Belgrade-Priština talks postponed for Wednesday

The negotiations between teams of Belgrade and Pristina were set to continue on Tuesday in Brussels, but the meeting has been postponed for Wednesday. This was announced after it became clear that the Pristina delegation, that was scheduled to arrive in Brussels on Monday evening, only left for the Belgian capital around noon on Tuesday. Belgrade-Pristina talks postponed for Wednesday Earlier in the day, EU officials involved in the process did not say why the delegation led by Edita Tahiri failed to show up as planned. Chief negotiator Borislav Stefanovic, who is in Brussels, told Beta news agency that he did not know "the real reason" behind the tardiness of the Pristina team, and added that "they were likely holding stormy additional consultations". Stefanovic also stated that the EU, as the sponsor of the dialogue, should comment on today's events, but added that "any possible attempt to deal a blow to the Belgrade team has the exact opposite effect". There is no reason to postpone the negotiations or attempt to avoid them, "because a solution can be found", he concluded. Kosovo's regional representation will top the agenda of this round of the talks, which are expected to resume on Wednesday for the first time since November 30. Previously, it was reported that Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said over the weekend that "it was agreed" for Pristina to be represented by mentioning UN Security Council Resolution 1244, the opinion of the International Court of Justice, and the ethnic Albanian unilateral declaration if independence. Borislav Stefanovic, however, said that the reference to the UDI was not acceptable to Serbia, but that a compromise could be reached over the reference to Resolution 1244 and the ICJ opinion.. According to him, Serbia will not give up on the mention of Resolution 1244, while Pristina must be represented according to an asymmetrical model rather than as independent. Speaking on Monday in Belgrade, Stefanovic added that Belgrade was interested in reaching compromise and that it would work to reach a solution, but that Pristina was insisting on its maximalist demands. The EU-sponsored talks have been held in several rounds since last March. A file photo of Stefanovic and Tahiri from a previous round of negotiations (EU) B92 Beta Tanjug

Belgrade-Priština talks postponed for Wednesday

Earlier in the day, EU officials involved in the process did not say why the delegation led by Edita Tahiri failed to show up as planned.

Chief negotiator Borislav Stefanović, who is in Brussels, told Beta news agency that he did not know "the real reason" behind the tardiness of the Priština team, and added that "they were likely holding stormy additional consultations".

Stefanović also stated that the EU, as the sponsor of the dialogue, should comment on today's events, but added that "any possible attempt to deal a blow to the Belgrade team has the exact opposite effect".

There is no reason to postpone the negotiations or attempt to avoid them, "because a solution can be found", he concluded.

Kosovo's regional representation will top the agenda of this round of the talks, which are expected to resume on Wednesday for the first time since November 30.

Previously, it was reported that Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said over the weekend that "it was agreed" for Priština to be represented by mentioning UN Security Council Resolution 1244, the opinion of the International Court of Justice, and the ethnic Albanian unilateral declaration if independence.

Borislav Stefanović, however, said that the reference to the UDI was not acceptable to Serbia, but that a compromise could be reached over the reference to Resolution 1244 and the ICJ opinion..

According to him, Serbia will not give up on the mention of Resolution 1244, while Priština must be represented according to an asymmetrical model rather than as independent.

Speaking on Monday in Belgrade, Stefanović added that Belgrade was interested in reaching compromise and that it would work to reach a solution, but that Priština was insisting on its maximalist demands.

The EU-sponsored talks have been held in several rounds since last March.