PM expects meeting in Brussels to be "difficult"

BELGRADE Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic says that he is traveling to a meeting in Brussels with Hashim Thaci "to save what can be saved". Addressing journalists in Belgrade on Thursday after attending a meeting of the Republic HQ for Emergency Situations, he stated that he expected a difficult meeting, but that "(establishing) any border with Kosovo is out of the question". PM expects meeting in Brussels to be "difficult" "I am not brimming over with desire to go to the meeting in Brussels. We have nothing that we could lose, we lost everything, this is about getting something back," Dacic was quoted as saying. According to him, "nobody should doubt" that the Serbian government and himself personally "will not try to save what can be saved". "We have Kosovo in the Constitution. Let the Constitutional Court return Kosovo within the constitutional framework - is it possible - it is not," said Dacic. "Serbia is in hot water. Almost a year ago the agreement (with Pristina) has been initialed, and I would not have signed it," the prime minister was quoted as saying, and adding: "Here there is no more in-between policy, you have to say that you do not stand behind the agreement, which would mean that we are also not not behind getting a date for the negotiations (with the EU)." "We did not win (the war in 1999), if we won we would not be in this situation. There is always room for heroism, but not for needless sacrifice. Serbia is taking care of the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. But Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija should also have in mind the interests of the whole of Serbia," Dacic said. The prime minister said that he understood the protests of Serbs in northern Kosovo, who were blocking a crossing this morning, because they believe that will in the future "be the border with central Serbia". "I cannot say that this is an ideal arrangement, but it does not establish a border, that's a lie. (Hashim) Thaci would like it to be a border, and I would like to remind you that the same system has been present at Merdare for 12 years," said the Serbian premier. He added that the frozen conflict and historical right represented "a long-shot story" and that all academic institutions and the Church "must help save the people from unnecessary casualties". According to him, the goods going to the south of Kosovo will be cleared by customs, as opposed to those who meant for the Serb-dominated north. "Serbs from Kosovo should have a united policy with the state of Serbia. Even if agreements that are not ideal are implemented, there will be no giving up on Serbs in Kosovo," Dacic told journalists. The prime minister also said that he would "never accept the independence of Kosovo," but that there were "some things about which nobody will even ask us". "Is it better to participate (in the talks) or not - for the moment, it is better to participate," he added. According to Dacic, the international community was not being "just and fair" towards Serbia, but, noted he, this was obvious 15 years ago as well. "Today we must put up, clench our teeth and work for the people. We'll see what will happen this evening... What do you expect me to do in these talks? Convince Thaci to return Kosovo to the constitutional framework? We are alone against everyone, even our friends say - you have to do this. Let's not tempt fate, it is best to return to the negotiating process, war is always the last thing," said Dacic. Ivica Dacic (Beta) Beta

PM expects meeting in Brussels to be "difficult"

"I am not brimming over with desire to go to the meeting in Brussels. We have nothing that we could lose, we lost everything, this is about getting something back," Dačić was quoted as saying.

According to him, "nobody should doubt" that the Serbian government and himself personally "will not try to save what can be saved". "We have Kosovo in the Constitution. Let the Constitutional Court return Kosovo within the constitutional framework - is it possible - it is not," said Dačić.

"Serbia is in hot water. Almost a year ago the agreement (with Priština) has been initialed, and I would not have signed it," the prime minister was quoted as saying, and adding: "Here there is no more in-between policy, you have to say that you do not stand behind the agreement, which would mean that we are also not not behind getting a date for the negotiations (with the EU)."

"We did not win (the war in 1999), if we won we would not be in this situation. There is always room for heroism, but not for needless sacrifice. Serbia is taking care of the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. But Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija should also have in mind the interests of the whole of Serbia," Dačić said.

The prime minister said that he understood the protests of Serbs in northern Kosovo, who were blocking a crossing this morning, because they believe that will in the future "be the border with central Serbia".

"I cannot say that this is an ideal arrangement, but it does not establish a border, that's a lie. (Hashim) Thaci would like it to be a border, and I would like to remind you that the same system has been present at Merdare for 12 years," said the Serbian premier. He added that the frozen conflict and historical right represented "a long-shot story" and that all academic institutions and the Church "must help save the people from unnecessary casualties".

According to him, the goods going to the south of Kosovo will be cleared by customs, as opposed to those who meant for the Serb-dominated north.

"Serbs from Kosovo should have a united policy with the state of Serbia. Even if agreements that are not ideal are implemented, there will be no giving up on Serbs in Kosovo," Dačić told journalists.

The prime minister also said that he would "never accept the independence of Kosovo," but that there were "some things about which nobody will even ask us".

"Is it better to participate (in the talks) or not - for the moment, it is better to participate," he added.

According to Dačić, the international community was not being "just and fair" towards Serbia, but, noted he, this was obvious 15 years ago as well.

"Today we must put up, clench our teeth and work for the people. We'll see what will happen this evening... What do you expect me to do in these talks? Convince Thaci to return Kosovo to the constitutional framework? We are alone against everyone, even our friends say - you have to do this. Let's not tempt fate, it is best to return to the negotiating process, war is always the last thing," said Dačić.