PM: Kosovo dialogue to resume on Jan. 28

BELGRADE Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said on Monday that talks between Belgrade and Pristina, held in Brussels with EU mediation, would resume on January 28. "We agreed with EU High Representative Catherine Ashton to continue the dialogue on January 28," Dacic told reporters after visiting an event for children organized in Belgrade to mark the New Year according to the Julian calendar. PM: Kosovo dialogue to resume on Jan. 28 Dacic said that the resumption of the dialogue was "key" for the continued implementation of the Brussels agreement, and that "a solution must be found for the establishment of the Community of Serb municipalities in Kosovo." "We must find a compromise, we cannot isolate ourselves," Dacic said. Commenting on the refusal elected northern Kosovska Mitrovica Mayor Kristimir Pantic to take the oath of office, the prime minister said this was Pantic's "personal gesture." "We have this problem were some peripheral issues become key political issues, and where Pristina wants to, through any norms, affirm its statehood," said he. Dacic added that it was "important that the government of Serbia has a unified policy and that it will in no case agree to blackmail in connection with status issues." "A repeat of all (local) elections in northern Kosovo would not be a good option for the Serbs. Where elections have to be repeated, it is now in the hands of authorities. At this point it is impossible to say what exactly will happen," said Dacic. Earlier on Monday, spokesperson of Ashton Maja Kocijancic said there was no confirmation as to when the next meeting between Dacic and Hashim Thaci may be held. (Tanjug, file) Beta Tanjug

PM: Kosovo dialogue to resume on Jan. 28

Dačić said that the resumption of the dialogue was "key" for the continued implementation of the Brussels agreement, and that "a solution must be found for the establishment of the Community of Serb municipalities in Kosovo."

"We must find a compromise, we cannot isolate ourselves," Dačić said.

Commenting on the refusal elected northern Kosovska Mitrovica Mayor Kristimir Pantić to take the oath of office, the prime minister said this was Pantić's "personal gesture."

"We have this problem were some peripheral issues become key political issues, and where Priština wants to, through any norms, affirm its statehood," said he.

Dačić added that it was "important that the government of Serbia has a unified policy and that it will in no case agree to blackmail in connection with status issues."

"A repeat of all (local) elections in northern Kosovo would not be a good option for the Serbs. Where elections have to be repeated, it is now in the hands of authorities. At this point it is impossible to say what exactly will happen," said Dačić.

Earlier on Monday, spokesperson of Ashton Maja Kocijančič said there was no confirmation as to when the next meeting between Dačić and Hashim Thaci may be held.