"Serbia cannot use Kosovo as bargaining chip"

Deputy PM and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic says Serbia cannot use its national interests as a bargaining chip in order to access the EU. Dacic, who heads the Socialists (SPS), who are a part of the ruling coalition, called on top government officials to communicate such messages to the international community. "Serbia cannot use Kosovo as bargaining chip" "It does not matter only what German Chancellor Angela Merkel might say during her visit to Belgrade, it is also important what Serbian president, prime minister and other officials would say, because Serbia needs to send the right messages and make it clear that nobody should put the country in a situation in which it would have to choose between Kosovo and Europe," Dacic told reporters on Tuesday. He noted that Serbia's goal was to become a member of the EU, but this was not a reason for the country to use its national interests as a bargaining chip. "We cannot conduct talks in the 'take it or leave it' manner when it comes to Kosovo and Metohija," the minister said. According to him, Serbia should send a message to the international community and make it clear that it wants peace and that it will not engage in wars, but that it will not stand still and watch its citizens expelled from Kosovo and Metohija. "A clear message should also be sent to (ethnic) Albanians, in which the country would state that it wants peace with them and an ending to a historical conflict to be reached, but that they should not provoke Serbia while 'hiding behind the big brother'," Dacic said. Dacic believes it is necessary for a clear message to be communicated to Kosovo Serbs as well, since they expect the government to say what it would do in case of potential unfavorable solutions. The minister called on participants in the dialogue to discuss key issues as soon as possible, such as finding a compromise solution. "All this remained a factor of instability and a factor that might set off some new fire in the Balkans," Dacic underscored and added that "dialogue is the only adequate solution". Ivica Dacic (Tanjug, file) "Relatively stable" Ivica Dacic also addressed the relations in the ruling coalition to say they "remained unchanged and relatively stable". “As for the state in the ruling coalition, it remains unchanged, that is, relatively stable with occasional precipitation,” Dacic told reporters. He noted that disagreements were "the Democratic Party's (DS) problem, because all other parties in the ruling coalition are on the DS list, which is why the DS is responsible for resolving problems". Dacic said that talk about abolishment of management boards in public companies was "a secondary matter, especially in the context of the current situation in the country". “Under the circumstances, as we are facing a tough fall period in terms of achieving EU candidate status and pressures related to the status of Kosovo and Metohija, as well as pressures for Serbia to stand still and watch peacefully northern Kosovo get forcefully integrated, while Serbs keep barricades, and all this in the context of the economic crisis, talking about abolishment of management boards is secondary as far as I am concerned,” Dacic noted.

"Serbia cannot use Kosovo as bargaining chip"

"It does not matter only what German Chancellor Angela Merkel might say during her visit to Belgrade, it is also important what Serbian president, prime minister and other officials would say, because Serbia needs to send the right messages and make it clear that nobody should put the country in a situation in which it would have to choose between Kosovo and Europe," Dačić told reporters on Tuesday.

He noted that Serbia's goal was to become a member of the EU, but this was not a reason for the country to use its national interests as a bargaining chip.

"We cannot conduct talks in the 'take it or leave it' manner when it comes to Kosovo and Metohija," the minister said.

According to him, Serbia should send a message to the international community and make it clear that it wants peace and that it will not engage in wars, but that it will not stand still and watch its citizens expelled from Kosovo and Metohija.

"A clear message should also be sent to (ethnic) Albanians, in which the country would state that it wants peace with them and an ending to a historical conflict to be reached, but that they should not provoke Serbia while 'hiding behind the big brother'," Dačić said.

Dačić believes it is necessary for a clear message to be communicated to Kosovo Serbs as well, since they expect the government to say what it would do in case of potential unfavorable solutions.

The minister called on participants in the dialogue to discuss key issues as soon as possible, such as finding a compromise solution.

"All this remained a factor of instability and a factor that might set off some new fire in the Balkans," Dačić underscored and added that "dialogue is the only adequate solution".

"Relatively stable"

Ivica Dačić also addressed the relations in the ruling coalition to say they "remained unchanged and relatively stable".

“As for the state in the ruling coalition, it remains unchanged, that is, relatively stable with occasional precipitation,” Dačić told reporters.

He noted that disagreements were "the Democratic Party's (DS) problem, because all other parties in the ruling coalition are on the DS list, which is why the DS is responsible for resolving problems".

Dačić said that talk about abolishment of management boards in public companies was "a secondary matter, especially in the context of the current situation in the country".

“Under the circumstances, as we are facing a tough fall period in terms of achieving EU candidate status and pressures related to the status of Kosovo and Metohija, as well as pressures for Serbia to stand still and watch peacefully northern Kosovo get forcefully integrated, while Serbs keep barricades, and all this in the context of the economic crisis, talking about abolishment of management boards is secondary as far as I am concerned,” Dačić noted.