Belgrade ready to continue dialogue with Priština

Borislav Stefanovic, head of the Belgrade team in negotiations with Pristina, said that Belgrade is ready to continue the EU-sponsored Kosovo dialogue. Stefanovic also expressed belief that Serbia would get the date for the start of talks with the EU by the end of the year. Belgrade ready to continue dialogue with Pristina "It will be difficult, but we are working hard to get the date for the start of talks in December. I think everyone in Europe knows that Serbia will not recognize Kosovo's independence, and I do not expect any such demands," Stefanovic said. He underlined that northern Kosovo should be granted special status, giving the example of South Tyrol and the two German states. Stefanovic said that with its unilateral moves and attacks on Serbs, Pristina is trying to prevent the realization of agreements so far. "A Serbian delegation was recently attacked (in Pristina) upon their arrival to discuss the implementation of agreements. Attempts are also being made to strip the Serbs in the north (of Kosovo) of their IDs and license plates," Stefanovic told the Vienna daily Wiener Zeitung. He said that the policy "both Kosovo and the EU" is the only one that can succeed in Serbia. "We have to resolve the two problems as they are part of our identity. Any party that would give up on Kosovo and focus only on the European perspective, would lose face not only at home but in Brussels as well," Stefanovic said. Asked what he thought the final result of the talks with Pristina should be, Stefanovic said: "A Kosovo as an entity in which there would be no segregation of Serbs and to which they would be able to return." "A total of 240,000 Serbs have been expelled, and there is also the issue of property and missing persons which has to be resolved. The problem of companies is still pending. Guarantees should be given for the protection of Serbs in the southern part (of Kosovo) and (Serb Orthodox) monasteries and churches," Stefanovic said. Asked about the Serbian institutions in the province which the Kosovo Albanian authorities in Pristina refer to as "parallel", he said it was "an obligation of every democratic state to support its people": "The so-called parallel institutions are the only institutions, and if they were abolished, there would be none." As for Pristina's ambition to build its own institutions in northern Kosovo - where majority Serbs reject its authority, and the Kosovo Albanian unilateral declaration of independence made more than four years ago - the Belgrade negotiator said it was "a dangerous illusion", and added that "Pristina simply cannot build its institutions in the north without the participation of Belgrade and people who live in the north." However, noted Stefanovic, "that would never be accepted": "The only way out of this dilemma is through dialogue that includes everyone." Borislav Stefanovic (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

Belgrade ready to continue dialogue with Priština

"It will be difficult, but we are working hard to get the date for the start of talks in December. I think everyone in Europe knows that Serbia will not recognize Kosovo's independence, and I do not expect any such demands," Stefanović said.

He underlined that northern Kosovo should be granted special status, giving the example of South Tyrol and the two German states.

Stefanović said that with its unilateral moves and attacks on Serbs, Priština is trying to prevent the realization of agreements so far.

"A Serbian delegation was recently attacked (in Priština) upon their arrival to discuss the implementation of agreements. Attempts are also being made to strip the Serbs in the north (of Kosovo) of their IDs and license plates," Stefanović told the Vienna daily Wiener Zeitung.

He said that the policy "both Kosovo and the EU" is the only one that can succeed in Serbia.

"We have to resolve the two problems as they are part of our identity. Any party that would give up on Kosovo and focus only on the European perspective, would lose face not only at home but in Brussels as well," Stefanović said.

Asked what he thought the final result of the talks with Priština should be, Stefanović said:

"A Kosovo as an entity in which there would be no segregation of Serbs and to which they would be able to return."

"A total of 240,000 Serbs have been expelled, and there is also the issue of property and missing persons which has to be resolved. The problem of companies is still pending. Guarantees should be given for the protection of Serbs in the southern part (of Kosovo) and (Serb Orthodox) monasteries and churches," Stefanović said.

Asked about the Serbian institutions in the province which the Kosovo Albanian authorities in Priština refer to as "parallel", he said it was "an obligation of every democratic state to support its people":

"The so-called parallel institutions are the only institutions, and if they were abolished, there would be none."

As for Priština's ambition to build its own institutions in northern Kosovo - where majority Serbs reject its authority, and the Kosovo Albanian unilateral declaration of independence made more than four years ago - the Belgrade negotiator said it was "a dangerous illusion", and added that "Priština simply cannot build its institutions in the north without the participation of Belgrade and people who live in the north."

However, noted Stefanović, "that would never be accepted":

"The only way out of this dilemma is through dialogue that includes everyone."