European Council decision “won’t affect dialogue”

Belgrade team chief Borislav Stefanovic says European Council’s decision not to grant Serbia the EU candidate status will not affect the dialogue with Pristina. He told daily Press that the talks with Pristina were the Serbian government’s priority regardless of the course of the EU integration which was a long-term process that would eventually yield results. European Council decision “won’t affect dialogue” According to the team head, it is certain that a weakened and isolated Serbia suited Pristina, as well as the atmosphere of constant mild conflicts in northern Kosovo. Stefanovic pointed out that nobody in Serbia wanted to drift apart from the international community, regardless of imperfections of the management model it implemented in Kosovo. He also confirmed President Boris Tadic’s statement that there was an idea as to how the Kosovo issue should be solved. ”It is true we have a solution but I would not want to go into details. The issue of regional representation can be solved in 20 minutes. We have initiated and already presented numerous modalities in the dialogue but Pristina has not accepted a single option. The dialogue should not be a lever to pull Serbia out of the constitutional order but to reach a compromise about the unsolved issues. But it is not a compromise if only one sides is making concessions and giving suggestions,” Stefanovic was quoted as saying. He added that one must not give up on UN Security Council Resolution 1244 because it was a part of the international law and Serbia’s constitutional order. “Our position is clear, we cannot give up on it. If Kosovo requested recognition of independence based on the resolution and took it to the international court and even put it into its legal foundations, then it is illogical why they do not accept it as a foundation for the negotiations. In fact, they are now trying to force it out so they could represent themselves as an independent state,” the Belgrade team head underscored. He added that influence on Pristina to be more constructive could only be exerted through the continuation of the talks and constant contacts with the international factors. Borislav Stefanovic (Tanjug, file)

European Council decision “won’t affect dialogue”

According to the team head, it is certain that a weakened and isolated Serbia suited Priština, as well as the atmosphere of constant mild conflicts in northern Kosovo.

Stefanović pointed out that nobody in Serbia wanted to drift apart from the international community, regardless of imperfections of the management model it implemented in Kosovo.

He also confirmed President Boris Tadić’s statement that there was an idea as to how the Kosovo issue should be solved.

”It is true we have a solution but I would not want to go into details. The issue of regional representation can be solved in 20 minutes. We have initiated and already presented numerous modalities in the dialogue but Priština has not accepted a single option. The dialogue should not be a lever to pull Serbia out of the constitutional order but to reach a compromise about the unsolved issues. But it is not a compromise if only one sides is making concessions and giving suggestions,” Stefanović was quoted as saying.

He added that one must not give up on UN Security Council Resolution 1244 because it was a part of the international law and Serbia’s constitutional order.

“Our position is clear, we cannot give up on it. If Kosovo requested recognition of independence based on the resolution and took it to the international court and even put it into its legal foundations, then it is illogical why they do not accept it as a foundation for the negotiations. In fact, they are now trying to force it out so they could represent themselves as an independent state,” the Belgrade team head underscored.

He added that influence on Priština to be more constructive could only be exerted through the continuation of the talks and constant contacts with the international factors.