Daily: Belgrade-Priština negotiations soon

The EU expects that Kosovo government will be formed on February 17 and that negotiations will begin soon after, British diplomat Robert Cooper told daily Blic. Belgrade expects negotiations to begin in March. Daily: Belgrade-Pristina negotiations soon Final preparations ahead of the dialogue are underway and that was the reason why Cooper talked to both Belgrade and Pristina officials last week. According to the daily's sources, the main negotiating method has been determined and every solution will be immediately implemented in the field. Some experts say that this could jeopardize Belgrade's plans to reach more favorable status solution for predominantly Serb populated territories. According to diplomatic sources in Pristina, Cooper met with Kosovo Albanian representatives and ambassadors of the Quint countries to discuss the need for a speedy dialogue. International Civilian Representative to Kosovo Pieter Feith was not invited to the meeting. Cooper will be the main mediator in the talks and will represent EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton. Ivanovic: Negotiations will begin in March Ministry for Kosovo State Secretary Oliver Ivanovic has stated that negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina can be expected in March. “The first meeting can be expected in March, and it will be a meeting and it will not be burdened with difficult issues that we do not have any solutions to in advance,” he pointed out. The state secretary believes that Belgrade and Pristina should first discuss the issue of the missing and kidnapped persons but adds that both parties need to agree on issues that will be discussed. According to him, the Serbian team is thoroughly preparing and the negotiating platform has already been determined. “We are absolutely ready to talk about the topics we proposed, we don’t know which ones will come from Pristina. I repeat that the agenda will be determined through an agreement of both sides,” Ivanovic stressed. He pointed out that the Serbian team needed to negotiate within the constitutional framework and the framework which had been determined by the Serbian parliament and the government. The state secretary said that the Serbian side undoubtedly had higher capacity and the initiative but that it was necessary for both sides to agree in order for the talks to be successful. “Success of negotiation to a large degree depends on Kosovo Albanian’s constructivism. Otherwise, I think that the negotiations would not have a bright future,” he pointed out.

Daily: Belgrade-Priština negotiations soon

Final preparations ahead of the dialogue are underway and that was the reason why Cooper talked to both Belgrade and Priština officials last week.

According to the daily's sources, the main negotiating method has been determined and every solution will be immediately implemented in the field.

Some experts say that this could jeopardize Belgrade's plans to reach more favorable status solution for predominantly Serb populated territories.

According to diplomatic sources in Priština, Cooper met with Kosovo Albanian representatives and ambassadors of the Quint countries to discuss the need for a speedy dialogue.

International Civilian Representative to Kosovo Pieter Feith was not invited to the meeting.

Cooper will be the main mediator in the talks and will represent EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton.

Ivanović: Negotiations will begin in March

Ministry for Kosovo State Secretary Oliver Ivanović has stated that negotiations between Belgrade and Priština can be expected in March.

“The first meeting can be expected in March, and it will be a meeting and it will not be burdened with difficult issues that we do not have any solutions to in advance,” he pointed out.

The state secretary believes that Belgrade and Priština should first discuss the issue of the missing and kidnapped persons but adds that both parties need to agree on issues that will be discussed.

According to him, the Serbian team is thoroughly preparing and the negotiating platform has already been determined.

“We are absolutely ready to talk about the topics we proposed, we don’t know which ones will come from Priština. I repeat that the agenda will be determined through an agreement of both sides,” Ivanović stressed.

He pointed out that the Serbian team needed to negotiate within the constitutional framework and the framework which had been determined by the Serbian parliament and the government.

The state secretary said that the Serbian side undoubtedly had higher capacity and the initiative but that it was necessary for both sides to agree in order for the talks to be successful.

“Success of negotiation to a large degree depends on Kosovo Albanian’s constructivism. Otherwise, I think that the negotiations would not have a bright future,” he pointed out.