"Top officials in agreement on all steps of talks"

Belgrade team chief in the Kosovo dialogue Borko Stefanovic confirmed he would travel to Pristina before the next round, expected in mid-May in Brussels. Speaking before the Serbian Parliamentary Committee on Kosovo and Metohija in Belgrade on Wednesday, he said that this visit is supported by Serbia's top officials. "Top officials in agreement on all steps of talks" When asked whether the visit to Pristina is his personal decision or the stand of the entire state, Stefanovic stated that it is completely clear that the top officials fully agree on all steps taken by the negotiating team. The goal of the visit to Pristina is, as he put it, to meet with Serb representatives north and south of the Ibar River, as well as with the Albanian representatives and to present to the Albanian public Belgrade's stands via their own media. “We will try to confer with the Albanian representatives, and that is not a problem. We would like to get an insight into the level of democracy in Pristina and to see in which manner we are an obstacle to an open and democratic Kosovo,” Stefanovic said. He added that the next, fourth round of negotiations will not introduce any new topics, but rather close the talks on the issues regarding which the two sides have made the greatest progress. Stefanovic explained that the two parties have not reached an agreement regarding telecommunications and electricity, and that they agreed that the EU should propose a solution which would make them see eye to eye on these issues. Although the talks had little results so far since Pristina was constantly trying to put the recognition of Kosovo's independence in the forefront, Stefanovic said that progress has been made in the negotiating process particularly in respect of the registry books. Stefanovic reiterated that Serbia's negotiating team acts in keeping with the Constitution and parliamentary resolutions, and that it has not jeopardized Serbia's sovereignty in any way. “We are a constructive party. We stick to the European principles, and at the same time we preserve the country's sovereignty,” Stefanovic said, refuting all insinuations that the Serbian negotiating team recognizes the independence of Kosovo and Metohija in any manner. Stefanovic said that he is ready to confer with anyone regardless of their political affiliation, adding that there will be no taboos for the Serbian side since the dialogue, as he put it, is the only way to a solution.

"Top officials in agreement on all steps of talks"

When asked whether the visit to Priština is his personal decision or the stand of the entire state, Stefanović stated that it is completely clear that the top officials fully agree on all steps taken by the negotiating team.

The goal of the visit to Priština is, as he put it, to meet with Serb representatives north and south of the Ibar River, as well as with the Albanian representatives and to present to the Albanian public Belgrade's stands via their own media.

“We will try to confer with the Albanian representatives, and that is not a problem. We would like to get an insight into the level of democracy in Priština and to see in which manner we are an obstacle to an open and democratic Kosovo,” Stefanović said.

He added that the next, fourth round of negotiations will not introduce any new topics, but rather close the talks on the issues regarding which the two sides have made the greatest progress.

Stefanović explained that the two parties have not reached an agreement regarding telecommunications and electricity, and that they agreed that the EU should propose a solution which would make them see eye to eye on these issues.

Although the talks had little results so far since Priština was constantly trying to put the recognition of Kosovo's independence in the forefront, Stefanović said that progress has been made in the negotiating process particularly in respect of the registry books.

Stefanović reiterated that Serbia's negotiating team acts in keeping with the Constitution and parliamentary resolutions, and that it has not jeopardized Serbia's sovereignty in any way.

“We are a constructive party. We stick to the European principles, and at the same time we preserve the country's sovereignty,” Stefanović said, refuting all insinuations that the Serbian negotiating team recognizes the independence of Kosovo and Metohija in any manner.

Stefanović said that he is ready to confer with anyone regardless of their political affiliation, adding that there will be no taboos for the Serbian side since the dialogue, as he put it, is the only way to a solution.