Ashton proposes “interim EU administration for north”

BELGRADE EU High Representative Catherine Ashton has proposed some kind of the Erdut Agreement with an interim EU administration for northern Kosovo, daily Danas writes. Despite assessments that the eighth round of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue was the last one and that new negotiations could be expected in 2014, sources from Brussels claim that nothing is over yet and that it is too early to say that the process was unsuccessful, Danas writes. Ashton proposes “interim EU administration for north” Belgrade and Pristina have until Tuesday, April 9 to decide on the EU's proposal that was presented to them in Brussels. According to unofficial information, the offer represents some kind of the Erdut Agreement which envisages an interim EU administration in northern Kosovo. This means that the north would temporarily have a different status in the future community of Serb municipalities until it accepted Kosovo’s laws. Aside from the powers of the community of Serb municipalities, Belgrade and Pristina could also not agree on what northern Kosovo actually was, the daily’s sources claim. The Serbian delegation mentions four municipalities – Zubin Potok, Leposavic, Zvecan and northern Kosovska Mitrovica, while Pristina says that southern Kosovska Mitrovica, Srbica and Vucitrn are also a part of northern Kosovo. Ashton’s Spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic could not confirm the daily’s allegations but said that “concrete elements for the solving of the issues that were discussed” had been presented to the negotiating teams. She noted that Belgrade and Pristina would inform Ashton about their decisions after consultations. Kocijancic could not say what the “concrete elements” were. The EU High Representative should begin writing her report on April 15 so it could be ready for the European Council session on April 22. Diplomatic sources speculate that an informal trilateral meeting will be held. Brussels has warned that time was running out and Ashton’s comments after the eighth round show that “EU wants to reach an agreement in the negotiations at all costs”, the daily writes. Presidential Advisor Marko Djuric said after a meeting of top state officials on Wednesday that no compromise had been reached but that Serbia was determined to continue to look for it. He added that “difficult decisions“ awaited Serbia. Democratic Party (DS) whip and former chief negotiator in the talks with Pristina Borislav Stefanovic says that he did not doubt that the negotiations had been difficult but that a compromise needed to be reached with Pristina so “Serbia’s EU integration and future would not be brought into question”. Councilors of four northern Kosovo municipalities held a joint session on Wednesday and stated that they supported Belgrade’s negotiating team. First Deputy PM Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday night that Serbia was in a “dramatically difficult position“. Ivica Dacic, Catherine Ashton and Hashim Thaci (Beta, file) Danas

Ashton proposes “interim EU administration for north”

Belgrade and Priština have until Tuesday, April 9 to decide on the EU's proposal that was presented to them in Brussels.

According to unofficial information, the offer represents some kind of the Erdut Agreement which envisages an interim EU administration in northern Kosovo. This means that the north would temporarily have a different status in the future community of Serb municipalities until it accepted Kosovo’s laws.

Aside from the powers of the community of Serb municipalities, Belgrade and Priština could also not agree on what northern Kosovo actually was, the daily’s sources claim.

The Serbian delegation mentions four municipalities – Zubin Potok, Leposavić, Zvečan and northern Kosovska Mitrovica, while Priština says that southern Kosovska Mitrovica, Srbica and Vučitrn are also a part of northern Kosovo.

Ashton’s Spokeswoman Maja Kocijančič could not confirm the daily’s allegations but said that “concrete elements for the solving of the issues that were discussed” had been presented to the negotiating teams.

She noted that Belgrade and Priština would inform Ashton about their decisions after consultations.

Kocijančič could not say what the “concrete elements” were.

The EU High Representative should begin writing her report on April 15 so it could be ready for the European Council session on April 22.

Diplomatic sources speculate that an informal trilateral meeting will be held. Brussels has warned that time was running out and Ashton’s comments after the eighth round show that “EU wants to reach an agreement in the negotiations at all costs”, the daily writes.

Presidential Advisor Marko Đurić said after a meeting of top state officials on Wednesday that no compromise had been reached but that Serbia was determined to continue to look for it. He added that “difficult decisions“ awaited Serbia.

Democratic Party (DS) whip and former chief negotiator in the talks with Priština Borislav Stefanović says that he did not doubt that the negotiations had been difficult but that a compromise needed to be reached with Priština so “Serbia’s EU integration and future would not be brought into question”.

Councilors of four northern Kosovo municipalities held a joint session on Wednesday and stated that they supported Belgrade’s negotiating team.

First Deputy PM Aleksandar Vučić said on Wednesday night that Serbia was in a “dramatically difficult position“.