"Serbs and Albanians have common future"

A Kosovo Albanian government official says Serbs in Kosovo "must not be victims" of the fact Belgrade and Pristina have different views on Kosovo's status. Hajredin Kuci, who is Hashim Thaci's deputy, said that the "bare minimum that should be done is to allow good projects, investments and strategies to go forward". "Serbs and Albanians have common future" Ethnic Albanians have a common future with Kosovo Serbs, Kuci told Tanjug, commenting on the fact that the Serbs, especially those in northern Kosovo, still do not accept Kosovo's institutions, but are "instead loyal to Serbia". Kuci stated that "Serbian authorities have an interest and the right to monitor the situation in northern Kosovo, cooperate with Kosovo authorities or the international community, but not to prevent Kosovo Serbs from being equal citizens". "They are neither a part of Serbia nor of Kosovo; it is as though they were in a ghetto," said Kuci, adding that the Serbs from northern Kosovo "should live, go to school, find a job there and have infrastructure". "The plan that the authorities in Pristina have for northern Kosovo is a plan for democracy," said Kuci of the plan rejected by local Serbs, and Belgrade. According to him, it is a plan for order, peace and the economy, adding that is includes new municipalities of Leposavic, Zubin Potok, Zvecan and Northern (Kosovska) Mitrovica and aims to complete that part of the integration and make everyone equal. Speaking about Kosovo's status, Kuci reiterated the view of Kosovo's authorities that its "independence is irreversible". When asked to comment on Serbia's intention to restart the negotiations on Kosovo's status after the International Court of Justice decides on the legality of the unilateral proclamation independence, he said that Serbia's initiative "does not contribute to regional or EU integration and cooperation in the Balkans".

"Serbs and Albanians have common future"

Ethnic Albanians have a common future with Kosovo Serbs, Kuci told Tanjug, commenting on the fact that the Serbs, especially those in northern Kosovo, still do not accept Kosovo's institutions, but are "instead loyal to Serbia".

Kuci stated that "Serbian authorities have an interest and the right to monitor the situation in northern Kosovo, cooperate with Kosovo authorities or the international community, but not to prevent Kosovo Serbs from being equal citizens".

"They are neither a part of Serbia nor of Kosovo; it is as though they were in a ghetto," said Kuci, adding that the Serbs from northern Kosovo "should live, go to school, find a job there and have infrastructure".

"The plan that the authorities in Priština have for northern Kosovo is a plan for democracy," said Kuci of the plan rejected by local Serbs, and Belgrade.

According to him, it is a plan for order, peace and the economy, adding that is includes new municipalities of Leposavić, Zubin Potok, Zvećan and Northern (Kosovska) Mitrovica and aims to complete that part of the integration and make everyone equal.

Speaking about Kosovo's status, Kuci reiterated the view of Kosovo's authorities that its "independence is irreversible".

When asked to comment on Serbia's intention to restart the negotiations on Kosovo's status after the International Court of Justice decides on the legality of the unilateral proclamation independence, he said that Serbia's initiative "does not contribute to regional or EU integration and cooperation in the Balkans".