Priština maintains rigid stand - Belgrade team chief

Belgrade team chief Borislav Stefanovic stated on Wednesday that Pristina refused any agreement but that he expected the dialogue to continue in February. He added that statements regarding regional representation made by Pristina team chief Edita Tahiri showed that Pristina maintained rigid, maximal stands. Pristina maintains rigid stand - Belgrade team chief “The talks with EU mediator in the dialogue Robert Cooper did not bring about any convergence between the stands of Belgrade and Pristina as regards regional presentation,” Tahiri stated after her meeting with Cooper on Tuesday. Tahiri stated that Belgrade's stand as regards regional cooperation remained the same and called for respect of UNSC Resolution 1244, which Kosovo found unacceptable. Stefanovic told Tanjug said that Tahiri's statement came as no surprise and that it showed Pristina's stand. “I believe that this shows the suitability of Belgrade's approach, that is, by maintaining a constructive approach with new ideas and in a creative way and by keeping the international community close to its views, Belgrade is protecting its position, which is exactly what happened,” he explained. “Now we see a rigid, maximal Pristina which refuses any agreement, a valid international document on Kosovo and Metohija which is the only binding document and the last one to be adopted, while at the same time requesting to become a part of the international community,” Stefanovic added. He explained that Belgrade put forth several propositions, all of which implied respect for Resolution 1244, adding that there was still room to achieve a change in Pristina's stand in cooperation with the international community. “We maintain continuous communication and we are ready to go to Brussels and continue the talks because they serve everyone's interests, and that is the only way to resolve problems,” the Belgrade team chief stated and added that Belgrade's position as regards the implementation of Resolution 1244 was clear. According to him, there is a chance the talks would continue in February but that it would become obvious what can be realistically expected and that the topics should cover regional presentation and implementation of the agreements reached so far. Borislav Stefanovic and Edita Tahiri (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

Priština maintains rigid stand - Belgrade team chief

“The talks with EU mediator in the dialogue Robert Cooper did not bring about any convergence between the stands of Belgrade and Priština as regards regional presentation,” Tahiri stated after her meeting with Cooper on Tuesday.

Tahiri stated that Belgrade's stand as regards regional cooperation remained the same and called for respect of UNSC Resolution 1244, which Kosovo found unacceptable.

Stefanović told Tanjug said that Tahiri's statement came as no surprise and that it showed Priština's stand.

“I believe that this shows the suitability of Belgrade's approach, that is, by maintaining a constructive approach with new ideas and in a creative way and by keeping the international community close to its views, Belgrade is protecting its position, which is exactly what happened,” he explained.

“Now we see a rigid, maximal Priština which refuses any agreement, a valid international document on Kosovo and Metohija which is the only binding document and the last one to be adopted, while at the same time requesting to become a part of the international community,” Stefanović added.

He explained that Belgrade put forth several propositions, all of which implied respect for Resolution 1244, adding that there was still room to achieve a change in Priština's stand in cooperation with the international community.

“We maintain continuous communication and we are ready to go to Brussels and continue the talks because they serve everyone's interests, and that is the only way to resolve problems,” the Belgrade team chief stated and added that Belgrade's position as regards the implementation of Resolution 1244 was clear.

According to him, there is a chance the talks would continue in February but that it would become obvious what can be realistically expected and that the topics should cover regional presentation and implementation of the agreements reached so far.