FM: No preconditions for dialog on Kosovo

FM Vuk Jeremic stated at the UN Security Council session late on Monday that Serbia is not setting any prerequisites for opening a dialog on Kosovo. He added that progress was not possible by taking unilateral actions. FM: No preconditions for dialog on Kosovo “We are ready to discuss all issues, including those that are in the heart of the problem: the future status of Kosovo,”said Jeremic in his response at the end of the Security Council session on the latest report by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Kosovo. According to Jeremic, progress may only be made if an agreement is reached by the parties concerned and not by taking unilateral actions, no matter how powerful were those who back those actions. For the first time in history of the Balkans, such a dispute, including the issue of borders, is not being solved with a conflict and war but in a peaceful way instead, said Jeremic, adding that this is what Serbia proposes and remains ready to engage in the best possible way in solving the issue. Jeremic also pointed out that the UN secretary-general mentions in his report that there are five times more returnees to Kosovo than in the previous period. That is correct, but there were 50 returnees previously and now there are 259 returnees, out of some 200,000 internally displaced persons, said Jeremic, adding that the “very fact shows that the issue should be address”. UN mission in Kosovo, UNMIK, Chief Lamberto Zannier evaluated at the Security Council session that “both Serbian and (ethnic) Albanian sides need to invest their efforts”. He assessed the situation in the ethnically divided town of Kosovska Mitrovica as politically delicate, particularly in regards to courts, adding that UNMIK was trying to contribute to the situation improvement. Zannier warned that little was being said about everyday problems of citizens. UNMIK is investing efforts in renewing the dialogue between the northern and southern parts of Kosovska Mitrovica, said Zannier, adding that representatives of the UN Mission had talked with leaders of both sides but that political argumentation had prevailed. Stating that 1,800 persons are still recorded as missing, Zannier spoke about the incidents in the village of Zac, where Serbs are not allowed to return to their homes, as well as about the decision of the Kosovo authorities to disconnect the telephone lines of the Serbian operators in Kosovo, which had led to a communication halt in the minority-populated areas. Kosovo Albanian government's foreign minister Skender Hyseni also attended, to state at that the “Kosovo institutions continue to work to the benefit of all citizens of Kosovo, including ethnic minorities, the Serbian minority in particular”, but that the “role of Serbia in Kosovo does not help”. Tanjug reports that speaking at the session in which he took part as a private person, Hyseni said that this role was “disturbing at one point”. In regards to the so-called integration strategy for the northern, mostly Serb areas of Kosovo, Hyseni said that it should provide “conditions for a normal life of all citizens of Kosovo regardless of their ethnicity”. He also said that “Kosovo wishes to discuss issues of mutual interest with Serbia and to have normal relations with Belgrade”. Vuk Jeremic (Beta, file)

FM: No preconditions for dialog on Kosovo

“We are ready to discuss all issues, including those that are in the heart of the problem: the future status of Kosovo,”said Jeremić in his response at the end of the Security Council session on the latest report by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Kosovo.

According to Jeremić, progress may only be made if an agreement is reached by the parties concerned and not by taking unilateral actions, no matter how powerful were those who back those actions.

For the first time in history of the Balkans, such a dispute, including the issue of borders, is not being solved with a conflict and war but in a peaceful way instead, said Jeremić, adding that this is what Serbia proposes and remains ready to engage in the best possible way in solving the issue.

Jeremić also pointed out that the UN secretary-general mentions in his report that there are five times more returnees to Kosovo than in the previous period.

That is correct, but there were 50 returnees previously and now there are 259 returnees, out of some 200,000 internally displaced persons, said Jeremić, adding that the “very fact shows that the issue should be address”.

UN mission in Kosovo, UNMIK, Chief Lamberto Zannier evaluated at the Security Council session that “both Serbian and (ethnic) Albanian sides need to invest their efforts”.

He assessed the situation in the ethnically divided town of Kosovska Mitrovica as politically delicate, particularly in regards to courts, adding that UNMIK was trying to contribute to the situation improvement.

Zannier warned that little was being said about everyday problems of citizens.

UNMIK is investing efforts in renewing the dialogue between the northern and southern parts of Kosovska Mitrovica, said Zannier, adding that representatives of the UN Mission had talked with leaders of both sides but that political argumentation had prevailed.

Stating that 1,800 persons are still recorded as missing, Zannier spoke about the incidents in the village of Žač, where Serbs are not allowed to return to their homes, as well as about the decision of the Kosovo authorities to disconnect the telephone lines of the Serbian operators in Kosovo, which had led to a communication halt in the minority-populated areas.

Kosovo Albanian government's foreign minister Skender Hyseni also attended, to state at that the “Kosovo institutions continue to work to the benefit of all citizens of Kosovo, including ethnic minorities, the Serbian minority in particular”, but that the “role of Serbia in Kosovo does not help”.

Tanjug reports that speaking at the session in which he took part as a private person, Hyseni said that this role was “disturbing at one point”.

In regards to the so-called integration strategy for the northern, mostly Serb areas of Kosovo, Hyseni said that it should provide “conditions for a normal life of all citizens of Kosovo regardless of their ethnicity”.

He also said that “Kosovo wishes to discuss issues of mutual interest with Serbia and to have normal relations with Belgrade”.