Kosovo dialogue continued in Brussels

The EU-sponsored Kosovo dialogue continued on Monday in Brussels after a break of some two months, when incidents on the administrative line interrupted it. Head of Belgrade's negotiating team Borislav Stefanovic expressed optimism as to the prospects of reaching a solution to the issues of recognition of university degrees, Pristina's presentation at regional meetings and administrative crossings. Kosovo dialogue continued in Brussels As regards the announced topics such as telecommunications and electricity, Stefanovic said that chances of agreement on these issues are rather low for the time being. He also noted that the talks would continue on Tuesday. Head of Pristina's negotiating team Edita Tahiri expressed hope that the new round of talks would bring certain progress in the dialogue, especially as regards the issue of administrative crossings. "Integrated border management is a solution in keeping with European standards," said she. However, Tahiri voiced certain concern over the fact that out of the five agreements reached in the previous rounds, "Serbia has so far implemented only one point, that of free trade". "Burdened with dilemmas" Belgrade negotiator Borislav Stefanovic told B92 on Sunday that the topics of the talks between Belgrade and Pristina today will be university diplomas, representation of Kosovo Albanian authorities in organization, as well as the administrative line checkpoints. He said that he was traveling to Brussels with "the full support of the government", while "each solution to these very complicated topics brings with it Pristina's full insistence to confirm their so-called statehood". Stefanovic said that "we cannot accept that", and that "with that very fact, it will not be easy to reach an agreement". But he added that the team he heads was traveling to the talks "with an intention, clear choice and readiness for agreement, as before". In Belgrade, LDP leader Cedomir Jovanovic said that "now negotiators were needed between ourselves ahead of traveling to Brussels". He said that "we cannot be a modern European nation with our head in Gazimestan and negotiator in Brussels", that Serbian was a society "with an ambition to smuggle itself to Europe on December 9", and that "we are heading to those negotiation as a society burdened within itself with many dilemmas". Jovanovic went on to describe the Serbian society as one "overwhelmed with a wave of prejudices, faults and shortcomings". Some in the opposition are also unhappy with the results of the negotiations thus far, with NS leader Velimir Ilic stating that the Serbian authorities "gave everything away", and "secretly accepted everything, customs, border". He also accused the government of leading "a triple policy: for the media, for the citizens, and for the U.S. and EU". Meanwhile at the EU, a source was quoted as saying that the agenda on Monday will focus on issues related to "electricity, telecommunications, and participation of Pristina officials in regional meetings". "Besides, we expect at least the opening og the issue of university diplomas," an unnamed diplomat was quoted by news reports. It was also said that there will be discussion of implementing agreements reached thus far, including that on customs seals.

Kosovo dialogue continued in Brussels

As regards the announced topics such as telecommunications and electricity, Stefanović said that chances of agreement on these issues are rather low for the time being.

He also noted that the talks would continue on Tuesday.

Head of Priština's negotiating team Edita Tahiri expressed hope that the new round of talks would bring certain progress in the dialogue, especially as regards the issue of administrative crossings.

"Integrated border management is a solution in keeping with European standards," said she.

However, Tahiri voiced certain concern over the fact that out of the five agreements reached in the previous rounds, "Serbia has so far implemented only one point, that of free trade".

"Burdened with dilemmas"

Belgrade negotiator Borislav Stefanović told B92 on Sunday that the topics of the talks between Belgrade and Priština today will be university diplomas, representation of Kosovo Albanian authorities in organization, as well as the administrative line checkpoints.

He said that he was traveling to Brussels with "the full support of the government", while "each solution to these very complicated topics brings with it Priština's full insistence to confirm their so-called statehood".

Stefanović said that "we cannot accept that", and that "with that very fact, it will not be easy to reach an agreement".

But he added that the team he heads was traveling to the talks "with an intention, clear choice and readiness for agreement, as before".

In Belgrade, LDP leader Čedomir Jovanović said that "now negotiators were needed between ourselves ahead of traveling to Brussels".

He said that "we cannot be a modern European nation with our head in Gazimestan and negotiator in Brussels", that Serbian was a society "with an ambition to smuggle itself to Europe on December 9", and that "we are heading to those negotiation as a society burdened within itself with many dilemmas".

Jovanović went on to describe the Serbian society as one "overwhelmed with a wave of prejudices, faults and shortcomings".

Some in the opposition are also unhappy with the results of the negotiations thus far, with NS leader Velimir Ilić stating that the Serbian authorities "gave everything away", and "secretly accepted everything, customs, border".

He also accused the government of leading "a triple policy: for the media, for the citizens, and for the U.S. and EU".

Meanwhile at the EU, a source was quoted as saying that the agenda on Monday will focus on issues related to "electricity, telecommunications, and participation of Priština officials in regional meetings".

"Besides, we expect at least the opening og the issue of university diplomas," an unnamed diplomat was quoted by news reports. It was also said that there will be discussion of implementing agreements reached thus far, including that on customs seals.