Priština: Negotiations not in sight

Pristina officials and analysts do not expect the negotiations with Belgrade to begin soon, but point out that the talks will only be technical. The public in Kosovo expects that the government will be formed first, based on the results of the December parliamentary elections which are late. Pristina: Negotiations not in sight “Kosovo has for quite some time been ready for negotiations with Serbia that will have technical issues of mutual interest on its agenda,” Kosovo Deputy Foreign Minister Vlora Citaku told B92. “We have been open for the possibility to sit down at the table with Belgrade for a long time now, but only as independent and equal states,” she stressed. Citaku stated that the Kosovo government would appoint a coordinator who would head Pristina’s negotiating team. She rejected the possibility, which has been announced by Belgrade, that the Kosovo status will be discussed. “I see this as a political statement which is for internal use. All of our and Belgrade partners in the world have stated very clearly that these are technical talks of mutual interest,“ the Kosovo deputy FM explained. Serbian politicians in Kosovo are very interested in the upcoming talks between Belgrade and Pristina. Independent Liberal Party (SLS) leader Slobodan Petrovic expects to take part in the negotiations. “The future talks are in the Serbian community's interest and that's the essence our projects are based on. We will certainly be on the side of the Serbian community living here and all the citizens living in Kosovo, that's something that has been recognizable in our actions in the past three years,“ he said. Gezim Baxhaku and majority of analysts in Pristina do not expect that Kosovo will do anything about the negotiations with Belgrade before the new government is formed. “It cannot be expected that the Kosovo institutions will deal with it before March,“ Baxhaku noted. According to him, outgoing Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci's Adviser Bekim Collaku, who led negotiations in a delicate process of demarcation of border between Macedonia and Kosovo, could head Pristina's negotiating team. Downtown Pristina (FoNet)

Priština: Negotiations not in sight

“Kosovo has for quite some time been ready for negotiations with Serbia that will have technical issues of mutual interest on its agenda,” Kosovo Deputy Foreign Minister Vlora Citaku told B92.

“We have been open for the possibility to sit down at the table with Belgrade for a long time now, but only as independent and equal states,” she stressed.

Citaku stated that the Kosovo government would appoint a coordinator who would head Priština’s negotiating team.

She rejected the possibility, which has been announced by Belgrade, that the Kosovo status will be discussed.

“I see this as a political statement which is for internal use. All of our and Belgrade partners in the world have stated very clearly that these are technical talks of mutual interest,“ the Kosovo deputy FM explained.

Serbian politicians in Kosovo are very interested in the upcoming talks between Belgrade and Priština.

Independent Liberal Party (SLS) leader Slobodan Petrović expects to take part in the negotiations.

“The future talks are in the Serbian community's interest and that's the essence our projects are based on. We will certainly be on the side of the Serbian community living here and all the citizens living in Kosovo, that's something that has been recognizable in our actions in the past three years,“ he said.

Gezim Baxhaku and majority of analysts in Priština do not expect that Kosovo will do anything about the negotiations with Belgrade before the new government is formed.

“It cannot be expected that the Kosovo institutions will deal with it before March,“ Baxhaku noted.

According to him, outgoing Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci's Adviser Bekim Collaku, who led negotiations in a delicate process of demarcation of border between Macedonia and Kosovo, could head Priština's negotiating team.