Serbian PM: Both sides must make concessions

BELGRADE Prime Minister Ivica Dacic says that he "already forwarded the Serbian Parliament's Resolution on Kosovo to EU High Representative Catherine Ashton". Ashton acts as mediator in the ongoing, EU-sponsored Kosovo dialogue. Serbian PM: Both sides must make concessions Speaking in Belgrade on Tuesday, Dacic noted that Kosovo's Prime Minister Hasim Taci "could not decide what the meeting would be about". He was referring to their new meeting, scheduled for Thursday. Dacic told reporters at the Palace of Serbia that Thaci's statement that he "would not allow" the resolution to make its way to the negotiating table was meant for "domestic consumption". He noted Ashton herself had said that talks would begin on "the parallelism of institutions and special status for Serbs - so the resolution and platform, which are Serbia's suggestion for how to move forward, would have to be discussed". "These issues cannot be avoided," said the Serbian prime minister. Dacic said the topics for the next round of dialogue would be the operation of administrative crossings and an analysis of the implementation of other agreements, but that Ashton herself has said that talks would also begin on the parallelism of institutions and special status for Serbs. "When I say special status for Serbs, I mean that everyone understands that we must find a solution which includes a separate region," Dacic said, adding that this issue had not been opened yet and Ashton's plan was to discuss it by summer. "If we are talking about this, we have to say what we are actually proposing. The resolution, platform and everything we have talked about related to this contain our view on how to move forward," said Dacic. He went on to say that Serbia "could discuss a seat for Kosovo in the United Nations, but in that case Pristina has to give something too". “We can agree on everything. We do not shrink from that, that is not a problem. We want a comprehensive agreement, but for it to be reached, something has to be given. What do they think, that we should give everything?." The prime minister said that Serbia was "for a comprehensive solution, but if that is not wanted, then we cannot discuss Kosovo's UN seat". The prime minister said that Serbia was "ready for a compromise, but then both sides have to be ready to make concessions". “They are imposing pressure on us through the EU, and we are not letting them join the UN. Should we carry on like this for years?,” he wondered. Dacic said this was "the very thing he kept accentuating during every meeting with Thaci held in Brussels". Beta news agency is reporting that Dacic mentioned a "UN seat for Kosovo" as he commented on Hashim Thaci's statement made previously that "the goal of the dialogue with Belgrade was for Kosovo to become a member of the UN". (Beta) Beta Tanjug

Serbian PM: Both sides must make concessions

Speaking in Belgrade on Tuesday, Dačić noted that Kosovo's Prime Minister Hasim Taci "could not decide what the meeting would be about".

He was referring to their new meeting, scheduled for Thursday.

Dačić told reporters at the Palace of Serbia that Thaci's statement that he "would not allow" the resolution to make its way to the negotiating table was meant for "domestic consumption".

He noted Ashton herself had said that talks would begin on "the parallelism of institutions and special status for Serbs - so the resolution and platform, which are Serbia's suggestion for how to move forward, would have to be discussed".

"These issues cannot be avoided," said the Serbian prime minister.

Dačić said the topics for the next round of dialogue would be the operation of administrative crossings and an analysis of the implementation of other agreements, but that Ashton herself has said that talks would also begin on the parallelism of institutions and special status for Serbs.

"When I say special status for Serbs, I mean that everyone understands that we must find a solution which includes a separate region," Dačić said, adding that this issue had not been opened yet and Ashton's plan was to discuss it by summer.

"If we are talking about this, we have to say what we are actually proposing. The resolution, platform and everything we have talked about related to this contain our view on how to move forward," said Dačić.

He went on to say that Serbia "could discuss a seat for Kosovo in the United Nations, but in that case Priština has to give something too".

“We can agree on everything. We do not shrink from that, that is not a problem. We want a comprehensive agreement, but for it to be reached, something has to be given. What do they think, that we should give everything?."

The prime minister said that Serbia was "for a comprehensive solution, but if that is not wanted, then we cannot discuss Kosovo's UN seat".

The prime minister said that Serbia was "ready for a compromise, but then both sides have to be ready to make concessions".

“They are imposing pressure on us through the EU, and we are not letting them join the UN. Should we carry on like this for years?,” he wondered.

Dačić said this was "the very thing he kept accentuating during every meeting with Thaci held in Brussels".

Beta news agency is reporting that Dačić mentioned a "UN seat for Kosovo" as he commented on Hashim Thaci's statement made previously that "the goal of the dialogue with Belgrade was for Kosovo to become a member of the UN".