President: No conditions for Kosovo elections

President Boris Tadic says the conditions are not there for Serbia to call on Serbs in Kosovo to take part in elections. The voting will be organized in December by the Kosovo Albanian authorities in Pristina. President: No conditions for Kosovo elections Tadic also told Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti that the "(ethnic) Albanian side is avoiding dialogue and to all intents and purposes postponing it, because it doesn't suit it, otherwise the dialogue would already have started". Asked about criticism coming his way that this dialogue will not be about Kosovo's status, Tadic said that he "did not care at all" what format or title the talks would have, but that he was only interested in the future solution. He added that he wished for the historical conflict between Serbs and Albanians to be solved, and that "we are ready to talk with Albanians about all problems that bother us in Kosovo in search of a compromise". Tadic further explained that there were "ways to maintain good relations with Pristina without recognizing Kosovo" and that the very dialogue was a form of good relations. Serbia will recognize Kosovo, said the president, "only after the government adopts such an act during a government session", and asserted that this will not happen. As for the Hague cooperation, Tadic commented on the forthcoming visit by Chief Hague Prosecutor Serge Brammertz to say that he "cannot get anything new", since he is being informed on a daily basis about the entire cooperation process. "The real question is whether Mladic is in Serbia. I hope he is and I believe we are approaching the end of cooperation with the Tribunal," said Tadic. He said his own and the government's big success was that the EU integration process was unblocked. Tadic also said Serbia was ready to withdraw its genocide lawsuit against Croatia, but that he was not sure Croatia was ready to do the same "at this point", noting that the EU supported both lawsuits to be withdrawn. Tadic stated that at the moment, the priority issues in Serbia are economic development and creation of new jobs, which have to be in the focus of the Serbian government. Commenting on the report by the European Commission on Serbia's progress in the EU integration process, Tadic said that the report was not surprising to Serbia, as it specifies that the country has made progress, but that the dynamics in certain areas was insufficient. The political stability, economic atmosphere and relations in the region are qualified as good. However, the justice system reform is not as satisfying, primarily because the process of verification of all elected judges has not been completed, Tadic said. “It is important to reiterate that this (report) does not represent any kind of commandments, but rather instructions for all, since there are no better rules than the ones of Europe,” Tadic said. Boris Tadic (Tanjug, file)

President: No conditions for Kosovo elections

Tadić also told Belgrade daily Večernje Novosti that the "(ethnic) Albanian side is avoiding dialogue and to all intents and purposes postponing it, because it doesn't suit it, otherwise the dialogue would already have started".

Asked about criticism coming his way that this dialogue will not be about Kosovo's status, Tadić said that he "did not care at all" what format or title the talks would have, but that he was only interested in the future solution.

He added that he wished for the historical conflict between Serbs and Albanians to be solved, and that "we are ready to talk with Albanians about all problems that bother us in Kosovo in search of a compromise".

Tadić further explained that there were "ways to maintain good relations with Priština without recognizing Kosovo" and that the very dialogue was a form of good relations.

Serbia will recognize Kosovo, said the president, "only after the government adopts such an act during a government session", and asserted that this will not happen.

As for the Hague cooperation, Tadić commented on the forthcoming visit by Chief Hague Prosecutor Serge Brammertz to say that he "cannot get anything new", since he is being informed on a daily basis about the entire cooperation process.

"The real question is whether Mladić is in Serbia. I hope he is and I believe we are approaching the end of cooperation with the Tribunal," said Tadić.

He said his own and the government's big success was that the EU integration process was unblocked.

Tadić also said Serbia was ready to withdraw its genocide lawsuit against Croatia, but that he was not sure Croatia was ready to do the same "at this point", noting that the EU supported both lawsuits to be withdrawn.

Tadić stated that at the moment, the priority issues in Serbia are economic development and creation of new jobs, which have to be in the focus of the Serbian government.

Commenting on the report by the European Commission on Serbia's progress in the EU integration process, Tadić said that the report was not surprising to Serbia, as it specifies that the country has made progress, but that the dynamics in certain areas was insufficient.

The political stability, economic atmosphere and relations in the region are qualified as good. However, the justice system reform is not as satisfying, primarily because the process of verification of all elected judges has not been completed, Tadić said.

“It is important to reiterate that this (report) does not represent any kind of commandments, but rather instructions for all, since there are no better rules than the ones of Europe,” Tadić said.