UN, EU support "new talks ideas"

The UN and the EU support the “new ideas“ on direct or indirect talks between Belgrade and Pristina to resolve “practical matters“ in Kosovo. According to Beta, who quote diplomatic sources in Brussels and New York, at stake is what looks very much like the “non-status part“ proposal that EU envoy to the negotiating Troika Wolfgang Ischinger put forward some time ago, modeled on similar talks between the two Germanies during the Seventies. UN, EU support "new talks ideas" However, because the talks would be mediated by the UN, that would rule out the possibility of any suggestion of recognition or direct contact with the unilaterally independent Kosovo. Recently, the UN again confirmed that UNMIK, on the basis of Resolution 1244, was the only temporary international power in Kosovo. These talks, which would not in any way touch upon the province’s status, should lead to an easing of the current tension and problems surrounding UNMIK’s activities in regions populated mainly by Serbs, who, like Belgrade, do not recognize or accept jurisdiction in the province being assumed by the EU or the unilaterally anointed institutions of Pristina. It is felt that Serbia and the Kosovo Serbs should be very keen to begin seeking a solution over disputes concerning the misappropriation of refugees or displaced persons’ private property, problems concerning privatization of companies, agricultural complexes, forests and land, where Serbian corporations, banks and the Orthodox Church claim rights to invested funds and deeds. According to diplomats in Brussels and New York, it seems that these talks would also include Belgrade’s proposal for an “administrative division“ of Kosovo, the so-called “functional division of Serbs and Albanians,“ as offered by Kosovo Minister Slobodan Samardzic in March.

UN, EU support "new talks ideas"

However, because the talks would be mediated by the UN, that would rule out the possibility of any suggestion of recognition or direct contact with the unilaterally independent Kosovo.

Recently, the UN again confirmed that UNMIK, on the basis of Resolution 1244, was the only temporary international power in Kosovo.

These talks, which would not in any way touch upon the province’s status, should lead to an easing of the current tension and problems surrounding UNMIK’s activities in regions populated mainly by Serbs, who, like Belgrade, do not recognize or accept jurisdiction in the province being assumed by the EU or the unilaterally anointed institutions of Priština.

It is felt that Serbia and the Kosovo Serbs should be very keen to begin seeking a solution over disputes concerning the misappropriation of refugees or displaced persons’ private property, problems concerning privatization of companies, agricultural complexes, forests and land, where Serbian corporations, banks and the Orthodox Church claim rights to invested funds and deeds.

According to diplomats in Brussels and New York, it seems that these talks would also include Belgrade’s proposal for an “administrative division“ of Kosovo, the so-called “functional division of Serbs and Albanians,“ as offered by Kosovo Minister Slobodan Samardžić in March.