Serbia offers essential autonomy - "perhaps more"

BELGRADE Belgrade is ready to reach a compromise with Pristina and is offering essential autonomy - "and perhaps more than that", says Krstimir Pantic. However, this does not include a UN seat, the Kosovska Mitrovica mayor and deputy director of the Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija has told B92. Serbia offers essential autonomy - "perhaps more" A compromise is possible, he explained, "all the way until the moment Albanians seek a (UN) chair and a full recognition of Kosovo's independence": "We can discuss essential autonomy, perhaps a little more than that, such as membership in some international organizations, perhaps they could play football in competitions - but not the UN." According to Pantic, the compromise Belgrade offers is contained in President Tomislav Nikolic's platform, and entails essential autonomy without a change of borders for both Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo, while Kosovo and Metohija will remain a part of Serbia: "All we are asking is for Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija to be given the same rights, to have a right to decide how they want to live. They should have as much autonomy in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija as (ethnic) Albanians will receive in relation to Belgrade. However, Pristina is not ready to give anything, because they have the support of a part of the international community. The EU is not status-neutral, President Nikolic has said as much himself." Pantic also stressed that agreements reached during the Kosovo negotiations in Brussels are now being violated and interpreted "as need be", while only those elements of the deals that benefit the Albanian side are being implemented. "They wish to create another state for Albanians in the Balkans," Pantic charged, stressing that last week's comments about a "UN seat for Kosovo" made by the German ambassador in Belgrade were "carefully worded and said at the right time, although toned down later". The mayor and Office for Kosovo official rejected opinions that he was "perhaps making Ivica Dacic's is position in the Brussels talks more difficults by constantly referring to the platform and the stances of President Nikolic". "I think we are making it easier for him, because this way the prime minister can tell (Catherine) Ashton and (Hashim) Thanci that things that are contrary to the (Serbian parliament's) resolution and the platform cannot be implemented." Pantic also accused the previous, DS-led government of "not really drawing any red lines" when it came to Kosovo - and asserted that the current government was doing so: "The only red lines they had were in their heads. The former president once told us that a partition (of Kosovo) was a done deal, and that all that remained to be seen is what we would get from the negotiations. During the next meeting, he said there would be no partition. Their read lines were spoken out loud only in order to pacify the public." Despite the fact that the Democrats (DS) on several occasion strongly denied it, Pantic said that "the new government must implement what had been agreed previously". He also stated that he did not know the name of Belgrade's liaison officer to be sent to Pristina and announced a rally in northern Kosovo for Wednesday that would go "without partisan emblems": "Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija do not wish divisions based on party affiliation. A big problem has forced us to unite and set aside all our differences." Pantic also criticized those Serbs who accepted positions in Thaci's government, and rejected accusations that he himself had received "scholarship from Thaci's government", saying that he did receive financial assistance to finish his master's degree, and explaining: "I received the money from the Ministry of Return before the declaration of independence of Kosovo. Since the day the declaration was made, I have not set foot south of the Ibar." Krstimir Pantic (B92) B92

Serbia offers essential autonomy - "perhaps more"

A compromise is possible, he explained, "all the way until the moment Albanians seek a (UN) chair and a full recognition of Kosovo's independence":

"We can discuss essential autonomy, perhaps a little more than that, such as membership in some international organizations, perhaps they could play football in competitions - but not the UN."

According to Pantić, the compromise Belgrade offers is contained in President Tomislav Nikolić's platform, and entails essential autonomy without a change of borders for both Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo, while Kosovo and Metohija will remain a part of Serbia:

"All we are asking is for Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija to be given the same rights, to have a right to decide how they want to live. They should have as much autonomy in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija as (ethnic) Albanians will receive in relation to Belgrade. However, Priština is not ready to give anything, because they have the support of a part of the international community. The EU is not status-neutral, President Nikolić has said as much himself."

Pantić also stressed that agreements reached during the Kosovo negotiations in Brussels are now being violated and interpreted "as need be", while only those elements of the deals that benefit the Albanian side are being implemented.

"They wish to create another state for Albanians in the Balkans," Pantić charged, stressing that last week's comments about a "UN seat for Kosovo" made by the German ambassador in Belgrade were "carefully worded and said at the right time, although toned down later".

The mayor and Office for Kosovo official rejected opinions that he was "perhaps making Ivica Dačić's is position in the Brussels talks more difficults by constantly referring to the platform and the stances of President Nikolić".

"I think we are making it easier for him, because this way the prime minister can tell (Catherine) Ashton and (Hashim) Thanci that things that are contrary to the (Serbian parliament's) resolution and the platform cannot be implemented."

Pantić also accused the previous, DS-led government of "not really drawing any red lines" when it came to Kosovo - and asserted that the current government was doing so:

"The only red lines they had were in their heads. The former president once told us that a partition (of Kosovo) was a done deal, and that all that remained to be seen is what we would get from the negotiations. During the next meeting, he said there would be no partition. Their read lines were spoken out loud only in order to pacify the public."

Despite the fact that the Democrats (DS) on several occasion strongly denied it, Pantić said that "the new government must implement what had been agreed previously".

He also stated that he did not know the name of Belgrade's liaison officer to be sent to Priština and announced a rally in northern Kosovo for Wednesday that would go "without partisan emblems":

"Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija do not wish divisions based on party affiliation. A big problem has forced us to unite and set aside all our differences."

Pantić also criticized those Serbs who accepted positions in Thaci's government, and rejected accusations that he himself had received "scholarship from Thaci's government", saying that he did receive financial assistance to finish his master's degree, and explaining:

"I received the money from the Ministry of Return before the declaration of independence of Kosovo. Since the day the declaration was made, I have not set foot south of the Ibar."