked if certain deadlines may be imposed on Serbia, Dačić said that the deadlines that are being set are not official but rather dates when Catherine Ashton should submit a report discussing whether Serbia has fulfilled the requirements for obtaining a date for the start of EU membership talks.

“After all, if we do not get a date, are we to stop the talks?” asked Dačić, adding that, despite everything, all things will go back to the negotiating table.

“We want a date and we think we deserve it,” Dačić said.