Committee seeks "binding act" on Kosovo

The Parliament Committee on Kosovo and Metohija wants the government "to issue a binding act on the situation in the southern province for MPs to debate". The committe sent its request to Parliament Speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic on Wednesday in Belgrade, urging her to forward it to the government. Committee seeks "binding act" on Kosovo At the session of the committee, Belgrade's negotiator in the dialog with the Kosovo Albanian authorities Borislav Stefanovic dismissed the opposition claims that the talks had led to the recognition of the ethnic Albanian unilateral proclaimation of Kosovo's independence. During the two-and-a-half hour debate, the opposition criticized the solutions reached during the dialogue thus far. Previously, Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanovic underlined that the government report on the situation in Kosovo and Metohija was composed based on field data. Addressing members of the committee, he pointed out that the report comprised available data, which the government received from local self-governments. On the occasion of certain claims that the government has kept something secret, Bogdanovic underlined that this time again there will be no speculations about initiators of the incident at the Jarinje administrative crossing on September 27. “I can responsibly say that we drafted the report using available data which came from local self-governments. Our fast reaction and the agreement with KFOR eased tensions which were likely to escalate into larger conflicts,” he said. Bogdanovic underlined that he does not want to speculate about the incident and who initiated it, adding that the report of the government could not include the content of the session of the Security Board. The minister presented the government's position briefly, and the report to the members of the committee. He underlined that in the report, the government once again supported the dialogue with the interim government in Pristina mediated by the EU. He also said that the government supports all state organs which search for a solution in keeping with UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and the six-point plan by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. The Serbian government urged all international organizations, KFOR and EULEX in the first line, to act in a status-neutral manner during the crisis. The government condemns every form of violence and calls on both Kosovo Serbs and the international organizations to resolve all problems in Kosovo in a peaceful manner, he said. The minister once again stressed that the government supports all forms of peaceful protests staged by north Kosovo citizens, who are constantly urged to cooperate with representatives of the Serbian government and international organizations operating in the territory of Kosovo. The report also points to the activities which the government took with a view to normalization of life in the northern part of the province, Bogdanovic said, stressing that it is crucial that normal supply, beginning of the school year and operation of the health care system were secured in spite of the difficult conditions. He urged all members of the Committee on Kosovo-Metohija not to take advantage of the difficult situation both in the northern part and entire Kosovo. Previously, Committee Chairman Ljubomir Kragovic suspended the session on Tuesday due to non attendance of government representatives. A 24-hour postponement of the session was jointly proposed by the Committee members from the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). Deputy Chairman Dejan Radenkovic believes that the parliament speaker should request the MPs would vote. Kragovic said that government representatives had been invited to the session. “Invitations were sent at 17:00 to Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanovic and Belgrade team chief in the dialogue with Pristina Borislav Stefanovic,” he told Tanjug. Borislav Stefanovic and Goran Bogdanovic attend the session (Tanjug)

Committee seeks "binding act" on Kosovo

At the session of the committee, Belgrade's negotiator in the dialog with the Kosovo Albanian authorities Borislav Stefanović dismissed the opposition claims that the talks had led to the recognition of the ethnic Albanian unilateral proclaimation of Kosovo's independence.

During the two-and-a-half hour debate, the opposition criticized the solutions reached during the dialogue thus far.

Previously, Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanović underlined that the government report on the situation in Kosovo and Metohija was composed based on field data.

Addressing members of the committee, he pointed out that the report comprised available data, which the government received from local self-governments.

On the occasion of certain claims that the government has kept something secret, Bogdanović underlined that this time again there will be no speculations about initiators of the incident at the Jarinje administrative crossing on September 27.

“I can responsibly say that we drafted the report using available data which came from local self-governments. Our fast reaction and the agreement with KFOR eased tensions which were likely to escalate into larger conflicts,” he said.

Bogdanović underlined that he does not want to speculate about the incident and who initiated it, adding that the report of the government could not include the content of the session of the Security Board.

The minister presented the government's position briefly, and the report to the members of the committee.

He underlined that in the report, the government once again supported the dialogue with the interim government in Priština mediated by the EU.

He also said that the government supports all state organs which search for a solution in keeping with UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and the six-point plan by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

The Serbian government urged all international organizations, KFOR and EULEX in the first line, to act in a status-neutral manner during the crisis.

The government condemns every form of violence and calls on both Kosovo Serbs and the international organizations to resolve all problems in Kosovo in a peaceful manner, he said.

The minister once again stressed that the government supports all forms of peaceful protests staged by north Kosovo citizens, who are constantly urged to cooperate with representatives of the Serbian government and international organizations operating in the territory of Kosovo.

The report also points to the activities which the government took with a view to normalization of life in the northern part of the province, Bogdanović said, stressing that it is crucial that normal supply, beginning of the school year and operation of the health care system were secured in spite of the difficult conditions.

He urged all members of the Committee on Kosovo-Metohija not to take advantage of the difficult situation both in the northern part and entire Kosovo.

Previously, Committee Chairman Ljubomir Kragović suspended the session on Tuesday due to non attendance of government representatives.

A 24-hour postponement of the session was jointly proposed by the Committee members from the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). Deputy Chairman Dejan Radenković believes that the parliament speaker should request the MPs would vote.

Kragović said that government representatives had been invited to the session.

“Invitations were sent at 17:00 to Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanović and Belgrade team chief in the dialogue with Priština Borislav Stefanović,” he told Tanjug.