Kosovo assembly adopts resolution

Kosovo assembly MPs passed with a simple majority Thursday a resolution on the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, sponsored by the Kosovo government. 48 MPs from opposition Albanian parties voted against the resolution, but it passed with 63 votes from the ruling coalition. The vote was not preceded by a debate. Kosovo assembly adopts resolution The resolution supports a “dialogue between two independent and sovereign states, Kosovo and Serbia, on practical issues in the interest of improving the life of the people and advancing the European agenda of both countries and the region”. According to the resolution, “the agenda for the dialogue should encompass only technical issues which are of interest to both parties and under no circumstances the sovereignty, subjectivity, territorial integrity, and internal constitutional order of Kosovo”. The assembly session, at which MPs were supposed to adopt the resolution, was adjourned on Monday since ruling coalition MPs and opposition MPs did not agree on the date for the beginning of the talks. The political parties were supposed to reach an agreement until today but they have not. At the meeting which was held on Wednesday, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) requested that their positions regarding the dialogue are included in the resolution in order for it to be adopted. The opposition parties believe that the government representatives cannot negotiate with Belgrade without the assembly’s approval, while the ruling parties point out that the assembly’s approval is only necessary for the ratification of possible agreements that might be reached during the dialogue. Head of the Independent Liberal Party (SLS) parliamentary group Sasa Rasic stated earlier that the most important thing for the SLS was that the dialogue had successfully started and that it would be continued. He also added that the essence of the talks was more important that the form. “Out of two offered resolutions, the government resolution, which offers room for dialogue and results, is more acceptable for the Independent Liberal Party,” Rasic stressed. In an attempt to soften the opposition, Thaci has described the talks with Belgrade as a part of Kosovo and Serbia’s EU integration agenda and added that the two sides are equal participants in the negotiations. Tahiri: Change of laws unacceptable Head of Pristina’s negotiating team Edita Tahiri has assessed that the beginning of the talks is an important event but pointed out that Kosovo institutions will not accept solutions that require changes of the existing laws. “This is a dialogue about technical and practical issues, about problems that have been piling up for 11 years, since the war when various obstacles appeared due to the issues that will be able to affect the improvement of people’s life both in the Republic of Kosovo and in the state of Serbia if we find a solution,” she told Pristina-based Albanian language daily Koha Ditore after the first round of talks had finished. She pointed out that the Kosovo government was in charge of the dialogue. According to her, there is another dimension of the dialogue – progress on the EU integration path since Kosovo has openly expressed aspirations to join the EU. “Even though it (Kosovo) still hasn’t entered into contractual agreements, the process is developing anyway. We are interested in fulfilling all those standards, including those about good neighborly relations. There is an impression that it is also in Serbia’s interest,” the head of Pristina’s negotiating team pointed out.

Kosovo assembly adopts resolution

The resolution supports a “dialogue between two independent and sovereign states, Kosovo and Serbia, on practical issues in the interest of improving the life of the people and advancing the European agenda of both countries and the region”.

According to the resolution, “the agenda for the dialogue should encompass only technical issues which are of interest to both parties and under no circumstances the sovereignty, subjectivity, territorial integrity, and internal constitutional order of Kosovo”.

The assembly session, at which MPs were supposed to adopt the resolution, was adjourned on Monday since ruling coalition MPs and opposition MPs did not agree on the date for the beginning of the talks.

The political parties were supposed to reach an agreement until today but they have not.

At the meeting which was held on Wednesday, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) requested that their positions regarding the dialogue are included in the resolution in order for it to be adopted.

The opposition parties believe that the government representatives cannot negotiate with Belgrade without the assembly’s approval, while the ruling parties point out that the assembly’s approval is only necessary for the ratification of possible agreements that might be reached during the dialogue.

Head of the Independent Liberal Party (SLS) parliamentary group Saša Rašić stated earlier that the most important thing for the SLS was that the dialogue had successfully started and that it would be continued. He also added that the essence of the talks was more important that the form.

“Out of two offered resolutions, the government resolution, which offers room for dialogue and results, is more acceptable for the Independent Liberal Party,” Rašić stressed.

In an attempt to soften the opposition, Thaci has described the talks with Belgrade as a part of Kosovo and Serbia’s EU integration agenda and added that the two sides are equal participants in the negotiations.

Tahiri: Change of laws unacceptable

Head of Priština’s negotiating team Edita Tahiri has assessed that the beginning of the talks is an important event but pointed out that Kosovo institutions will not accept solutions that require changes of the existing laws.

“This is a dialogue about technical and practical issues, about problems that have been piling up for 11 years, since the war when various obstacles appeared due to the issues that will be able to affect the improvement of people’s life both in the Republic of Kosovo and in the state of Serbia if we find a solution,” she told Priština-based Albanian language daily Koha Ditore after the first round of talks had finished.

She pointed out that the Kosovo government was in charge of the dialogue.

According to her, there is another dimension of the dialogue – progress on the EU integration path since Kosovo has openly expressed aspirations to join the EU.

“Even though it (Kosovo) still hasn’t entered into contractual agreements, the process is developing anyway. We are interested in fulfilling all those standards, including those about good neighborly relations. There is an impression that it is also in Serbia’s interest,” the head of Priština’s negotiating team pointed out.