Serbian president, Kosovo PM shake hands in Vatican

BELGRADE Serbia’s President Tomislav Nikolic shook hands with Kosovo PM Hashim Thaci at the new pope's enthronement ceremony, the Serbian Presidency has released. “With protocol communication with Thaci, the Serbian president expressed support to the negotiations led by Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic with the representative of the Pristina interim institutions,” said Nikolic’s advisor Stanislava Pak Stankovic. Serbian president, Kosovo PM shake hands in Vatican Thaci is not the only person with whom Nikolic shook hands with, he also did it with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Croatian President Ivo Josipovic, presidents of Chile, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia and with the Montenegrin prime minister, it is added in the release. After then Democratic Party (DS) leader Boris Tadic shook hands with Thaci at Croatia Summit last July, Nikolic said that he personally would not shake hands with the Kosovo PM. “This is his personal move, I spoke about it with a representative of the State Department today and I said I did not know what Mr. Tadic wanted to achieve, except maybe to show that he was invited while I cannot go there. However, it seems that he can do something I cannot – I cannot shake hands with a man said to have committed crimes against Serbs until it is determined whether he did or did not,” Nikolic said at the time. Tomislav Nikolic and Hashim Thaci are seen shaking hands (www.gazetaexpress.com) Beta

Serbian president, Kosovo PM shake hands in Vatican

Thaci is not the only person with whom Nikolić shook hands with, he also did it with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Croatian President Ivo Josipović, presidents of Chile, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia and with the Montenegrin prime minister, it is added in the release.

After then Democratic Party (DS) leader Boris Tadić shook hands with Thaci at Croatia Summit last July, Nikolić said that he personally would not shake hands with the Kosovo PM.

“This is his personal move, I spoke about it with a representative of the State Department today and I said I did not know what Mr. Tadić wanted to achieve, except maybe to show that he was invited while I cannot go there. However, it seems that he can do something I cannot – I cannot shake hands with a man said to have committed crimes against Serbs until it is determined whether he did or did not,” Nikolić said at the time.