EU mediator to visit Belgrade next week

EU mediator in the Kosovo talks Robert Cooper should visit Serbia next week, to discuss "a solution to Pristina's regional representation". This was heard from Belgrade negotiator Borislav Stefanovic, who spoke for Tanjug on Wednesday. EU mediator to visit Belgrade next week The two parties are not even close to the final solution for regional representation, which is one of the preconditions for Serbia's EU candidate status in March, Stefanovic said, but added that the issue is constantly being worked on. “We are working on it. I invited Cooper to come to Belgrade, and in the coming days we are to confer with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Philip Reeker. At the moment, it is clear that the talks are very dynamic even though we do not hold formal meetings in Brussels,” said Stefanovic, who expects that the talks will continue in late January or early February. The continuation of the talks is conditioned by an agreement on Pristina's regional representation, which should be in line with Resolution 1244, he added. Stefanovic discussed the topic with Cooper through a video link on Tuesday, when they presented different proposals. “We discussed the issue of Pristina's regional representation, presented different proposals, but reiterated full commitment to Resolution 1244. Moreover, we spoke about the problem of implementation of the agreements reached in Brussels, the dynamics of the implementation, and particularly about the abolishment of insurance taxes at the administrative crossings,” Stefanovic said. Borislav Stefanovic (Tanjug, file) "No allies" Borislav Stefanovic says that both EU and Kosovo policy is not simple but that those who want the state to choose between the two are wrong. At a debate on Kosovo in the central Serbian town of Kraljevo he said that Serbia would lose both interlocutors and allies without the EU. "If you choose one of those two, you lose the thing you have chosen as well, because you lose everything without the EU and the European integration, both interlocutors and allies,” the team chief explained. Stefanovic pointed out that Serbia was facing new negotiations and expressed expectation that they would be successful and that a solution for Kosovo’s representation in regional meetings would be found but not at the expense of the UN Security Council Resolution 1244. “We will do everything that we are asked in order to get the candidacy but we will not do anything that is contrary to the Constitution and our national interest,” he said. Stefanovic stressed that the barricades in northern Kosovo had achieved their goal as necessary means, but that they should now be removed. “We were at the barricades but we did not put them there, citizens and mayors did. If there had not been for the barricades (Kosovo Prime Minister) Hashim Thaci would have taken over the Kosovska Mitrovica court and placed his municipal officials in northern Kosovo and we would have had nothing to talk about,” he concluded. Beta Tanjug

EU mediator to visit Belgrade next week

The two parties are not even close to the final solution for regional representation, which is one of the preconditions for Serbia's EU candidate status in March, Stefanović said, but added that the issue is constantly being worked on.

“We are working on it. I invited Cooper to come to Belgrade, and in the coming days we are to confer with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Philip Reeker. At the moment, it is clear that the talks are very dynamic even though we do not hold formal meetings in Brussels,” said Stefanović, who expects that the talks will continue in late January or early February.

The continuation of the talks is conditioned by an agreement on Priština's regional representation, which should be in line with Resolution 1244, he added.

Stefanović discussed the topic with Cooper through a video link on Tuesday, when they presented different proposals.

“We discussed the issue of Priština's regional representation, presented different proposals, but reiterated full commitment to Resolution 1244. Moreover, we spoke about the problem of implementation of the agreements reached in Brussels, the dynamics of the implementation, and particularly about the abolishment of insurance taxes at the administrative crossings,” Stefanović said.

"No allies"

Borislav Stefanović says that both EU and Kosovo policy is not simple but that those who want the state to choose between the two are wrong.

At a debate on Kosovo in the central Serbian town of Kraljevo he said that Serbia would lose both interlocutors and allies without the EU.

"If you choose one of those two, you lose the thing you have chosen as well, because you lose everything without the EU and the European integration, both interlocutors and allies,” the team chief explained.

Stefanović pointed out that Serbia was facing new negotiations and expressed expectation that they would be successful and that a solution for Kosovo’s representation in regional meetings would be found but not at the expense of the UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

“We will do everything that we are asked in order to get the candidacy but we will not do anything that is contrary to the Constitution and our national interest,” he said.

Stefanović stressed that the barricades in northern Kosovo had achieved their goal as necessary means, but that they should now be removed.

“We were at the barricades but we did not put them there, citizens and mayors did. If there had not been for the barricades (Kosovo Prime Minister) Hashim Thaci would have taken over the Kosovska Mitrovica court and placed his municipal officials in northern Kosovo and we would have had nothing to talk about,” he concluded.