EULEX won’t take part in dialogue

EULEX chief has stated that EU mission in Kosovo will facilitate dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina but that it will not be involved in it. Outgoing EULEX Chief Yves de Kermabon will in less than two weeks be succeeded by his compatriot Xavier Bout de Marnhac. EULEX won’t take part in dialogue Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic says that Belgrade is completely ready to find solutions for all open issues through the dialogue. EULEX will not participate in negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina, Kermabon confirmed. He pointed out that the goal of the EULEX was to substantially strengthen the rule of law in northern Kosovo. “It is important to establish trust of the population, both in north and in south of Kosovo, so EULEX could show that it is working in the interest of a better and safer life of the people in Kosovo. By establishing the rule of law in Kosovo EULEX can facilitate dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, but it will not get involved as a mission,” the EULEX chief said. The Serbian FM stresses that Serbia is ready to open up all unsolved issues during negotiations and that a solution which is acceptable for both sides is also important for the sake of further EU integrations of the entire region. “We want to use the opportunity to restore trust, to stabilize situation and take one step further that will enable conditions to be met, to find a compromise, sustainable solution for the future status of Kosovo and Metohija that will be acceptable for all sides and that will be in the function of establishment of European future for the entire region of the Western Balkans,” explained Jeremic. At the same time KFOR Commander Erhard Buehler points out that it is also necessary to establish the dialogue between communities on a local level. “I’m not talking about political but about the dialogue on a local level. Mayors and influential people and people responsible for security should try to talk about security. We must take into account that this part does not exactly have a good reputation and it is associated with conflicts,” Buehler said. Crisis Group's Balkans Project Director Marko Prelec told Voice of America that current situation in northern Kosovo should not influence the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. “I think that it would be a mistake to give too much importance to northern Kosovo, it’s a very small part of the world, we don’t know exactly how many people live there, but approximately about 50,000 people. When you compare that to Belgrade, you see how big the ratio is. It is important that Serbia openly says in the negotiations what it intends to do, what it is ready to do, what historical compromise it has to offer and I hope that the (U.S.) secretary of state (Hillary Clinton) will say that too, and it is also important for Kosovo to take part in the negotiations and to hear and seriously consider what Serbia is suggesting,” Prelec stressed. He also pointed out that institutional crisis in Kosovo government would disable decisions about the most tense issues and that it would be best if the negotiations began with talks about technical issues.

EULEX won’t take part in dialogue

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić says that Belgrade is completely ready to find solutions for all open issues through the dialogue.

EULEX will not participate in negotiations between Belgrade and Priština, Kermabon confirmed. He pointed out that the goal of the EULEX was to substantially strengthen the rule of law in northern Kosovo.

“It is important to establish trust of the population, both in north and in south of Kosovo, so EULEX could show that it is working in the interest of a better and safer life of the people in Kosovo. By establishing the rule of law in Kosovo EULEX can facilitate dialogue between Belgrade and Priština, but it will not get involved as a mission,” the EULEX chief said.

The Serbian FM stresses that Serbia is ready to open up all unsolved issues during negotiations and that a solution which is acceptable for both sides is also important for the sake of further EU integrations of the entire region.

“We want to use the opportunity to restore trust, to stabilize situation and take one step further that will enable conditions to be met, to find a compromise, sustainable solution for the future status of Kosovo and Metohija that will be acceptable for all sides and that will be in the function of establishment of European future for the entire region of the Western Balkans,” explained Jeremić.

At the same time KFOR Commander Erhard Buehler points out that it is also necessary to establish the dialogue between communities on a local level.

“I’m not talking about political but about the dialogue on a local level. Mayors and influential people and people responsible for security should try to talk about security. We must take into account that this part does not exactly have a good reputation and it is associated with conflicts,” Buehler said.

Crisis Group's Balkans Project Director Marko Prelec told Voice of America that current situation in northern Kosovo should not influence the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština.

“I think that it would be a mistake to give too much importance to northern Kosovo, it’s a very small part of the world, we don’t know exactly how many people live there, but approximately about 50,000 people. When you compare that to Belgrade, you see how big the ratio is. It is important that Serbia openly says in the negotiations what it intends to do, what it is ready to do, what historical compromise it has to offer and I hope that the (U.S.) secretary of state (Hillary Clinton) will say that too, and it is also important for Kosovo to take part in the negotiations and to hear and seriously consider what Serbia is suggesting,” Prelec stressed.

He also pointed out that institutional crisis in Kosovo government would disable decisions about the most tense issues and that it would be best if the negotiations began with talks about technical issues.