"Serbs in Kosovo have great trust in government"

BELGRADE Aleksandar Vulin says he expects representatives of Serbs in the north of the province to participate in the implementation of the Brussels agreement. The director of Government Office for Kosovo also assessed that the Serbs in the province have "great trust" in the government in Belgrade. "Serbs in Kosovo have great trust in government" "We will be with the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija and we got the promise from them that they will be with their country," he told Belgrade's Vecernje Novosti daily after a two-day visit to Kosovo, where he discussed the application of the Brussels agreement with the Serbs. He also stated that "all Serbs" in the province felt concern, but that there was "determination to resolve this concern with the their state and government, because they have great confidence in the government in Belgrade." "To the extent that it explains to them the necessity of implementing the agreement, they will accept it. I expect that the Serbs in the north will be with their government that will do all it can so that we work in the common interest," said Vulin. Asked whether the Serbs would have the right to Serbian citizenship, personal documents, diplomas, Vulin said that personal rights cannot be connected to a political decision such as a recognition of a state or a nationality. "So, if the agreement is status-neutral means that the Kosovo Serbs will be able to continue to live with their documents, and that is what our negotiating team insists on," this government official explained. He also pointed to examples in Europe where diplomas have stamps of some schools, not the state, and that this policy can and must be true of Serb students in Kosovo. Vulin said that jobs are the key to survival and therefore that no job created by Serbia must not be lost, and that no person's existence or security can be compromised. According to Vulin, what the state leadership has been doing, related to the agreement, did not have to do with getting a EU talks date - but with the Serbs remains in Kosovo, surviving, "and being more numerous tomorrow." "Without the presence of Serbia the life for our people in the province would be impossible," said Vulin. Asked if the agreement with Pristina could reach a dead end, Vulin said expected that the international community will be able to ensure compliance, "in particular as it is clear that many in Pristina will try to bring the deal down." When asked whether the municipal presidents from northern Kosovo to be removed like those in the south if they continue to oppose the agreement, Vulin said that those were "not removed for their political views, but because their mandate had expired." (Tanjug, file) Tanjug Vecernje novosti

"Serbs in Kosovo have great trust in government"

"We will be with the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija and we got the promise from them that they will be with their country," he told Belgrade's Večernje Novosti daily after a two-day visit to Kosovo, where he discussed the application of the Brussels agreement with the Serbs.

He also stated that "all Serbs" in the province felt concern, but that there was "determination to resolve this concern with the their state and government, because they have great confidence in the government in Belgrade."

"To the extent that it explains to them the necessity of implementing the agreement, they will accept it. I expect that the Serbs in the north will be with their government that will do all it can so that we work in the common interest," said Vulin.

Asked whether the Serbs would have the right to Serbian citizenship, personal documents, diplomas, Vulin said that personal rights cannot be connected to a political decision such as a recognition of a state or a nationality.

"So, if the agreement is status-neutral means that the Kosovo Serbs will be able to continue to live with their documents, and that is what our negotiating team insists on," this government official explained.

He also pointed to examples in Europe where diplomas have stamps of some schools, not the state, and that this policy can and must be true of Serb students in Kosovo.

Vulin said that jobs are the key to survival and therefore that no job created by Serbia must not be lost, and that no person's existence or security can be compromised.

According to Vulin, what the state leadership has been doing, related to the agreement, did not have to do with getting a EU talks date - but with the Serbs remains in Kosovo, surviving, "and being more numerous tomorrow." "Without the presence of Serbia the life for our people in the province would be impossible," said Vulin.

Asked if the agreement with Priština could reach a dead end, Vulin said expected that the international community will be able to ensure compliance, "in particular as it is clear that many in Priština will try to bring the deal down."

When asked whether the municipal presidents from northern Kosovo to be removed like those in the south if they continue to oppose the agreement, Vulin said that those were "not removed for their political views, but because their mandate had expired."