“Tough decisions on Kosovo await Serbia”

BELGRADE Top Serbian officials have finished a meeting where they discussed further steps regarding the Kosovo issue after no agreement was reached with Pristina. “Grim hunches about the outcome of the negotiations have come true. The state leaders will make difficult decisions in the next several days and inform the public about them. We are still ready to look for a compromise solution,” presidential advisor Marko Djuric has said. “Tough decisions on Kosovo await Serbia” “We have not reached any compromise but we are determined to continue to move toward it. This round of the negotiations has exceeded all our negative expectations and the situation is very difficult,” he told reporters after the meeting. The reporters were not allowed to ask questions. The meeting of senior Serbian officials started a little after 13:00 CET. Prime Minister Ivica Dacic, First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Suzana Grubjesic, Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic and Office for Kosovo Director Aleksandar Vulin attended the meeting. They came to the meeting straight from the airport. The meeting of the top state officials was announced by Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) whip Branko Ruzic earlier on Wednesday. “The meeting is expected upon the return of the Serbian delegation from Brussels,” he said. The eighth round of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, facilitated by the EU, ended without an agreement late on Tuesday. EU High Representative Catherine Ashton said this had been the last formal meeting of the three sides. The Serbian negotiating team said during the 14-hour talks that it was not a “D Day” and that Belgrade would continue the talks and continue to look for a solution. Kosovo PM Hashim Thaci said he expected a new meeting with the Belgrade team next week. Ashton said that the Belgrade and Pristina teams would consult with their colleagues and inform her about their decisions “in the next several days”. “The gap between the two sides is very narrow but deep,” she stressed. Aleksandar Vucic is seen in front of the Serbian Presidency (B92) B92

“Tough decisions on Kosovo await Serbia”

“We have not reached any compromise but we are determined to continue to move toward it. This round of the negotiations has exceeded all our negative expectations and the situation is very difficult,” he told reporters after the meeting. The reporters were not allowed to ask questions.

The meeting of senior Serbian officials started a little after 13:00 CET.

Prime Minister Ivica Dačić, First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić, Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Suzana Grubješić, Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkić and Office for Kosovo Director Aleksandar Vulin attended the meeting. They came to the meeting straight from the airport.

The meeting of the top state officials was announced by Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) whip Branko Ružić earlier on Wednesday.

“The meeting is expected upon the return of the Serbian delegation from Brussels,” he said.

The eighth round of the Belgrade-Priština dialogue, facilitated by the EU, ended without an agreement late on Tuesday. EU High Representative Catherine Ashton said this had been the last formal meeting of the three sides.

The Serbian negotiating team said during the 14-hour talks that it was not a “D Day” and that Belgrade would continue the talks and continue to look for a solution. Kosovo PM Hashim Thaci said he expected a new meeting with the Belgrade team next week.

Ashton said that the Belgrade and Priština teams would consult with their colleagues and inform her about their decisions “in the next several days”.

“The gap between the two sides is very narrow but deep,” she stressed.