Belgrade, Priština ready for direct talks

The Contact Group Troika has estimated that both Belgrade and Pristina are ready for direct talks on Kosovo's future. Direct negotiations could start at the end of September in New York, on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly session. Belgrade, Pristina ready for direct talks In the meantime, the international Troika mediators will hold additional separate meetings with both sides, as European envoy Wolfgang Ischinger is expected to arrive in Belgrade on Monday. The German diplomat said following Thursday’s meetings in the Austrian capital that talks would definitely end on December 10, adding the chances are slim to achieve a compromise solution for Kosovo. In his words, Serbia so far has failed to "sufficiently outline its proposal for extended autonomy for the province." On the other hand, Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said that the Troika was very interested to hear out Belgrade’s concept of autonomy in the meeting the Serbian team described as constructive. “All three Troika mediators asked numerous questions, showing they were interested to comprehend what Belgrade has to offer and what the essential autonomy represents." "I believe it is a good start. We have agreed that direct negotiations on the province's future should commence as soon as possible and that is what we have been advocating from the very beginning,” he explained. Jeremic added that Serbia would "react adequately" if any state or an organization made moves to violate Serbia’s territorial integrity, all the wile stressing that this government will never let Serbia slide into isolation. Wisner: Status talks end in December The United States envoy to the Contact Group Troika, Frank Wisner, said on Saturday the trio is resolved not to extend Kosovo’s status talks beyond December 10 when they are expected to submit a report to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. Ischinger was the first who spoke on behalf of the Troika when told Vienna daily Der Standard on Friday that the talks would end on December 10. Wisner told Voice of America that representatives from Belgrade and Pristina “put certain ideas on the table”, adding that the Troika will make arrangements for the direct talks between the two sides planned for September. “I am not surprised at the lack of progress in recent Vienna meetings, since negotiations are in their early stage.” He stressed both sides were obligated to preserve peace in the region during the status talks, and reiterated that the mediating Troika demanded that Belgrade and Pristina make no moves which might lead to tensions, violence and conflicts.

Belgrade, Priština ready for direct talks

In the meantime, the international Troika mediators will hold additional separate meetings with both sides, as European envoy Wolfgang Ischinger is expected to arrive in Belgrade on Monday.

The German diplomat said following Thursday’s meetings in the Austrian capital that talks would definitely end on December 10, adding the chances are slim to achieve a compromise solution for Kosovo.

In his words, Serbia so far has failed to "sufficiently outline its proposal for extended autonomy for the province."

On the other hand, Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić said that the Troika was very interested to hear out Belgrade’s concept of autonomy in the meeting the Serbian team described as constructive.

“All three Troika mediators asked numerous questions, showing they were interested to comprehend what Belgrade has to offer and what the essential autonomy represents."

"I believe it is a good start. We have agreed that direct negotiations on the province's future should commence as soon as possible and that is what we have been advocating from the very beginning,” he explained.

Jeremić added that Serbia would "react adequately" if any state or an organization made moves to violate Serbia’s territorial integrity, all the wile stressing that this government will never let Serbia slide into isolation.

Wisner: Status talks end in December

The United States envoy to the Contact Group Troika, Frank Wisner, said on Saturday the trio is resolved not to extend Kosovo’s status talks beyond December 10 when they are expected to submit a report to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

Ischinger was the first who spoke on behalf of the Troika when told Vienna daily Der Standard on Friday that the talks would end on December 10.

Wisner told Voice of America that representatives from Belgrade and Priština “put certain ideas on the table”, adding that the Troika will make arrangements for the direct talks between the two sides planned for September.

“I am not surprised at the lack of progress in recent Vienna meetings, since negotiations are in their early stage.”

He stressed both sides were obligated to preserve peace in the region during the status talks, and reiterated that the mediating Troika demanded that Belgrade and Priština make no moves which might lead to tensions, violence and conflicts.