Serbia rejects "any kind" of Kosovo's independence

BELGRADE PM Ivica Dacic has commented on ISG's decision to end Kosovo's "supervised independence" to say that Serbia does not accept any kind of independence for Kosovo. Serbia accepts neither supervised nor unsupervised independence, Dacic told reporters after attending a gathering dedicated to human trafficking at the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts in Belgrade on Monday. Serbia rejects "any kind" of Kosovo's independence "As far as we're concerned, the issue of Kosovo will not be solved before Serbia gives its approval. If this were not true, we would not be coming under such pressure to recognize Kosovo," he noted. The prime minister also dismissed as "stupidity" what he referred to as "the story about accepting Kosovo's independence in order for Serbia to join the EU". Instead, the condition put before Serbia is "as great as possible relaxation of relations" between Belgrade and Pristina and removal of problems that make normal life impossible for the citizens, said he. "How can accepting Kosovo's independence be a condition (for Serbia) when there are EU countries that have not accepted it," Dacic wondered. It is necessary to continue the Kosovo dialogue on the political level and Serbia is ready for its continuation, Dacic stated, and added that Serbia was also ready "to define all mutual problems and work on their removal": "That means finding a compromise solution acceptable to both sides. I expect the talks to continue in the coming weeks, while President Tomislav Nikolic will talk about their level, format, and presence of international community during the UN General Assembly." Dacic added that "if the UN is the key to Kosovo's independence, then that is not happening without Serbia's active participation." Commenting also on announcements that the Serbian War Crimes Prosecution has a protected witness who took part in the organ trafficking in Kosovo and is now prepared to testify, the prime minister said that Serbia's investigative bodies have had statements from protected witnesses for a while, and that the person in question was not the only one. "We expected this investigation to progress more quickly," he noted. "It shows that what (CoE Rapporteur) Dick Marty spoke about was true and we expect the international community to react adequately," Dacic said. The premier concluded by saying that he had "asked for the UN Security Council to consider the investigation into the human organs trade - just as it is regularly considering reports from the Hague (Tribunal)". Ivica Dacic (file) Beta

Serbia rejects "any kind" of Kosovo's independence

"As far as we're concerned, the issue of Kosovo will not be solved before Serbia gives its approval. If this were not true, we would not be coming under such pressure to recognize Kosovo," he noted.

The prime minister also dismissed as "stupidity" what he referred to as "the story about accepting Kosovo's independence in order for Serbia to join the EU". Instead, the condition put before Serbia is "as great as possible relaxation of relations" between Belgrade and Priština and removal of problems that make normal life impossible for the citizens, said he.

"How can accepting Kosovo's independence be a condition (for Serbia) when there are EU countries that have not accepted it," Dačić wondered.

It is necessary to continue the Kosovo dialogue on the political level and Serbia is ready for its continuation, Dačić stated, and added that Serbia was also ready "to define all mutual problems and work on their removal":

"That means finding a compromise solution acceptable to both sides. I expect the talks to continue in the coming weeks, while President Tomislav Nikolić will talk about their level, format, and presence of international community during the UN General Assembly."

Dačić added that "if the UN is the key to Kosovo's independence, then that is not happening without Serbia's active participation."

Commenting also on announcements that the Serbian War Crimes Prosecution has a protected witness who took part in the organ trafficking in Kosovo and is now prepared to testify, the prime minister said that Serbia's investigative bodies have had statements from protected witnesses for a while, and that the person in question was not the only one.

"We expected this investigation to progress more quickly," he noted.

"It shows that what (CoE Rapporteur) Dick Marty spoke about was true and we expect the international community to react adequately," Dačić said.

The premier concluded by saying that he had "asked for the UN Security Council to consider the investigation into the human organs trade - just as it is regularly considering reports from the Hague (Tribunal)".