EU mediator, Belgrade negotiator meet in Vienna

EU mediator in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Robert Cooper and head of the Belgrade negotiating team Borislav Stefanovic conferred in Vienna on Wednesday. They discussed the possibilities of continuation of the Kosovo talks, which have been ongoing in Brussels in several rounds since last March. EU mediator, Belgrade negotiator meet in Vienna In a telephone statement for Beta news agency on Wednesday afternoon, Stefanovic confirmed that the meeting focused on Pristina's future representation in regional gatherings: "Further steps have been made in that direction, there are several options to solve the issue. Of course, UN Resolution 1244 is contained in those proposals and it remains to be seen in the coming period, through the activities of the international community, (if we can) find a mutually acceptable solution." According to him, "Belgrade is open to continue the dialogue with Pristina, and has demonstrated that it is a constructive and creative partner." "We are absolutely not waiting for the last moment to find a solution, on the contrary, we are working towards solving the problem constantly through our engagement and new proposals. We are ready to travel to Brussels at any moment. Of course, we first must have a clear picture of the solution," said the negotiator. Stefanovic added that "consultations will continue as will the activities of the international community - directed above all toward Pristina, which finds itself in a rather negative position". Tanjug news agency reported, citing unnamed diplomatic sources in Brussels, that the meeting today in Vienna was held without chief of Pristina team Edita Tahiri. When asked whether this meeting was a sign that the date of continuation of the dialogue is near, the source said that all parties hopes that the dialogue would resume soon, adding that the Vienna meeting was "part of regular consultations". Late January, Cooper visited Belgrade and Pristina and conferred with Stefanovic and Tahiri in an effort to encourage the dialogue. The agenda tabled Pristina's regional representation, but the two parties did not manage to converge their positions. Serbia insists on UN Security Council Resolution 1244, which Pristina does not want to accept on the pretext that the document is outdated while at the same time maintaining that Kosovo should bear the name 'the Republic of Kosovo'. The agreement on Pristina's regional representation is a precondition which Serbia has to fulfill in order to get the EU candidate status early in March. In the meantime, Tanjug says that a new proposal appeared relying on the idea of the International Crisis Group according to which the name of Kosovo at regional forums should be accompanied with a footnote reading Resolution 1244 and the opinion by the International Court of Justice stating that Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence in 2008 does not constitute violation of the international law. As Tanjug learned from diplomatic sources in Brussels, in spite of new proposals coming from Belgrade, greater pressure by the West, and the efforts by Robert Cooper, Pristina is adamant not to accept any form of Resolution 1244. Resolution 1244 dating from June 1999, which confirms the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the territory of Kosovo, remains the main obstacle in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue on Kosovo' regional representation, which has been suspended for over two months. The progress in resolution of the issue is expected mid February since on the contrary, as Tanjug learned from a source close to the German Mission to the EU, Serbia's candidacy would be left short of support late February. Robert Cooper, Borislav Stefanovic (Beta, file) Beta Tanjug

EU mediator, Belgrade negotiator meet in Vienna

In a telephone statement for Beta news agency on Wednesday afternoon, Stefanović confirmed that the meeting focused on Priština's future representation in regional gatherings:

"Further steps have been made in that direction, there are several options to solve the issue. Of course, UN Resolution 1244 is contained in those proposals and it remains to be seen in the coming period, through the activities of the international community, (if we can) find a mutually acceptable solution."

According to him, "Belgrade is open to continue the dialogue with Priština, and has demonstrated that it is a constructive and creative partner."

"We are absolutely not waiting for the last moment to find a solution, on the contrary, we are working towards solving the problem constantly through our engagement and new proposals. We are ready to travel to Brussels at any moment. Of course, we first must have a clear picture of the solution," said the negotiator.

Stefanović added that "consultations will continue as will the activities of the international community - directed above all toward Priština, which finds itself in a rather negative position".

Tanjug news agency reported, citing unnamed diplomatic sources in Brussels, that the meeting today in Vienna was held without chief of Priština team Edita Tahiri.

When asked whether this meeting was a sign that the date of continuation of the dialogue is near, the source said that all parties hopes that the dialogue would resume soon, adding that the Vienna meeting was "part of regular consultations".

Late January, Cooper visited Belgrade and Priština and conferred with Stefanović and Tahiri in an effort to encourage the dialogue.

The agenda tabled Priština's regional representation, but the two parties did not manage to converge their positions.

Serbia insists on UN Security Council Resolution 1244, which Priština does not want to accept on the pretext that the document is outdated while at the same time maintaining that Kosovo should bear the name 'the Republic of Kosovo'.

The agreement on Priština's regional representation is a precondition which Serbia has to fulfill in order to get the EU candidate status early in March.

In the meantime, Tanjug says that a new proposal appeared relying on the idea of the International Crisis Group according to which the name of Kosovo at regional forums should be accompanied with a footnote reading Resolution 1244 and the opinion by the International Court of Justice stating that Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence in 2008 does not constitute violation of the international law.

As Tanjug learned from diplomatic sources in Brussels, in spite of new proposals coming from Belgrade, greater pressure by the West, and the efforts by Robert Cooper, Priština is adamant not to accept any form of Resolution 1244.

Resolution 1244 dating from June 1999, which confirms the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the territory of Kosovo, remains the main obstacle in the Belgrade-Priština dialogue on Kosovo' regional representation, which has been suspended for over two months.

The progress in resolution of the issue is expected mid February since on the contrary, as Tanjug learned from a source close to the German Mission to the EU, Serbia's candidacy would be left short of support late February.