"Direct negotiations are vital"

Vojislav Kostunica says the upcoming direct talks in New York are vital in the status settlement process. The prime minister said on Sunday that the direct negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina due to take place on Friday were “momentous for international community to decide that the future status of the Serbian province must be in line with international law and settled in the UN Security Council only.” "Direct negotiations are vital" “In the most important talks so far, Serbia will be represented at the highest possible level. We will stand by our unified policy for Kosovo founded on solid arguments,” stressed Kostunica. “We will do in New York what it takes to defend Serbia and Kosovo, aware that each of our citizens and the Serbian nation as a whole is united in the defense of our country.” "Belgrade will offer compromise solution" In direct talks with Pristina on September 28, Belgrade will offer a solution acceptable to all, Goran Bogdanovic says. “Our proposal involves internal autonomy for Kosovo, or a chance to ethnic Albanians to run their lives on their own. Serbia would not interfere, unless the Albanians want us to,” Bogdanovic, a member of the Serbian negotiating team, said in an interview published Sunday in Glas Javnosti daily. “Kosovo Serbs should be satisfied with our proposal, as all competences of Serbia pertaining to education, health care and social policy would remain in place,” he said. Bogdanovic explained that, while writing the proposal, the state negotiating team "paid attention to satisfy all concerned parties – ethnic Albanians, Kosovo Serbs and international community." “Our suggestion means decentralization. Serbia’s borders would remain the same; we will keep our sovereignty, while the EU principles in Kosovo will prevail. Our offer in practice will surely lead to stability and peace in the entire region, which is everybody’s priority,” he added. Bogdanovic noted that Belgrade was "completely prepared for a direct meeting with the Pristina delegation." “We will show the Albanian side how we see the future status of Kosovo, and we believe direct talks are a good opportunity to arrive at a compromise solution which would suit both sides.” Asked whether Belgrade could back down on its position, he replied that essential autonomy is Belgrade’s "principled stance." Bogdanovic reminded that during a meeting with the Contact Group Troika in London, the Belgrade delegation proposed five topics for discussion during the upcoming talks in New York. “The first topic is about reaching an international agreement over Kosovo’s status that would support essential autonomy of the Serbian province." "Then we should move to the division of authority between Belgrade and Pristina, tackle economic issue, the province’s relations with international monetary organizations, and the international presence in the province,” explained Bodanovic. In his words, Serbia cannot accept a suggestion made by EU envoy Wolfgang Ischinger about turning Kosovo into a sort of a protectorate for an indefinite period of time. “We cannot say yes to that. Essential autonomy is our maximum offer. Anything more than that would mean independence or the creation of a state of Kosovo,” concluded Bogdanovic.

"Direct negotiations are vital"

“In the most important talks so far, Serbia will be represented at the highest possible level. We will stand by our unified policy for Kosovo founded on solid arguments,” stressed Koštunica.

“We will do in New York what it takes to defend Serbia and Kosovo, aware that each of our citizens and the Serbian nation as a whole is united in the defense of our country.”

"Belgrade will offer compromise solution"

In direct talks with Priština on September 28, Belgrade will offer a solution acceptable to all, Goran Bogdanović says.

“Our proposal involves internal autonomy for Kosovo, or a chance to ethnic Albanians to run their lives on their own. Serbia would not interfere, unless the Albanians want us to,” Bogdanović, a member of the Serbian negotiating team, said in an interview published Sunday in Glas Javnosti daily.

“Kosovo Serbs should be satisfied with our proposal, as all competences of Serbia pertaining to education, health care and social policy would remain in place,” he said.

Bogdanović explained that, while writing the proposal, the state negotiating team "paid attention to satisfy all concerned parties – ethnic Albanians, Kosovo Serbs and international community."

“Our suggestion means decentralization. Serbia’s borders would remain the same; we will keep our sovereignty, while the EU principles in Kosovo will prevail. Our offer in practice will surely lead to stability and peace in the entire region, which is everybody’s priority,” he added.

Bogdanović noted that Belgrade was "completely prepared for a direct meeting with the Priština delegation."

“We will show the Albanian side how we see the future status of Kosovo, and we believe direct talks are a good opportunity to arrive at a compromise solution which would suit both sides.”

Asked whether Belgrade could back down on its position, he replied that essential autonomy is Belgrade’s "principled stance."

Bogdanović reminded that during a meeting with the Contact Group Troika in London, the Belgrade delegation proposed five topics for discussion during the upcoming talks in New York.

“The first topic is about reaching an international agreement over Kosovo’s status that would support essential autonomy of the Serbian province."

"Then we should move to the division of authority between Belgrade and Priština, tackle economic issue, the province’s relations with international monetary organizations, and the international presence in the province,” explained Bodanović.

In his words, Serbia cannot accept a suggestion made by EU envoy Wolfgang Ischinger about turning Kosovo into a sort of a protectorate for an indefinite period of time.

“We cannot say yes to that. Essential autonomy is our maximum offer. Anything more than that would mean independence or the creation of a state of Kosovo,” concluded Bogdanović.