"Problems with Kosovo will mean problems in talks"

BELGRADE "We do not live in an ideal world but in one in which the rules are imposed," Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic told B92 TV n an interview on Monday. n this context, he noted that any problems "when it comes to relations with KiM (Kosovo and Metohija)," will also mean problems in Serbia's membership negotiations with the EU. "Problems with Kosovo will mean problems in talks" Dacic added that "we should be aware that negotiations with the EU are not starting because Serbia has achieved incredible reforms, but precisely because of the progress with regard to relations with Pristina." He described the start of EU membership negotiations on Tuesday as "a historic moment in many ways." Asked whether the Serbian delegation will include the minister without portfolio in charge of EU integration, his SPS party colleague Branko Ruzic, he said it would, and that beside himself and his deputy Aleksandar Vucic, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivan Mrkic, negotiator Tanja Miscevic, and "everyone else who participated in negotiations with the EU so far" would also be included. "What is important is that the government has adopted a document, which is the opening statement of Serbia that will be presented tomorrow. This document contains the position of Serbia on the negotiation framework and our view of the entire course of the negotiations," said the prime minister. When asked what that position was, Dacic said that it was "not a document that concerns only Kosovo, because it does not only talk about it, but also relates to the construction of the entire concept of our society." According to him, the goal is for Serbia to be prepared to join the EU by 2018, and "in 2020, with the new budget period, to truly be in the European Union." Commenting on the possibility of early elections in Serbia he said that "we cannot wait for the parties to decide on elections, everything cannot be brought to a halt." "I'm more in favor of continuation of the work and reforms than of elections. I think that a lot of work is ahead of us. Also, another intergovernmental conference with the EU is scheduled for June 25, when we will have a new 'systematic review' of what had been done by then," said Dacic. "Maybe I will attend the conference if I'm prime minister, and even if I still am, maybe not, because the process needs to go and run on working levels," Dacic said, adding that in February a team from the EU would arrive to Serbia, while screening on chapter 35, relating to Kosovo, will take place on February 22. Asked "whether we really know what is written in this chapter," the prime minister said "the title is written in it," and that it defines "what the review of screening, what has been done, how far we've come, what needs to be done." "This chapter is not a substitute for the (Kosovo) dialogue, in the sense that we would accept in this chapter what we have not accepted so far, and we think that's what it should say," he noted. Commenting on the withdrawal of elected mayor of Kosovska Mitrovica Krstimir Pantic, who headed the Srpska list in the local elections in Kosovo that the Serbian government backed, Dacic said his decision not to assume office was "not good, but we must bear in mind mind that the political climate in Kosovo is such that it is good that elections were held at all." He said that Pantic's decision "cannot slow down the implementation of the (Brussels) agreement because the community of Serb municipalities is not constituted by mayors but by municipal assemblies." "But the main topic related to Kosovo is the constitution of the community, and to do this municipal assemblies should have the statute, and beforehand decide whether they want that," said Dacic. Asked how this can be done in an atmosphere where a councilor is killed outside his home, the prime minister said that Serbia cannot be responsible for security in Kosovo because it has not police officers there, and noted that Kosovo was "far from the ideals of democracy, while half the Serbs opposed elections." "Therefore, what we did is bordering on the impossible," Dacic concluded. (Tanjug, file) B92

"Problems with Kosovo will mean problems in talks"

Dačić added that "we should be aware that negotiations with the EU are not starting because Serbia has achieved incredible reforms, but precisely because of the progress with regard to relations with Priština." He described the start of EU membership negotiations on Tuesday as "a historic moment in many ways."

Asked whether the Serbian delegation will include the minister without portfolio in charge of EU integration, his SPS party colleague Branko Ružić, he said it would, and that beside himself and his deputy Aleksandar Vučić, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivan Mrkić, negotiator Tanja Miščević, and "everyone else who participated in negotiations with the EU so far" would also be included.

"What is important is that the government has adopted a document, which is the opening statement of Serbia that will be presented tomorrow. This document contains the position of Serbia on the negotiation framework and our view of the entire course of the negotiations," said the prime minister.

When asked what that position was, Dačić said that it was "not a document that concerns only Kosovo, because it does not only talk about it, but also relates to the construction of the entire concept of our society."

According to him, the goal is for Serbia to be prepared to join the EU by 2018, and "in 2020, with the new budget period, to truly be in the European Union."

Commenting on the possibility of early elections in Serbia he said that "we cannot wait for the parties to decide on elections, everything cannot be brought to a halt."

"I'm more in favor of continuation of the work and reforms than of elections. I think that a lot of work is ahead of us. Also, another intergovernmental conference with the EU is scheduled for June 25, when we will have a new 'systematic review' of what had been done by then," said Dačić.

"Maybe I will attend the conference if I'm prime minister, and even if I still am, maybe not, because the process needs to go and run on working levels," Dačić said, adding that in February a team from the EU would arrive to Serbia, while screening on chapter 35, relating to Kosovo, will take place on February 22.

Asked "whether we really know what is written in this chapter," the prime minister said "the title is written in it," and that it defines "what the review of screening, what has been done, how far we've come, what needs to be done."

"This chapter is not a substitute for the (Kosovo) dialogue, in the sense that we would accept in this chapter what we have not accepted so far, and we think that's what it should say," he noted.

Commenting on the withdrawal of elected mayor of Kosovska Mitrovica Krstimir Pantić, who headed the Srpska list in the local elections in Kosovo that the Serbian government backed, Dačić said his decision not to assume office was "not good, but we must bear in mind mind that the political climate in Kosovo is such that it is good that elections were held at all."

He said that Pantić's decision "cannot slow down the implementation of the (Brussels) agreement because the community of Serb municipalities is not constituted by mayors but by municipal assemblies."

"But the main topic related to Kosovo is the constitution of the community, and to do this municipal assemblies should have the statute, and beforehand decide whether they want that," said Dačić.

Asked how this can be done in an atmosphere where a councilor is killed outside his home, the prime minister said that Serbia cannot be responsible for security in Kosovo because it has not police officers there, and noted that Kosovo was "far from the ideals of democracy, while half the Serbs opposed elections."

"Therefore, what we did is bordering on the impossible," Dačić concluded.