Top Serbian state officials hold meeting in Belgrade

BELGRADE A new meeting of Serbia's top officials was held on Wednesday afternoon at the Serbian Presidency building in Belgrade. B92 learned that the topics on the agenda would include Kosovo, EU integrations, and the upcoming trip to Germany of First Deputy PM Aleksandar Vucic, scheduled for February 20. Top Serbian state officials hold meeting in Belgrade The meeting brought together Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic, First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, Minister of Local Self-Government and Regional Development Verica Kalanovic, Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic and Director of the Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija Aleksandar Vulin. The meeting preceded the new round of talks between Dacic and Hashim Thaci in Brussels on February 19-20, and Vucic's trip to Germany. Tanjug reported that Germany was "the country whose stand could be crucial for the EU's decision as to whether to grant Serbia a starting date for the entry talks". The participants today "agreed in full concerning the continuation of the talks between Belgrade and Pristina, which Serbia enters "with confidence and a clear goal," Nikolic's adviser Marko Djuric told reporters after the meeting. "The goal is to establish a community of municipalities that would give the Serbs in Kosovo the rights that befit the citizens of 21st century Europe," Djuric noted. "There is consensus within the government on all important issues expected to be discussed, and Belgrade expects the other sides to display at least a minimum of willingness to compromise," he stated. The Serbian authorities do not expect the EU to demand that parallel institutions in Kosovo be dismantled, but for Brussels to remain neutral, he remarked. The meeting focused on the talks with Pristina and EU integration. There was no discussion about the relations within the government coalition and other current topics, Tanjug reported. Djuric also said that "the impression was that the rigid views stated by Kosovo President Atifeta Jahjaga during a recent meeting with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic were seen negatively by a part of the international community". "President Nikolic stated the basic elements from the platform, which allow for a compromise, while the other side insisted on already known views that are inflexible, and my impression is that they were taken negatively by the part of the international community that wants an acceptable compromise as a solution," he told reporters. Earlier in the day, President Tomislav Nikolic and PM Ivica Dacic met at the Palace of Serbia with SPC Patriarch Irinej. Kosovo and EU integrations were also on agenda earlier on Wednesday when Serbian Deputy PM in charge of EU integrations Suzana Grubjesic met with French officials in Paris. French Assembly Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairwoman Elisabeth Guigou said on the occasion that "recognition of Kosovo could be a precondition for Serbia’s EU integration even though it has not been officially mentioned yet." But Grubjestic reacted by saying that Serbia will not recognize Kosovo, and adding that this was not put before the authorities in Belgrade as a condition for being given a date for the start of membership talks. European Parliament rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin was in Belgrade today where he addressed the same subject, saying that the statement was "the opinion of one person, not the stand of France", that Serbia was on the verge of being given a date, and that Belgrade would in the first half of this year have reason to "celebrate". Djuric addresses reporters (Tanjug) B92 Tanjug

Top Serbian state officials hold meeting in Belgrade

The meeting brought together Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dačić, First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić, Minister of Local Self-Government and Regional Development Verica Kalanović, Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkić and Director of the Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija Aleksandar Vulin.

The meeting preceded the new round of talks between Dačić and Hashim Thaci in Brussels on February 19-20, and Vučić's trip to Germany.

Tanjug reported that Germany was "the country whose stand could be crucial for the EU's decision as to whether to grant Serbia a starting date for the entry talks".

The participants today "agreed in full concerning the continuation of the talks between Belgrade and Pristina, which Serbia enters "with confidence and a clear goal," Nikolić's adviser Marko Đurić told reporters after the meeting.

"The goal is to establish a community of municipalities that would give the Serbs in Kosovo the rights that befit the citizens of 21st century Europe," Đurić noted.

"There is consensus within the government on all important issues expected to be discussed, and Belgrade expects the other sides to display at least a minimum of willingness to compromise," he stated.

The Serbian authorities do not expect the EU to demand that parallel institutions in Kosovo be dismantled, but for Brussels to remain neutral, he remarked.

The meeting focused on the talks with Priština and EU integration. There was no discussion about the relations within the government coalition and other current topics, Tanjug reported.

Đurić also said that "the impression was that the rigid views stated by Kosovo President Atifeta Jahjaga during a recent meeting with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić were seen negatively by a part of the international community".

"President Nikolić stated the basic elements from the platform, which allow for a compromise, while the other side insisted on already known views that are inflexible, and my impression is that they were taken negatively by the part of the international community that wants an acceptable compromise as a solution," he told reporters.

Earlier in the day, President Tomislav Nikolić and PM Ivica Dačić met at the Palace of Serbia with SPC Patriarch Irinej.

Kosovo and EU integrations were also on agenda earlier on Wednesday when Serbian Deputy PM in charge of EU integrations Suzana Grubješić met with French officials in Paris.

French Assembly Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairwoman Elisabeth Guigou said on the occasion that "recognition of Kosovo could be a precondition for Serbia’s EU integration even though it has not been officially mentioned yet."

But Grubještić reacted by saying that Serbia will not recognize Kosovo, and adding that this was not put before the authorities in Belgrade as a condition for being given a date for the start of membership talks.

European Parliament rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin was in Belgrade today where he addressed the same subject, saying that the statement was "the opinion of one person, not the stand of France", that Serbia was on the verge of being given a date, and that Belgrade would in the first half of this year have reason to "celebrate".