Daily: Belgrade negotiator "major obstacle"

A major obstacle to removing the barricades in the north "could be the animosity Serbs feel toward Borislav Stefanovic", speculates a Belgrade-based daily. The Blic newspaper writes on Tuesday that this official "could be a bigger obstacle than the hard-line stances of Pristina (K. Albanians)". Daily: Belgrade negotiator "major obstacle" Meanwhile, the Belgrade negotiator's meeting with his Pristina counterpart yesterday and today in Brussels "is not enough to bring Serbia closer to a positive decision (on candidate status) of the European Council", the article continues. "Europe can be satisfied," says Blic, "only by essential progress in implementing agreements on freedom of movement, registry and cadaster books, and by removing the barricades." Representatives of Serbs from northern Kosovo "are not hiding that they are in conflict with Stefanovic", according to the article, which also quotes President of the Assembly of Municipalities of Northern Kosovo Dobrosav Dobric (SRS): "During the parliamentary committee (on Kosovo) meeting, it was clear that all MPs and representatives of Serbs from Kosovo held a position opposite to that of Stefanovic." Leposavic Mayor Branko Ninic (DS) told the daily that he was against any removal of the barricades, and that Serbs in the north "must accept what's best at this point". He also mentioned Stefanovic, to say, "I guess he has the backing of top state officials." Meanwhile, Government Office for EU Integration chief Milica Delevic was quoted as saying that the EU states "will look whether the situation in northern Kosovo was moving toward a solution, or remaining inflammable." "When it comes to the barricades, they will sooner or later be removed, but as long as they are there, they represent a risk that the situation could deteriorate within an hour, and become inflammable," said Delevic, according to Blic.

Daily: Belgrade negotiator "major obstacle"

Meanwhile, the Belgrade negotiator's meeting with his Priština counterpart yesterday and today in Brussels "is not enough to bring Serbia closer to a positive decision (on candidate status) of the European Council", the article continues.

"Europe can be satisfied," says Blic, "only by essential progress in implementing agreements on freedom of movement, registry and cadaster books, and by removing the barricades."

Representatives of Serbs from northern Kosovo "are not hiding that they are in conflict with Stefanović", according to the article, which also quotes President of the Assembly of Municipalities of Northern Kosovo Dobrosav Dobrić (SRS):

"During the parliamentary committee (on Kosovo) meeting, it was clear that all MPs and representatives of Serbs from Kosovo held a position opposite to that of Stefanović."

Leposavić Mayor Branko Ninić (DS) told the daily that he was against any removal of the barricades, and that Serbs in the north "must accept what's best at this point".

He also mentioned Stefanović, to say, "I guess he has the backing of top state officials."

Meanwhile, Government Office for EU Integration chief Milica Delević was quoted as saying that the EU states "will look whether the situation in northern Kosovo was moving toward a solution, or remaining inflammable."

"When it comes to the barricades, they will sooner or later be removed, but as long as they are there, they represent a risk that the situation could deteriorate within an hour, and become inflammable," said Delević, according to Blic.