K. Albanian officials talk Resolution 1244

The Pristina negotiator says there was no agrement on participation of Kosovo in regional meetings because Serbia insists on Resolution 1244. Edita Tahiri has stated that although Belgrade accepted that Pristina should have the rights to vote, decide and sign documents at regional forums, an agreement was not reached "as Serbia wants Kosovo to be presented in keeping with UN Security Council Resolution 1244". K. Albanian officials talk Resolution 1244 "Kosovo does not want to accept that since it is an independent state. The entire region is living in a new reality and Serbia has to accept that. Resolution 1244 is of no consequence any more. The majority of regional countries have recognized Kosovo, and Belgrade has to reconcile with that," Tahiri said for the Tuesday edition of Belgrade daily Danas. She said that the talks in Brussels will continue "once Serbia implements all agreements that have been reached so far, including those on free trade and removal of barricades". "Serbia has to start implementing the agreements, since the EU is waiting for the same thing. These are the conclusions of the EU Council of Ministers on December 5. Belgrade is requested to normalize relations with Pristina, remove barricades and abolish parallel institutions," Tahiri said. According to her, the date of a new round of talks will be set by EU mediator Robert Cooper, "who is to urge Belgrade to start implementing the agreements that Kosovo fully observes". Commenting proposals of certain Western officials that special talks should be launched regarding the northern part of Kosovo and Metohija, Tahiri said that Pristina "is not ready for new political talks with Serbia". She said that "following the negotiations in Rambouillet and Vienna there will be no more political dialogues, but just talks on technical issues, in which Pristina is ready to accept European standards for integration of the Serb minority in north Kosovo". Edita Tahiri (Beta, file) Acceptable, and unacceptable On Monday, Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said that Pristina supports UN Security Council Resolution 1244 "because it confirms Kosovo's territorial integrity in line with European standards". He did not wish to comment on whether the resolution's formula for how Pristina should be represented at regional fora was acceptable. When asked by a Tanjug reporter if it was acceptable to Pristina to invoke Resolution 1244 when it comes to regional representation, since Pristina had invoked it before the International Court of Justice, Thaci responded that "any solution that preserved Kosovo's sovereignty was acceptable". When asked to clarify, he stated that "the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina would continue", that Pristina "requested it", and that "the agreement on integrated border management was good". Speaking during a meeting with Serbian journalists organized by the International Civilian Office (ICO) in Pristina, Thaci also stated that it was "absolutely unacceptable to Pristina for northern Kosovo to be granted a special status". He invited again the northern Kosovo Serbs to a meeting to discuss the current situation and future plans. Serbs north of the Ibar River form a majority population, and reject the ethnic Albanian unilateral declaration of independence, made nearly four years ago. They also do not accept the authority of the Kosovo Albanian government in Pristina.

K. Albanian officials talk Resolution 1244

"Kosovo does not want to accept that since it is an independent state. The entire region is living in a new reality and Serbia has to accept that. Resolution 1244 is of no consequence any more. The majority of regional countries have recognized Kosovo, and Belgrade has to reconcile with that," Tahiri said for the Tuesday edition of Belgrade daily Danas.

She said that the talks in Brussels will continue "once Serbia implements all agreements that have been reached so far, including those on free trade and removal of barricades".

"Serbia has to start implementing the agreements, since the EU is waiting for the same thing. These are the conclusions of the EU Council of Ministers on December 5. Belgrade is requested to normalize relations with Priština, remove barricades and abolish parallel institutions," Tahiri said.

According to her, the date of a new round of talks will be set by EU mediator Robert Cooper, "who is to urge Belgrade to start implementing the agreements that Kosovo fully observes".

Commenting proposals of certain Western officials that special talks should be launched regarding the northern part of Kosovo and Metohija, Tahiri said that Priština "is not ready for new political talks with Serbia".

She said that "following the negotiations in Rambouillet and Vienna there will be no more political dialogues, but just talks on technical issues, in which Priština is ready to accept European standards for integration of the Serb minority in north Kosovo".

Acceptable, and unacceptable

On Monday, Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said that Priština supports UN Security Council Resolution 1244 "because it confirms Kosovo's territorial integrity in line with European standards".

He did not wish to comment on whether the resolution's formula for how Priština should be represented at regional fora was acceptable.

When asked by a Tanjug reporter if it was acceptable to Priština to invoke Resolution 1244 when it comes to regional representation, since Priština had invoked it before the International Court of Justice, Thaci responded that "any solution that preserved Kosovo's sovereignty was acceptable".

When asked to clarify, he stated that "the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština would continue", that Priština "requested it", and that "the agreement on integrated border management was good".

Speaking during a meeting with Serbian journalists organized by the International Civilian Office (ICO) in Priština, Thaci also stated that it was "absolutely unacceptable to Priština for northern Kosovo to be granted a special status".

He invited again the northern Kosovo Serbs to a meeting to discuss the current situation and future plans.

Serbs north of the Ibar River form a majority population, and reject the ethnic Albanian unilateral declaration of independence, made nearly four years ago. They also do not accept the authority of the Kosovo Albanian government in Priština.