"Don't expect miracles from Kosovo talks"

It will take time and patience for negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina to produce results, says Serbian team chief Borko Stefanovic. The talks are due to open in Brussels on Tuesday. "Don't expect miracles from Kosovo talks" Stefanovic told Belgrade-based Blic newspaper in an interview published on Monday that "one should not expect miracles". "We do not lack good will and new solutions. The process will last as long as necessary," Stefanovic said. He added that solutions will be applied by both sides under the European Union's supervision. "This is a guarantee that we will go to the end in putting plans into operation and resolving issues in dispute," according to him. Stefanovic told TV B92 on Sunday that the two delegations will most probably discuss telecommunications, land books, air transport, and many other questions that affect peoples' day-to-day lives and that should improve life for the Serb community. He said that the negotiations will last as long as necessary and that the agenda is open to changes. "Meetings will most probably be held at two or three weeks' intervals," he added. Stefanovic described Kosovo Albanian's decision to begin negotiations without a platform as a political step designed to obtain affirmation of the position that they do not want to discuss Kosovo's status. "Serbia does not want to change in any way Pristina's outlook on the status issue, because it has its own view of the matter - Kosovo is part of Serbia, just as they feel that Kosovo is an independent state," Stefanovic noted. He added that in Serbia's opinion, the status is settled and it is that Kosovo is "unquestionably part of Serbia." Borko Stefanovic (Tanjug, file)

"Don't expect miracles from Kosovo talks"

Stefanović told Belgrade-based Blic newspaper in an interview published on Monday that "one should not expect miracles".

"We do not lack good will and new solutions. The process will last as long as necessary," Stefanović said.

He added that solutions will be applied by both sides under the European Union's supervision.

"This is a guarantee that we will go to the end in putting plans into operation and resolving issues in dispute," according to him.

Stefanović told TV B92 on Sunday that the two delegations will most probably discuss telecommunications, land books, air transport, and many other questions that affect peoples' day-to-day lives and that should improve life for the Serb community.

He said that the negotiations will last as long as necessary and that the agenda is open to changes. "Meetings will most probably be held at two or three weeks' intervals," he added.

Stefanović described Kosovo Albanian's decision to begin negotiations without a platform as a political step designed to obtain affirmation of the position that they do not want to discuss Kosovo's status.

"Serbia does not want to change in any way Priština's outlook on the status issue, because it has its own view of the matter - Kosovo is part of Serbia, just as they feel that Kosovo is an independent state," Stefanović noted.

He added that in Serbia's opinion, the status is settled and it is that Kosovo is "unquestionably part of Serbia."