"Solve Kosovo status in international conference"

DS Political Council head Dragoljub Micunovic says Kosovo's status "will be resolved" in an international conference - "like the one in Dayton". If it weren't for the 1995 conference that ended the war in Bosnia, the ruling party's veteran official and MP continued, "(Radovan) Karadzic and (Alija) Izetbegovic would still be negotiating to this day". "Solve Kosovo status in international conference" "International authority is needed for a lasting solution, while bilateral talks last as long as governments last," he added. This conference should bring together representatives of Belgrade, Pristina, Brussels, EULEX and KFOR, Micunovic said at a roundtable entitled "Serbia and the EU after December 9," organized by the Center for Democracy Foundation and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. He stressed Serbia should not give up on the European integration process, reminding the European Commission gave a positive opinion on Serbia's progress and the EU heads of state were expected to confirm this opinion and grant candidate status. Even though the social, political and economic reforms in Serbia were commended, it was not enough for candidate status, he said, noting this brings the EU's credibility into question. (Tanjug) "Compromise possible" President of the Foreign Policy Council of the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sonja Liht said Monday that a compromise can be found regarding regional representation of Kosovo, under which Serbia would be represented as a full-fledged state and Kosovo in some "asymmetrical form." Liht told reporters she completely understands President Boris Tadic's insistence on Resolution 1244, but added Serbia must show maximum flexibility and readiness to compromise in order not to exclude itself from regional forums. "Representatives of Kosovo are present at many of these conferences and our reaction is not to attend on their account, meaning we exclude ourselves. We absolutely need to change this," Liht said. She said Serbia needs to continue the dialogue with Pristina, implement the agreements reached so far and do everything to continue the reforms which are under way. Liht noted that Serbia cannot find a better framework for becoming a modern, democratic and developed country than the EU.

"Solve Kosovo status in international conference"

"International authority is needed for a lasting solution, while bilateral talks last as long as governments last," he added.

This conference should bring together representatives of Belgrade, Priština, Brussels, EULEX and KFOR, Mićunović said at a roundtable entitled "Serbia and the EU after December 9," organized by the Center for Democracy Foundation and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

He stressed Serbia should not give up on the European integration process, reminding the European Commission gave a positive opinion on Serbia's progress and the EU heads of state were expected to confirm this opinion and grant candidate status.

Even though the social, political and economic reforms in Serbia were commended, it was not enough for candidate status, he said, noting this brings the EU's credibility into question.

"Compromise possible"

President of the Foreign Policy Council of the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sonja Liht said Monday that a compromise can be found regarding regional representation of Kosovo, under which Serbia would be represented as a full-fledged state and Kosovo in some "asymmetrical form."

Liht told reporters she completely understands President Boris Tadić's insistence on Resolution 1244, but added Serbia must show maximum flexibility and readiness to compromise in order not to exclude itself from regional forums.

"Representatives of Kosovo are present at many of these conferences and our reaction is not to attend on their account, meaning we exclude ourselves. We absolutely need to change this," Liht said.

She said Serbia needs to continue the dialogue with Priština, implement the agreements reached so far and do everything to continue the reforms which are under way.

Liht noted that Serbia cannot find a better framework for becoming a modern, democratic and developed country than the EU.