Kosovo president “ready to meet with Nikolić”

PRISTINA Kosovo's President Atifete Jahjaga has said she is prepared to meet with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, Pristina media reported on Wednesday. Jahjaga said she was convinced there was sufficient consensus among the political entities regarding the dialogue. Kosovo president “ready to meet with Nikolic” Journalists wanted to know how she interpreted the statement of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton that Pristina and Belgrade should prepare for some hard decisions, and whether this included northern Kosovo. Jahjaga said she did not want to comment on Ashton's statement, adding that Kosovo's position was clear - there were red lines it will not cross in the talks. “There are some red lines set by Kosovo's people and institutions, and no internal issues of our country will be the topic of talks with another country, especially not Serbia,” said Jahjaga. According to the Pristina media, Jahjaga claims that in the coming talks both sides will be on equal footing and represented as states, and not in any other manner. Talks at the highest level with representatives of the Kosovo government were initiated by the Serbian president. Belgrade officials have reiterated that Serbia could not cross its red lines, i.e. that it will never recognize Kosovo's independence which was unilaterally declared by the Albanian minority in the southern Serbian province. Atifete Jahjaga (file) Tanjug

Kosovo president “ready to meet with Nikolić”

Journalists wanted to know how she interpreted the statement of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton that Priština and Belgrade should prepare for some hard decisions, and whether this included northern Kosovo.

Jahjaga said she did not want to comment on Ashton's statement, adding that Kosovo's position was clear - there were red lines it will not cross in the talks.

“There are some red lines set by Kosovo's people and institutions, and no internal issues of our country will be the topic of talks with another country, especially not Serbia,” said Jahjaga.

According to the Priština media, Jahjaga claims that in the coming talks both sides will be on equal footing and represented as states, and not in any other manner.

Talks at the highest level with representatives of the Kosovo government were initiated by the Serbian president.

Belgrade officials have reiterated that Serbia could not cross its red lines, i.e. that it will never recognize Kosovo's independence which was unilaterally declared by the Albanian minority in the southern Serbian province.