DSS: Serbian position in dialogue at rock bottom

BELGRADE Opposition DSS party official Slobodan Samardzic says the Serbian side "degraded its negotiating position to the rock bottom" in the dialogue with Pristina. The former minister for Kosovo and Metohija who now heads his party's MP group in parliament spoke on Thursday in Belgrade and called on Prime Minister Ivica Dacic to inform parliament next week about the talks that have been held with Pristina to date. DSS: Serbian position in dialogue at rock bottom Samardzic told reporters in the parliament that it is Dacic's obligation arising from the adopted Resolution on Kosovo, and that he needs to inform the parliament about the dialogue as soon as possible, until next Wednesday at the latest. He is of the opinion that the Serbian side lowered its negotiating position so that now it is talking only about the four municipalities in northern Kosovo. "That is not the content of the platform, it lists an entire series of powers for an association of Serb municipalities, and that they had to be exercised in the legislative and executive regime. It is evident that no one speaks about legislative powers any more. Our government is settling for less than it was stipulated in the platform, and we do not know why it has lowered the aspirations so much," he said. Samardzic believes that it is good that no definitive agreement was reached on Wednesday, but that “it is no good that the government downgraded its negotiating position so much; even if it gets what it is asking for, that would not be enough from the viewpoint of the Constitution and legitimate demands of Serbs from Kosovo.” He hopes that Serbia will not accept “shameful conditions” and that there will be no agreement on April 2, estimating that getting a starting date for EU entry talks is “an elusive goal” which would not be realized even if Serbia accepted the minimum of the minimum. Slobodan Samardzic (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

DSS: Serbian position in dialogue at rock bottom

Samardžić told reporters in the parliament that it is Dačić's obligation arising from the adopted Resolution on Kosovo, and that he needs to inform the parliament about the dialogue as soon as possible, until next Wednesday at the latest.

He is of the opinion that the Serbian side lowered its negotiating position so that now it is talking only about the four municipalities in northern Kosovo.

"That is not the content of the platform, it lists an entire series of powers for an association of Serb municipalities, and that they had to be exercised in the legislative and executive regime. It is evident that no one speaks about legislative powers any more. Our government is settling for less than it was stipulated in the platform, and we do not know why it has lowered the aspirations so much," he said.

Samardžić believes that it is good that no definitive agreement was reached on Wednesday, but that “it is no good that the government downgraded its negotiating position so much; even if it gets what it is asking for, that would not be enough from the viewpoint of the Constitution and legitimate demands of Serbs from Kosovo.”

He hopes that Serbia will not accept “shameful conditions” and that there will be no agreement on April 2, estimating that getting a starting date for EU entry talks is “an elusive goal” which would not be realized even if Serbia accepted the minimum of the minimum.