"Kosovo no state, agreements won't be signed"

Belgrade Kosovo talks team head Borislav Stefanovic today did not wish to comment on the details of future agreements with Kosovo's ethnic Albanians. This reaction came after the Pristina side in the ongoing dialogue made public what it said were the contents of the deals expected to be reached. "Kosovo no state, agreements won't be signed" "It is very bad to talk about the details of something that is yet to be agreed upon," commented Stefanovic. "The essence is to have main interests of both sides coincide. If that does not happen, there can be no agreements," he further stated, and added he was not willing to list the items on the negotiating agenda that might be "closed" in the meeting expected to take place on early July. However, Stefanovic stated that he was optimistic, noting at the same time that no agreements reached by the two sides would be signed. "Signatures would imply equality of two states, and as Kosovo is not a state to us, there will be no signing of agreements. They will be implemented instead by the two governments with the help of the EU," he concluded. Earlier today, Pristina team head Edita Tahiri said that an agreement on the six issues raised during the process thus far might be reached in early July, noting that the Kosovo government is ready to accept the EU proposed solutions. Tahiri said that a draft agreement had been offered to the two sides by the EU mediator Robert Cooper on June 6 and that experts were currently finalizing the document. She said the draft agreement included ideas by both sides in the talks but also those coming from the European viewpoint. Tahiri noted that a number of solutions contained in the text of the document could be implemented "immediately". She mentioned "the facilitation of the freedom of movement of people, that is, recognition of customs seals". Kosovo's ethnic Albanians unilaterally declared independence in February 2008, which Serbia rejected as an illegal act of secession. The ongoing dialogue under the auspices of the EU has been the first official contact between the two sides since. Borislav Stefanovic (Tanjug, file)

"Kosovo no state, agreements won't be signed"

"It is very bad to talk about the details of something that is yet to be agreed upon," commented Stefanović.

"The essence is to have main interests of both sides coincide. If that does not happen, there can be no agreements," he further stated, and added he was not willing to list the items on the negotiating agenda that might be "closed" in the meeting expected to take place on early July.

However, Stefanović stated that he was optimistic, noting at the same time that no agreements reached by the two sides would be signed.

"Signatures would imply equality of two states, and as Kosovo is not a state to us, there will be no signing of agreements. They will be implemented instead by the two governments with the help of the EU," he concluded.

Earlier today, Priština team head Edita Tahiri said that an agreement on the six issues raised during the process thus far might be reached in early July, noting that the Kosovo government is ready to accept the EU proposed solutions.

Tahiri said that a draft agreement had been offered to the two sides by the EU mediator Robert Cooper on June 6 and that experts were currently finalizing the document.

She said the draft agreement included ideas by both sides in the talks but also those coming from the European viewpoint. Tahiri noted that a number of solutions contained in the text of the document could be implemented "immediately".

She mentioned "the facilitation of the freedom of movement of people, that is, recognition of customs seals".

Kosovo's ethnic Albanians unilaterally declared independence in February 2008, which Serbia rejected as an illegal act of secession. The ongoing dialogue under the auspices of the EU has been the first official contact between the two sides since.