Priština "will not discuss division of Kosovo"

The dialogue with Belgrade will become unacceptable for Pristina if political issues, like a potential partition, are put on the table, says Edita Tahiri. She is heading the Kosovo Albanian team in the ongoing rounds of Kosovo meetings held in Brussels. Pristina "will not discuss division of Kosovo" Tahiri told Belgrade-based Blic newspaper that "Kosovo agreed to negotiate only technical issues". "However, head of the Serbian team Borislav Stefanovic has been very constructive so far, which gives cause for optimism," said she. Stefanovic's statement that Belgrade was open to a possibility to discuss a partition of Kosovo "will not threaten the talks if they remain focused on technical issues, as specified by a UN Security Council resolution", said Tahiri. According to her, the idea about dividing Kosovo is a political one "that was promoted by Slobodan Milosevic's politicians, and such ideas are a true danger to peace and stability in the region". "It is very dangerous to reopen the issue of borders, because it causes new complications and conflict at a time when everyone is focused on European integration," Tahiri stated, commenting "on the fact that former U.S. Ambassador to Serbia William Montgomery and a number of experts from Europe are advocating the division," writes the newspaper. "The Serbs living in northern Kosovo are merely a part of the Kosovo Serb population, and the rest of them have integrated into Kosovo's institutions," she noted. "The problem is that the Serbs in the north are under too much influence from Belgrade, she believes, adding that once Serbia stops exerting negative influence on them, they will quickly realize they have a future in Kosovo," claims Tahiri. Serbs in the north make up a majority that rejects both the ethnic Albanian unilateral declaration of independence made in early 2008 and the authority of the government in Pristina, while south of the Ibar River, Serbs live in isolated enclaves. The Pristina team chief also touched on another issue - Serbia's attempts to have the UN Security Council organize an investigation into human organ trafficking in Kosovo, allegedly committed by the Kosovo Albanian KLA. Currently this is the task of the EU mission in Kosovo, EULEX, according to the daily, which quotes Tahiri was saying that she "does think this will happen, because most UN members support EULEX".

Priština "will not discuss division of Kosovo"

Tahiri told Belgrade-based Blic newspaper that "Kosovo agreed to negotiate only technical issues".

"However, head of the Serbian team Borislav Stefanović has been very constructive so far, which gives cause for optimism," said she.

Stefanović's statement that Belgrade was open to a possibility to discuss a partition of Kosovo "will not threaten the talks if they remain focused on technical issues, as specified by a UN Security Council resolution", said Tahiri.

According to her, the idea about dividing Kosovo is a political one "that was promoted by Slobodan Milošević's politicians, and such ideas are a true danger to peace and stability in the region".

"It is very dangerous to reopen the issue of borders, because it causes new complications and conflict at a time when everyone is focused on European integration," Tahiri stated, commenting "on the fact that former U.S. Ambassador to Serbia William Montgomery and a number of experts from Europe are advocating the division," writes the newspaper.

"The Serbs living in northern Kosovo are merely a part of the Kosovo Serb population, and the rest of them have integrated into Kosovo's institutions," she noted.

"The problem is that the Serbs in the north are under too much influence from Belgrade, she believes, adding that once Serbia stops exerting negative influence on them, they will quickly realize they have a future in Kosovo," claims Tahiri.

Serbs in the north make up a majority that rejects both the ethnic Albanian unilateral declaration of independence made in early 2008 and the authority of the government in Priština, while south of the Ibar River, Serbs live in isolated enclaves.

The Priština team chief also touched on another issue - Serbia's attempts to have the UN Security Council organize an investigation into human organ trafficking in Kosovo, allegedly committed by the Kosovo Albanian KLA. Currently this is the task of the EU mission in Kosovo, EULEX, according to the daily, which quotes Tahiri was saying that she "does think this will happen, because most UN members support EULEX".