Ex-UN envoy doesn’t speak on behalf of EU, PM says

BELGRADE Serbian PM Ivica Dacic says there is no need for Serbia to “sharply react” to Martti Ahtisaari’s statement because he does not speak on behalf of the EU. Ahtiasaari said that Serbia should not be allowed to join the EU if it did not recognize Kosovo’s independence. Ex-UN envoy doesn’t speak on behalf of EU, PM says Commenting on the statement, Dacic said that it could have a counter-effect and that the EU should react. “Such statement can only cause a counter-effect in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue,” he pointed out. The PM stressed that Ahtisaari should primarily advocate the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1244, adding that the Security Council had rejected Ahtisaari's plan for Kosovo. Ivica Dacic (Beta, file) “Ahtisaari voiced his personal view” Former Belgrade team head Borislav Stefanovic said Sunday that the former UN envoy for Kosovo had voiced his personal view when he said Serbia should not be allowed into the EU before it recognizes Kosovo, but that his word did carry weight in Europe. "If people like Ahtisaari decide about Serbia's integration, this could become a formal condition," Stefanovic told Tanjug, noting it would be up to the new government and diplomacy to try to avoid such an epilogue. He warns this will not be easy. "This is the personal position of Ahtisaari, who is known for being a staunch advocate for Kosovo's independence. Nevertheless, his reputation and his would carry weight in Europe, even though he is not someone who can decide about this," said Stefanovic. He added that Serbia had not heard anything new in Ahtisaari's statement, but that it confirmed a formal recognition of Kosovo on the part of Serbia had always been in the background of his plan. Stefanovic, who is also a Democratic Party (DS) MP, believes that Ahtisaari's comment that Serbia can go to Russia if it does not want the EU, is a simplified view of the Balkans. "I am sure there are many who see our foreign policy like this, but of course it is not true. The EU is not our only option, as some opposition parties claim, but it is our best one," he concluded. “Ahtisaari paying debt to Albanian lobby” Serbian government Office for Kosovo Head Aleksandar Vulin said Sunday that Ahtisaari’s statement was him paying off a debt to Albanian lobbyists, but that Serbia did not owe him anything and would abide by its Constitution. "Serbia is not a banana republic. It has its Constitution and it will stand by it. It is a UN member country and it will respect UN Security Council Resolution 1244. His statement is him paying off a debt to Albanian lobbyists, but we do not owe him anything," said Vulin. He recalled that the Ahtisaari plan had been rejected in Serbia and was therefore "even less relevant." Beta Tanjug

Ex-UN envoy doesn’t speak on behalf of EU, PM says

Commenting on the statement, Dačić said that it could have a counter-effect and that the EU should react.

“Such statement can only cause a counter-effect in the Belgrade-Priština dialogue,” he pointed out.

The PM stressed that Ahtisaari should primarily advocate the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1244, adding that the Security Council had rejected Ahtisaari's plan for Kosovo.

“Ahtisaari voiced his personal view”

Former Belgrade team head Borislav Stefanović said Sunday that the former UN envoy for Kosovo had voiced his personal view when he said Serbia should not be allowed into the EU before it recognizes Kosovo, but that his word did carry weight in Europe.

"If people like Ahtisaari decide about Serbia's integration, this could become a formal condition," Stefanović told Tanjug, noting it would be up to the new government and diplomacy to try to avoid such an epilogue.

He warns this will not be easy.

"This is the personal position of Ahtisaari, who is known for being a staunch advocate for Kosovo's independence. Nevertheless, his reputation and his would carry weight in Europe, even though he is not someone who can decide about this," said Stefanović.

He added that Serbia had not heard anything new in Ahtisaari's statement, but that it confirmed a formal recognition of Kosovo on the part of Serbia had always been in the background of his plan.

Stefanović, who is also a Democratic Party (DS) MP, believes that Ahtisaari's comment that Serbia can go to Russia if it does not want the EU, is a simplified view of the Balkans.

"I am sure there are many who see our foreign policy like this, but of course it is not true. The EU is not our only option, as some opposition parties claim, but it is our best one," he concluded.

“Ahtisaari paying debt to Albanian lobby”

Serbian government Office for Kosovo Head Aleksandar Vulin said Sunday that Ahtisaari’s statement was him paying off a debt to Albanian lobbyists, but that Serbia did not owe him anything and would abide by its Constitution.

"Serbia is not a banana republic. It has its Constitution and it will stand by it. It is a UN member country and it will respect UN Security Council Resolution 1244. His statement is him paying off a debt to Albanian lobbyists, but we do not owe him anything," said Vulin.

He recalled that the Ahtisaari plan had been rejected in Serbia and was therefore "even less relevant."