"Kosovo stamps must be status-neutral"

Official Belgrade finds acceptable all solutions for customs stamps which do not impinge upon the issue of Kosovo status, says Borislav Stefanovic. The head of Belgrade's negotiating team in the talks with Kosovo Albanian authorities in Pristina, taking place in Brussels, spoke for Tanjug news agency on Monday. "Kosovo stamps must be status-neutral" Stefanovic did not want to comment the release by Belgrade-based daily Blic on the proposal for introduction of two customs stamps, a Serbian and a Kosovo Albanian one, at the Kosovo administrative line, but said that Belgrade claims that customs stamps have to be in keeping with UN Security Council Resolution 1244. “All other solutions which do not impinge upon the status of Kosovo are on the cards. We have different proposals, but one thing is certain - Belgrade cannot accept customs stamps which read 'The Republic of Kosovo-Customs' as well as anything else that has the symbols of statehood. Moreover, the accompanying documentation has to be status neutral,” Stefanovic told Tanjug. According to Blic, Belgrade negotiating team has prepared a suggestion for the continuation of the talks with Pristina in Brussels on September 5 that implies induction of customs stamps at both sides of the administrative line, one of which would read 'Kosovo Customs' or 'Customs of Pec, (Kosovska) Mitrovica, Pristina', while the other would read 'UNMIK-Kosovo- Customs' or 'EULEX-Kosovo-Customs'. The second stamp would be in keeping with Resolution 1244, and when crossing the administrative line the first one to be stamped will be the Kosovo Albanian one, and than the Serbian one, the daily reads. In the talks with Belgrade, Pristina insisted on a stamp which would read "republic of Kosovo". This stamp was recognized by all EU member states upon recommendation of UN Special Representative for Kosovo Lamberto Zannier, who claimed that this is in keeping with Resolution 1244, Stefanovic said ahead of Pristina's unilateral attempt to take control over the Jarinje and Brnjak administrative line checkpoints and the interruption of the talks in July. Stefanovic stated at the time that the Pristina team conditions the resolution of the telecommunication issue by Belgrade's acceptance of their "customs stamp". Minister for Kosovo-Metohija Goran Bogdanovic did not wish to comment the proposal of introduction of two customs stamps, believing that this would be a prejudgment of solution before the continuation of the talks in Brussels in September. Borislav Stefanovic (Tanjug, file)

"Kosovo stamps must be status-neutral"

Stefanović did not want to comment the release by Belgrade-based daily Blic on the proposal for introduction of two customs stamps, a Serbian and a Kosovo Albanian one, at the Kosovo administrative line, but said that Belgrade claims that customs stamps have to be in keeping with UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

“All other solutions which do not impinge upon the status of Kosovo are on the cards. We have different proposals, but one thing is certain - Belgrade cannot accept customs stamps which read 'The Republic of Kosovo-Customs' as well as anything else that has the symbols of statehood. Moreover, the accompanying documentation has to be status neutral,” Stefanović told Tanjug.

According to Blic, Belgrade negotiating team has prepared a suggestion for the continuation of the talks with Priština in Brussels on September 5 that implies induction of customs stamps at both sides of the administrative line, one of which would read 'Kosovo Customs' or 'Customs of Peć, (Kosovska) Mitrovica, Priština', while the other would read 'UNMIK-Kosovo- Customs' or 'EULEX-Kosovo-Customs'.

The second stamp would be in keeping with Resolution 1244, and when crossing the administrative line the first one to be stamped will be the Kosovo Albanian one, and than the Serbian one, the daily reads.

In the talks with Belgrade, Priština insisted on a stamp which would read "republic of Kosovo".

This stamp was recognized by all EU member states upon recommendation of UN Special Representative for Kosovo Lamberto Zannier, who claimed that this is in keeping with Resolution 1244, Stefanović said ahead of Priština's unilateral attempt to take control over the Jarinje and Brnjak administrative line checkpoints and the interruption of the talks in July.

Stefanović stated at the time that the Priština team conditions the resolution of the telecommunication issue by Belgrade's acceptance of their "customs stamp".

Minister for Kosovo-Metohija Goran Bogdanović did not wish to comment the proposal of introduction of two customs stamps, believing that this would be a prejudgment of solution before the continuation of the talks in Brussels in September.