Stefanović reject reports by Priština papers

Borislav Stefanovic has said that reports published today in Pristina-based Albanian language newspapers "are not based on facts". The reports allege that an agreement on Kosovo's regional representation would be reached in early February, and that it would take the form of "a painful compromise for both sides". Stefanovic reject reports by Pristina papers "Had the agreement been reached, as Pristina-based papers reported, we would have published it already, and it would have been presented to the Serbian parliament and the public in an adequate manner," Belgrade's negotiator in the EU-sponsored Kosovo talks told reporters in Kragujevac, central Serbia. He stated that the media in question "purposefully published such stories earlier as well which aim to realize the goals in terms of internal policy of the government headed by Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci". Stefanovic stated that the Serbian government would do "all it can to win the EU candidate status" and that the announced referendum in northern Kosovo "would not affect the continuation of the dialogue with Pristina". Daily Koha Ditore reported on Thursday that Belgrade and Pristina would reach a painful compromise solution on Kosovo's representation at regional forums early in February. According to this report, "Kosovo would agree to be represented without any mention of 'republic', while Serbia would agree for Resolution UNSC 1244 to be left out as well". Time, said Stefanovic on Thursday, "will be the best judge of what has, and what has not been agreed." "We will certainly do nothing that runs contrary to our national interests, our state position and the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia," the negotiator said, and repeated that any solution eliminating UN Security Council Resolution 1244 was unacceptable for Serbia. Consultations are ongoing on a daily basis with the international community, he added, and said he was "not pessimistic" when it came to the possible future reference to 1244 in the context of Kosovo's representation in regional forums. "Resolution 1244 is a part of Serbia's constitutional order, and of international law, and its application is not a matter of Serbia's bilateral ties with the UN - this is about a document that is binding for all," Stefanovic said of the UN resolution adopted in 1999 to end the war over Kosovo. "The resolution is not a piece of clothing to be declared out of fashion this season. This is a document lasting in nature, until a new one is adopted," he concluded. Borislav Stefanovic (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

Stefanović reject reports by Priština papers

"Had the agreement been reached, as Priština-based papers reported, we would have published it already, and it would have been presented to the Serbian parliament and the public in an adequate manner," Belgrade's negotiator in the EU-sponsored Kosovo talks told reporters in Kragujevac, central Serbia.

He stated that the media in question "purposefully published such stories earlier as well which aim to realize the goals in terms of internal policy of the government headed by Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci".

Stefanović stated that the Serbian government would do "all it can to win the EU candidate status" and that the announced referendum in northern Kosovo "would not affect the continuation of the dialogue with Priština".

Daily Koha Ditore reported on Thursday that Belgrade and Priština would reach a painful compromise solution on Kosovo's representation at regional forums early in February.

According to this report, "Kosovo would agree to be represented without any mention of 'republic', while Serbia would agree for Resolution UNSC 1244 to be left out as well".

Time, said Stefanović on Thursday, "will be the best judge of what has, and what has not been agreed."

"We will certainly do nothing that runs contrary to our national interests, our state position and the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia," the negotiator said, and repeated that any solution eliminating UN Security Council Resolution 1244 was unacceptable for Serbia.

Consultations are ongoing on a daily basis with the international community, he added, and said he was "not pessimistic" when it came to the possible future reference to 1244 in the context of Kosovo's representation in regional forums.

"Resolution 1244 is a part of Serbia's constitutional order, and of international law, and its application is not a matter of Serbia's bilateral ties with the UN - this is about a document that is binding for all," Stefanović said of the UN resolution adopted in 1999 to end the war over Kosovo.

"The resolution is not a piece of clothing to be declared out of fashion this season. This is a document lasting in nature, until a new one is adopted," he concluded.