Former negotiator on officials' Brussels trip

BELGRADE Borislav Stefanovic voiced his hope on Monday that Serbia's state leadership would "achieve the best possible solution in difficult conditions". The opposition DS parliament group leader was referring to meetings dedicated to the issue of Kosovo in Brussels. Former negotiator on officials' Brussels trip In a statement to reporters in parliament, Stefanovic noted that, unfortunately, "all indicators show that, apparently, it would be different." He added that he does not believe in "the capacity, capability and preparedness of those who are negotiating in Brussels in the name of Serbia." According to Stefanovic, the Serbian delegation to the talks with EU High Representative Catherine Ashton comprises the most senior officials so that later they "could share the responsibility for unpopular decisions and news that they want to announce to citizens." The proposal of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation concerning the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, which was published by the Belgrade-based daily Danas, is to a great extent similar to the document that members of Bundestag brought to Belgrade last summer. Noting that coincidences happen quite rarely in diplomacy, Stefanovic stresses that there is "a semi-official stand" on the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, which "can be heard from Berlin more and more often." Serbia's former lead negotiator in the talks with authorities in Pristina adds that new US troops will not be stationed in Kosovo by coincidence or as part of regular rotations. That is a serious warning that the U.S., whose soldiers are part of KFOR, would not like to see any rash moves, he said. "I hope that would refer to Pristina's moves too, and is up to our diplomacy to ensure that the international community applies the same criteria," Stefanovic said. (Beta, file) Tanjug

Former negotiator on officials' Brussels trip

In a statement to reporters in parliament, Stefanović noted that, unfortunately, "all indicators show that, apparently, it would be different."

He added that he does not believe in "the capacity, capability and preparedness of those who are negotiating in Brussels in the name of Serbia."

According to Stefanović, the Serbian delegation to the talks with EU High Representative Catherine Ashton comprises the most senior officials so that later they "could share the responsibility for unpopular decisions and news that they want to announce to citizens."

The proposal of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation concerning the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, which was published by the Belgrade-based daily Danas, is to a great extent similar to the document that members of Bundestag brought to Belgrade last summer.

Noting that coincidences happen quite rarely in diplomacy, Stefanović stresses that there is "a semi-official stand" on the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, which "can be heard from Berlin more and more often."

Serbia's former lead negotiator in the talks with authorities in Priština adds that new US troops will not be stationed in Kosovo by coincidence or as part of regular rotations.

That is a serious warning that the U.S., whose soldiers are part of KFOR, would not like to see any rash moves, he said.

"I hope that would refer to Priština's moves too, and is up to our diplomacy to ensure that the international community applies the same criteria," Stefanović said.