North won't be topic of next round of dialogue

Northern Kosovo, the institutions in that part of the province and Jarinje and Brnjak checkpoints will not be discussed as the Kosovo dialogue resumes. This is according to Borislav Stefanovic, who heads the Serbian team in the ongoing talks with representatives of the Kosovo Albanian authorities. North won't be topic of next round of dialogue The dialogue started in March under EU auspices. Stefanovic met on Monday in Belgrade with EU mediator in the dialogue Robert Cooper, and told reporters afterwards issue of northern Kosovo "could be the topic of some future discussion". "The functioning of Serbian institutions in the north of Kosovo can especially not be the topic of discussion, because something that is constitutional, legal, political and moral obligation towards the citizens of Serbia cannot be negotiated," Stefanovic said. He added that he conveyed this attitude to European counterparts and that this was "met with understanding". Stefanovic said that he agreed with Cooper that the topics of the meeting on September 2 should be the issue of cadastre, telecoms and customs stamps, adding that he expects that they would also discuss electric energy and university diplomas issues. He expressed hope that the issue of customs stamps will be resolved in accordance with the stand of UNMIK and with UN Security Council Resolution 1244. Stefanovic also noted that the the EULEX special team being set up to investigate allegations that Kosovo Albanian KLA kidnapped Serb civilians in the province in order to sell their organs in the black market "failed to meet Serbia's expectations in full". Stefanovic welcomed the appointment of John Clint Williamson as lead prosecutor in the team. Stefanovic was quoted as saying that "any activity that would lead to investigating the allegations contained in the report by (CoE rapporteur) Dick Marty deserved to be welcomed". Stefanovic did not want to comment on the personality of Williamson, on the grounds that everyone should be given the opportunity to show that they can do their job completely. Williamson was the head of Kosovo's Justice Department in 2001-2002 when the territory was under the administration of the United Nations and was tasked with overseeing Kosovo's prisons and the justice system. "Finding those responsible for the crimes and checking everything that was mentioned in the report is positive for Serbia and for the people who live in Kosovo and who have been affected the most by the negative aspects of the allegations contained in the report," Stefanovic said. Serbia is advocating that the investigation into the allegations about organ trafficking in Kosovo be conducted under UN mandate. Borislav Stefanovic (Tanjug)

North won't be topic of next round of dialogue

The dialogue started in March under EU auspices.

Stefanović met on Monday in Belgrade with EU mediator in the dialogue Robert Cooper, and told reporters afterwards issue of northern Kosovo "could be the topic of some future discussion".

"The functioning of Serbian institutions in the north of Kosovo can especially not be the topic of discussion, because something that is constitutional, legal, political and moral obligation towards the citizens of Serbia cannot be negotiated," Stefanović said.

He added that he conveyed this attitude to European counterparts and that this was "met with understanding".

Stefanović said that he agreed with Cooper that the topics of the meeting on September 2 should be the issue of cadastre, telecoms and customs stamps, adding that he expects that they would also discuss electric energy and university diplomas issues.

He expressed hope that the issue of customs stamps will be resolved in accordance with the stand of UNMIK and with UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

Stefanović also noted that the the EULEX special team being set up to investigate allegations that Kosovo Albanian KLA kidnapped Serb civilians in the province in order to sell their organs in the black market "failed to meet Serbia's expectations in full".

Stefanović welcomed the appointment of John Clint Williamson as lead prosecutor in the team.

Stefanović was quoted as saying that "any activity that would lead to investigating the allegations contained in the report by (CoE rapporteur) Dick Marty deserved to be welcomed".

Stefanović did not want to comment on the personality of Williamson, on the grounds that everyone should be given the opportunity to show that they can do their job completely.

Williamson was the head of Kosovo's Justice Department in 2001-2002 when the territory was under the administration of the United Nations and was tasked with overseeing Kosovo's prisons and the justice system.

"Finding those responsible for the crimes and checking everything that was mentioned in the report is positive for Serbia and for the people who live in Kosovo and who have been affected the most by the negative aspects of the allegations contained in the report," Stefanović said.

Serbia is advocating that the investigation into the allegations about organ trafficking in Kosovo be conducted under UN mandate.