K. Albanians "won't accept higher level of dialogue"

A Pristina-based political analyst says "Kosovo will not accept any higher level of dialogue with Belgrade if it implied reopening political and status issues". "What Pristina will insist on is implementation of reached agreements and elimination of ambiguity and subsequent interpretation, in which the EU mediator has the key role and should clearly judge what was actually agreed," Skelzen Maliqi told Tuesday's edition of the Belgrade-based daily Danas. K. Albanians "won't accept higher level of dialogue" According to him, all this should be followed by new agreements, on electricity, telecommunication, and other issues. The higher political level of dialogue, which is being announced, will only mean greater guarantees that the agreements will be respected, Maliqi said. Commenting on the daily's remark that Belgrade seems to be most interested for northern Kosovo, Maliqi said that the situation in the north was "complex" - "because the implementation of Ahtisaari's plan has not started yet, and also because Serbia supports parallel structures, as if this is Serbia's territory and Serbian institutions". Serbs form a majority north of the Ibar River and reject the authority of the government in Pristina, and the unilateral declaration of independence made by ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. "The north can be discussed, but only with respect to the issue clearly defined by German Chancellor Angela Merkel - how to dissolve the parallel structures," he said. Commenting on Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic's "readiness to meet with his Kosovo counterpart Atifete Jahjaga" and asked what the encounter would mean for the Kosovo public, Maliqi noted that this was "a good thing, since it will contribute to breaking the blockade in relations between Serbia and Kosovo both symbolically and practically". "I do not believe that the meeting will result in reconciliation or great, historical agreements. It can lead to continuing the dialogue with more energy and trust, though. As for state symbols, this is a very delicate issue for both parties. It would be acceptable for Kosovo if both sides negotiated without them," Maliqi concluded. Kosovo's ethnic Albanians in early 2008 unilaterally declared independence, which Serbia rejected as an illegal act of secession. The EU-sponsored Kosovo dialogue has been ongoing since March 2011 and represents the first direct talks between the two sides since the proclamation. Danas Tanjug

K. Albanians "won't accept higher level of dialogue"

According to him, all this should be followed by new agreements, on electricity, telecommunication, and other issues.

The higher political level of dialogue, which is being announced, will only mean greater guarantees that the agreements will be respected, Maliqi said.

Commenting on the daily's remark that Belgrade seems to be most interested for northern Kosovo, Maliqi said that the situation in the north was "complex" - "because the implementation of Ahtisaari's plan has not started yet, and also because Serbia supports parallel structures, as if this is Serbia's territory and Serbian institutions".

Serbs form a majority north of the Ibar River and reject the authority of the government in Priština, and the unilateral declaration of independence made by ethnic Albanians in Kosovo.

"The north can be discussed, but only with respect to the issue clearly defined by German Chancellor Angela Merkel - how to dissolve the parallel structures," he said.

Commenting on Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić's "readiness to meet with his Kosovo counterpart Atifete Jahjaga" and asked what the encounter would mean for the Kosovo public, Maliqi noted that this was "a good thing, since it will contribute to breaking the blockade in relations between Serbia and Kosovo both symbolically and practically".

"I do not believe that the meeting will result in reconciliation or great, historical agreements. It can lead to continuing the dialogue with more energy and trust, though. As for state symbols, this is a very delicate issue for both parties. It would be acceptable for Kosovo if both sides negotiated without them," Maliqi concluded.

Kosovo's ethnic Albanians in early 2008 unilaterally declared independence, which Serbia rejected as an illegal act of secession.

The EU-sponsored Kosovo dialogue has been ongoing since March 2011 and represents the first direct talks between the two sides since the proclamation.