Priština, Belgrade delegations walk out of conferences

A delegation of Kosovo today walked out of a conference in Belgrade - the first which it was allowed to attend here, along with a footnote next to its name. Representatives of the authorities in Pristina were briefly taking part in the 1st Regional Conference on Cooperation of Civil Societies in the Western Balkans and Turkey. Pristina, Belgrade delegations walk out of conferences Pristina can attend regional meetings with the word "Kosovo" presented along with an asterisk, pointing to a footnote, according to a recent agreement reached during the EU-sponsored Kosovo dialogue. According to comments some of the participants in the gathering published on Twitter, the Pristina delegation left "because of a lack of understanding of the details of the Brussels agreement". The start of the conference was previously delayed for more than 45 minutes. It appears that the reason was that the Kosovo Albanian delegation traveled to Belgrade, but refused to be represented according to the agreement reached in Brussels. Reportedly, EU and British officials who were also at the conference "unsuccessfully tried to persuade" the Kosovo delegation to adhere to the deal reached in the Kosovo dialogue. Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic was expected to take part, but Ivana Cirkovic, who heads the government office for cooperation with civil society, said that the premier would not be able to attend. According to reports, she then said that "representatives of Kosovo were taking part in a gathering in Serbia for the first time", and read the text of the footnote. The conference, attended by more that 200 regional delegation, was addressed by the representative of the EU in Serbia and the British ambassador in Belgrade. It was also "heard at the Palace of Serbia" - where the Belgrade conference is taking place - that a Serbian delegation walked out of a similar gathering in Montenegro today. But Beta news agency is reporting that this regional meeting was in fact taking place in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that its officials on Thrusday left the gathering because participants from Kosovo were not properly represented with the footnote. The Belgrade conference is ongoing and media are not allowed to attend. A view of the Palace of Serbia (file) Government cancels session Whether coincidentally or not, the Serbian government was set to meet today in Belgrade and approve agreements reached in the Kosovo dialogue so far. Among them was the deal on Kosovo's regional representation. However, the government session has been canceled. Ministry for Kosovo State Secretary Oliver Ivanovic commented on the Pristina delegation walkout in Belgrade today to say that "our organization and the conditions under which we accepted the delegation have been completely in line with the agreement reached in Brussels". "The implementation of the agreement was, naturally, also observed by international representatives. We have not received any complaints from them. On the other hand, Pristina is trying to use every opportunity to promote Kosovo's independence, which is in direct violation of what has been agreed upon. They are responsible for the fact they are not attending," concluded Ivanovic. The Kosovo dialogue has been ongoing since last March, and resulted in a number of agreements, including that designed to allow Pristina to attend regional meetings. Kosovo's ethnic Albanians in early 2008 unilaterally declared independence. Serbia rejects the proclamation. B92 Beta

Priština, Belgrade delegations walk out of conferences

Priština can attend regional meetings with the word "Kosovo" presented along with an asterisk, pointing to a footnote, according to a recent agreement reached during the EU-sponsored Kosovo dialogue.

According to comments some of the participants in the gathering published on Twitter, the Priština delegation left "because of a lack of understanding of the details of the Brussels agreement".

The start of the conference was previously delayed for more than 45 minutes. It appears that the reason was that the Kosovo Albanian delegation traveled to Belgrade, but refused to be represented according to the agreement reached in Brussels.

Reportedly, EU and British officials who were also at the conference "unsuccessfully tried to persuade" the Kosovo delegation to adhere to the deal reached in the Kosovo dialogue.

Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković was expected to take part, but Ivana Ćirković, who heads the government office for cooperation with civil society, said that the premier would not be able to attend.

According to reports, she then said that "representatives of Kosovo were taking part in a gathering in Serbia for the first time", and read the text of the footnote.

The conference, attended by more that 200 regional delegation, was addressed by the representative of the EU in Serbia and the British ambassador in Belgrade.

It was also "heard at the Palace of Serbia" - where the Belgrade conference is taking place - that a Serbian delegation walked out of a similar gathering in Montenegro today.

But Beta news agency is reporting that this regional meeting was in fact taking place in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that its officials on Thrusday left the gathering because participants from Kosovo were not properly represented with the footnote.

The Belgrade conference is ongoing and media are not allowed to attend.

Government cancels session

Whether coincidentally or not, the Serbian government was set to meet today in Belgrade and approve agreements reached in the Kosovo dialogue so far.

Among them was the deal on Kosovo's regional representation. However, the government session has been canceled.

Ministry for Kosovo State Secretary Oliver Ivanović commented on the Priština delegation walkout in Belgrade today to say that "our organization and the conditions under which we accepted the delegation have been completely in line with the agreement reached in Brussels".

"The implementation of the agreement was, naturally, also observed by international representatives. We have not received any complaints from them. On the other hand, Priština is trying to use every opportunity to promote Kosovo's independence, which is in direct violation of what has been agreed upon. They are responsible for the fact they are not attending," concluded Ivanović.

The Kosovo dialogue has been ongoing since last March, and resulted in a number of agreements, including that designed to allow Priština to attend regional meetings. Kosovo's ethnic Albanians in early 2008 unilaterally declared independence. Serbia rejects the proclamation.