“Priština obstructs implementation of liaison officers deal”

BRUSSELS Serbian government’s Office for Kosovo Director Aleksandar Vulin says Pristina is blocking the implementation of agreements on exchange of liaison officers. According to him, Pristina is blocking the implementation of the deal by insisting that the officers should be awarded a diplomatic status. “Pristina obstructs implementation of liaison officers deal” “We understand that Pristina has a great need to keep proving that Kosovo is an independent country just like any other, but the international community also needs to understand that as a subject of international law, Serbia is not obliged to accept this,” Vulin told reporters at the conclusion of his visit to Brussels with the delegation headed by Prime Minister Ivica Dacic. In the previous round of talks with Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, Dacic agreed that liaison officers needed to start working in the EU offices in Belgrade and Pristina as of March 1 but the agreement had not been carried out yet. “We will provide everything that is necessary for the work of liaison officers but the diplomatic status cannot be awarded to them,” Vulin underscored. Reflecting on the stand of the European Commission that everything agreed on so far needs to be carried out, Vulin said that Serbia was willing to fulfill all its obligations, but added that not everything was up to Belgrade. He underscored that although Serbia could not award liaison officers the diplomatic status, it was still willing to guarantee their full security. Aleksandar Vulin (Beta, file) Tanjug

“Priština obstructs implementation of liaison officers deal”

“We understand that Priština has a great need to keep proving that Kosovo is an independent country just like any other, but the international community also needs to understand that as a subject of international law, Serbia is not obliged to accept this,” Vulin told reporters at the conclusion of his visit to Brussels with the delegation headed by Prime Minister Ivica Dačić.

In the previous round of talks with Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, Dačić agreed that liaison officers needed to start working in the EU offices in Belgrade and Priština as of March 1 but the agreement had not been carried out yet.

“We will provide everything that is necessary for the work of liaison officers but the diplomatic status cannot be awarded to them,” Vulin underscored.

Reflecting on the stand of the European Commission that everything agreed on so far needs to be carried out, Vulin said that Serbia was willing to fulfill all its obligations, but added that not everything was up to Belgrade.

He underscored that although Serbia could not award liaison officers the diplomatic status, it was still willing to guarantee their full security.