Kosovo minister to promote reconciliation

The Kosovo Ministry will do all it can to promote reconciliation between the Serbs and Albanians. Speaking in Gracanica at his first press conference since taking over the post, Kosovo Minister Goran Bogdanovic said that the ministry would try to achieve full cooperation with UNMIK, while the presence of EULEX without a new UN Security Council resolution would be unacceptable. Kosovo minister to promote reconciliation "We think that UNMIK is the only legitimate body in the province, and we will cooperate with it on a daily basis. Both the Serbs living here and the international community will benefit from this cooperation,” said the minister. "I will also use this opportunity to express both mine and the government’s position that the EULEX presence in Kosovo is absolutely unacceptable without a new Security Council resolution or decision, and we do not believe that EULEX can be our partner in resolving problems,” he stressed. The ministry would talk to the representatives elected at May 11 Serbian elections, who were, according to the minister, the only legitimately elected representatives. “I am not ready to accept dual coordinators, dual municipal speakers. That is a clear position that both the government and I share. All those who do not hand over their duties on Wednesday will be relieved of their duties at the cabinet meeting on Thursday,” Bogdanovic stressed. Kosovo District Coordinator Goran Arsic hopes that the appointment of a new minister will lead to better cooperation between the Kosovo district and the Kosovo Ministry. "The minister has already made it clear that the ministry will not be controlled by only one party, since, as you already know, the state secretary and the head of the Coordination Center will come from G17 Plus. Everyone will work on the ground, and the will of the people will be respected, no matter their political affiliation,” Arsic said. Bogdanovic emphasized that Kosovo was not a party issue, but the most important state issue, and pledged to promote reconciliation in overcoming the divisions on the subject of Kosovo.

Kosovo minister to promote reconciliation

"We think that UNMIK is the only legitimate body in the province, and we will cooperate with it on a daily basis. Both the Serbs living here and the international community will benefit from this cooperation,” said the minister.

"I will also use this opportunity to express both mine and the government’s position that the EULEX presence in Kosovo is absolutely unacceptable without a new Security Council resolution or decision, and we do not believe that EULEX can be our partner in resolving problems,” he stressed.

The ministry would talk to the representatives elected at May 11 Serbian elections, who were, according to the minister, the only legitimately elected representatives.

“I am not ready to accept dual coordinators, dual municipal speakers. That is a clear position that both the government and I share. All those who do not hand over their duties on Wednesday will be relieved of their duties at the cabinet meeting on Thursday,” Bogdanović stressed.

Kosovo District Coordinator Goran Arsić hopes that the appointment of a new minister will lead to better cooperation between the Kosovo district and the Kosovo Ministry.

"The minister has already made it clear that the ministry will not be controlled by only one party, since, as you already know, the state secretary and the head of the Coordination Center will come from G17 Plus. Everyone will work on the ground, and the will of the people will be respected, no matter their political affiliation,” Arsić said.

Bogdanović emphasized that Kosovo was not a party issue, but the most important state issue, and pledged to promote reconciliation in overcoming the divisions on the subject of Kosovo.