Another stormy meeting of Committee on Kosovo

Belgrade negotiator in the Kosovo talks Borislav Stefanovic said the agreement on Kosovo's regional representation reached in Brussels was "good". Addressing a session of the Serbian Parliament's Committee on Kosovo and Metohija in Belgrade on Thursday, he added that the document was "in keeping with the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia and UN Security Council Resolution 1244". Another stormy meeting of Committee on Kosovo Stefanovic noted that the agreement was reached on February 24, "after eight months of long and difficult talks", and added that it envisages that Pristina will be represented asymmetrically, i.e. as unequal, in regional meetings. The agreement should also be implemented at informal meetings with Western Balkan countries, organized by the EU or EU member countries, he added. However, Pristina has already tried to circumvent the agreement on several occasions, noted the negotiator. Members of the committee, however, accused the negotiating team and the government of "recognizing Kosovo" by accepting the deal. They further charged that the decision meant they had betrayed Serbs who live in the province. Stefanovic rejected this as "untrue", and said the agreement represented "neither treason nor capitulation". "We have not and we will not recognize an independent Kosovo. We are standing behind this agreement as the Serbian government, just like we stand behind every other agreement reached thus far that has not in a single word brought us even a step closer to recognizing Kosovo," he defended the government's position. He then accused members of the committee of "presenting many untruths" during the session, and said the subject was abused for election campaigning. Stefanovic also stated that he "would not respond to crude qualifications" heard today, one of which came from the committee's chairman, Ljubomir Kragovic of the opposition SRS party, who called the negotiator "a traitor". As he presented the agreement, Stefanovic also explained that "a footnote should be displayed on Pristina's nameplate with an asterisk indicating the text on the bottom (which states that Kosovo is represented without prejudice to its status, based on Resolution 1244 and advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice)". "We achieved what we wanted, that is that Pristina does not have the same status as others. The main point was in Resolution 1244 and we managed to convince the EU, Russia, USA and UN of that - they all know what the agreement is about and its details," he underlined. Stefanovic added that Serbia's delegations "will leave every meeting at which Pristina is represented without the footnote, and that it will read the interpretative statement (which says that the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija is integral part of Serbia) with or without Pristina's presence". According to him, UNMIK will attend regional meetings "if it wishes to do so" Although the committee ended its 47th session in a storm of acrimony and partisan bickering that went well off-topic, touching on upcoming elections, reports said that MPs at the same time "somewhat wistfully" noted that this was the last meeting of the parliamentary body in this composition. Borislav Stefanovic presents and defends the agreement (Beta) B92 Tanjug

Another stormy meeting of Committee on Kosovo

Stefanović noted that the agreement was reached on February 24, "after eight months of long and difficult talks", and added that it envisages that Priština will be represented asymmetrically, i.e. as unequal, in regional meetings.

The agreement should also be implemented at informal meetings with Western Balkan countries, organized by the EU or EU member countries, he added.

However, Priština has already tried to circumvent the agreement on several occasions, noted the negotiator.

Members of the committee, however, accused the negotiating team and the government of "recognizing Kosovo" by accepting the deal.

They further charged that the decision meant they had betrayed Serbs who live in the province.

Stefanović rejected this as "untrue", and said the agreement represented "neither treason nor capitulation".

"We have not and we will not recognize an independent Kosovo. We are standing behind this agreement as the Serbian government, just like we stand behind every other agreement reached thus far that has not in a single word brought us even a step closer to recognizing Kosovo," he defended the government's position.

He then accused members of the committee of "presenting many untruths" during the session, and said the subject was abused for election campaigning.

Stefanović also stated that he "would not respond to crude qualifications" heard today, one of which came from the committee's chairman, Ljubomir Kragović of the opposition SRS party, who called the negotiator "a traitor".

As he presented the agreement, Stefanović also explained that "a footnote should be displayed on Priština's nameplate with an asterisk indicating the text on the bottom (which states that Kosovo is represented without prejudice to its status, based on Resolution 1244 and advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice)".

"We achieved what we wanted, that is that Priština does not have the same status as others. The main point was in Resolution 1244 and we managed to convince the EU, Russia, USA and UN of that - they all know what the agreement is about and its details," he underlined.

Stefanović added that Serbia's delegations "will leave every meeting at which Priština is represented without the footnote, and that it will read the interpretative statement (which says that the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija is integral part of Serbia) with or without Priština's presence".

According to him, UNMIK will attend regional meetings "if it wishes to do so"

Although the committee ended its 47th session in a storm of acrimony and partisan bickering that went well off-topic, touching on upcoming elections, reports said that MPs at the same time "somewhat wistfully" noted that this was the last meeting of the parliamentary body in this composition.