"Priština accepts footnote, but not 1244"

Edita Tahiri says Pristina "finds it acceptable to be represented in regional initiatives with its name and a footnote saying “without prejudice to the status”. In a statement for Tanjug, chief negotiator of the Kosovo Albanian authorities in the ongoing, EU-sponsored Kosovo dialogue added that this would be "a balanced solution, as it would respect the stands of both sides", and that "it could be an acceptable solution for the key issue of the next round of the talks". "Pristina accepts footnote, but not 1244" "I must say that the views of the two sides are at the moment far apart, as Serbia is insisting on adding the reference '1244' to the name of Kosovo, which is unacceptable for us," Tahiri said, adding that that UN Security Council Resolution 1244 "has become too narrow both in political and legal sense". As regards the continuation of Belgrade-Pristina talks, Tahiri said that the exact date would probably be known following the visits by EU facilitator to the dialogue Robert Cooper to Belgrade and Pristina, scheduled for later this week. "I think that the visit will bring the views of the two sides closer, and contribute to resolving the key issue," according to Tahiri. She added that Pristina was "ready to endorse the option which would envisage that the name of Kosovo be coupled with the footnote saying 'without prejudice to the status'." "Such phrasing would acknowledge the fact that Serbia has not recognized Kosovo, and this is how Serbia would interpret it. At the same time, it would strike a balance between the sides (to the dialogue), since Pristina and the countries which have recognized Kosovo's independence would interpret it as reading 'independent Kosovo'," Tahiri said. At first, Tahiri claimed this to be Pristina's proposal, but when asked to comment on the EU stand regarding it, she said that it was Robert Cooper who brought the proposal forward. Ethnic Albanians in Kosovo unilaterally declared independence four years ago, but Serbia rejected that proclamation. The Belgrade-Pristina dialogue on technical issues has been ongoing since March of last year. Edita Tahiri (Beta, file) "Both footnote, and 1244" In Belgrade, the government negotiator in the Kosovo dialogue Borislav Stefanovic said on Monday that a date for the resumption of the talks had not been not set, adding that Belgrade would accept the footnote "without prejudice to the status of Kosovo", when it comes to Pristina's regional presentation - but "solely in addition to the reference of United Nation Security Council's Resolution 1244". Not wishing to specify the details of the proposal, Stefanovic told Tanjug that he believes that the formulation "without prejudice to the status" can be usable, but only with the use of Resolution 1244. This may be useful, but hardly enough, Stefanovic said. According to him, the date for the resumption of talks has not been set because the two parties' positions on the regional presentation of Pristina are still very different, which, as he put it, will be discussed at a meeting with EU mediator Robert Cooper, who is coming to Belgrade this week. This will be a chance to talk about different options for resolving the issue of regional presentation, which, for us, absolutely presupposes the use of Resolution 1244. We will have an opportunity to find a solution which includes the Resolution with Cooper, Stefanovic said. He refuted the claims by chief of Pristina's team Edita Tahiri that Pristina proposed the footnote, and qualified as untrue her statements that the EU is behind the proposal. "The EU is not behind any options, save for the one which both parties will accept. Pristina is not proposing anything. Pristina's proposal in such talks is actually a nonexistent term, and I would really like to put an end to such allegations, since Pristina simply does not have such an approach to the dialogue," Stefanovic concluded. Tanjug

"Priština accepts footnote, but not 1244"

"I must say that the views of the two sides are at the moment far apart, as Serbia is insisting on adding the reference '1244' to the name of Kosovo, which is unacceptable for us," Tahiri said, adding that that UN Security Council Resolution 1244 "has become too narrow both in political and legal sense".

As regards the continuation of Belgrade-Priština talks, Tahiri said that the exact date would probably be known following the visits by EU facilitator to the dialogue Robert Cooper to Belgrade and Priština, scheduled for later this week.

"I think that the visit will bring the views of the two sides closer, and contribute to resolving the key issue," according to Tahiri.

She added that Priština was "ready to endorse the option which would envisage that the name of Kosovo be coupled with the footnote saying 'without prejudice to the status'."

"Such phrasing would acknowledge the fact that Serbia has not recognized Kosovo, and this is how Serbia would interpret it. At the same time, it would strike a balance between the sides (to the dialogue), since Priština and the countries which have recognized Kosovo's independence would interpret it as reading 'independent Kosovo'," Tahiri said.

At first, Tahiri claimed this to be Priština's proposal, but when asked to comment on the EU stand regarding it, she said that it was Robert Cooper who brought the proposal forward.

Ethnic Albanians in Kosovo unilaterally declared independence four years ago, but Serbia rejected that proclamation. The Belgrade-Priština dialogue on technical issues has been ongoing since March of last year.

"Both footnote, and 1244"

In Belgrade, the government negotiator in the Kosovo dialogue Borislav Stefanović said on Monday that a date for the resumption of the talks had not been not set, adding that Belgrade would accept the footnote "without prejudice to the status of Kosovo", when it comes to Priština's regional presentation - but "solely in addition to the reference of United Nation Security Council's Resolution 1244".

Not wishing to specify the details of the proposal, Stefanović told Tanjug that he believes that the formulation "without prejudice to the status" can be usable, but only with the use of Resolution 1244.

This may be useful, but hardly enough, Stefanović said.

According to him, the date for the resumption of talks has not been set because the two parties' positions on the regional presentation of Priština are still very different, which, as he put it, will be discussed at a meeting with EU mediator Robert Cooper, who is coming to Belgrade this week.

This will be a chance to talk about different options for resolving the issue of regional presentation, which, for us, absolutely presupposes the use of Resolution 1244. We will have an opportunity to find a solution which includes the Resolution with Cooper, Stefanović said.

He refuted the claims by chief of Priština's team Edita Tahiri that Priština proposed the footnote, and qualified as untrue her statements that the EU is behind the proposal.

"The EU is not behind any options, save for the one which both parties will accept. Priština is not proposing anything. Priština's proposal in such talks is actually a nonexistent term, and I would really like to put an end to such allegations, since Priština simply does not have such an approach to the dialogue," Stefanović concluded.