Northern Serbs "encouraged" after meeting with officials

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA Advisor to the Serbian president Marko Djuric has said that Belgrade's negotiating team and Serbia "received a message of support from Serbs in northern Kosovo." "We have come to Kosovo today to send the message that Serbia is one and united," Djuric said, after a meeting in Kosovska Mitrovica on Thursday with local Serb officials from northern Kosovo and Metohija. Northern Serbs "encouraged" after meeting with officials Director of the Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija Aleksandar Vulin also took part in the meeting. In a statement to Tanjug, Djuric said that Serbia "remains fully committed to a compromise and ready for a dialogue that would not imply a discussion of people who do not want to hear each other, but rather people who want to understand the needs, hopes and fears of the other side." "Serbia will not accept solutions that mean going against its state and national interests in any part of its territory," he said. Local Serb officials from northern Kosovo support the government and negotiating team, and all their wishes are shared by the government, Vulin said after the meeting. Northern Kosovo Serbs support their country in its struggle, he told Tanjug. "What we said at the start of the talks, that everything we did would be in accordance with the needs and desires of the Serbs in Kosovo, is coming true, and we maintain close and direct communication with them. It will remain that way," he said. Zubin Potok Mayor Slavisa Ristic said after the meeting that Serb officials from northern Kosovo could hear directly about the events in Brussels. "The view of the Kosovo Serbs was presented at the yesterday meeting of four northern Kosovo municipalities. We are encouraged by the determined and united position of the government not to give in to extortion, pressure and threats. We are certain and encouraged that Serbia will continue to resist pressure," Ristic told reporters. Besides the presidents of the four northern Kosovo municipalities, the meeting in Kosovska Mitrovica was also attended by Vulin's deputy Krstimir Pantic and head of the Kosovska Mitrovica District Radenko Nedeljkovic. Marko Djuric (Tanjug, file) "Committed to dialogue" Earlier in the day, Marko Djuric stated that Serbia "remains committed to achieving a solution for Kosovo-Metohija through dialogue, but that must be a dialogue of two sides, and not the dialogue of the deaf.” In a statement to reporters, Djuric underlined that the other side is also in the dialogue, and if it wants to reach a compromise, it has to be ready to talk about the things it can do for us, and not only concessions that Serbia should make. Djuric said that Serbia is required to make concessions that are extremely difficult, and put our country in an impossible position. At such a difficult moment, Serbian representatives have come here today to demonstrate unity and solidarity with its people, said Djuric, who attended Students' Day celebrations in Kosovska Mitrovica. “We are sending a message of national unity from Kosovo. Serbia is present in Kosovo-Metohija, and even at a difficult moment such as this one, we are making it clear that the best way to build the future of our entire country is to invest in youth and education,” he said. In the same vein, he added that there is no better place for supporting young people in Serbia than Kosovo and Metohija, where that may be the most needed. Djuric said he also discussed the Brussels talks with the students of the University of Pristina University the seat of which had been temporarily relocated to Kosovska Mitrovica. Tanjug

Northern Serbs "encouraged" after meeting with officials

Director of the Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija Aleksandar Vulin also took part in the meeting.

In a statement to Tanjug, Đurić said that Serbia "remains fully committed to a compromise and ready for a dialogue that would not imply a discussion of people who do not want to hear each other, but rather people who want to understand the needs, hopes and fears of the other side."

"Serbia will not accept solutions that mean going against its state and national interests in any part of its territory," he said.

Local Serb officials from northern Kosovo support the government and negotiating team, and all their wishes are shared by the government, Vulin said after the meeting.

Northern Kosovo Serbs support their country in its struggle, he told Tanjug.

"What we said at the start of the talks, that everything we did would be in accordance with the needs and desires of the Serbs in Kosovo, is coming true, and we maintain close and direct communication with them. It will remain that way," he said.

Zubin Potok Mayor Slaviša Ristić said after the meeting that Serb officials from northern Kosovo could hear directly about the events in Brussels.

"The view of the Kosovo Serbs was presented at the yesterday meeting of four northern Kosovo municipalities. We are encouraged by the determined and united position of the government not to give in to extortion, pressure and threats. We are certain and encouraged that Serbia will continue to resist pressure," Ristić told reporters.

Besides the presidents of the four northern Kosovo municipalities, the meeting in Kosovska Mitrovica was also attended by Vulin's deputy Krstimir Pantić and head of the Kosovska Mitrovica District Radenko Nedeljković.

"Committed to dialogue"

Earlier in the day, Marko Đurić stated that Serbia "remains committed to achieving a solution for Kosovo-Metohija through dialogue, but that must be a dialogue of two sides, and not the dialogue of the deaf.”

In a statement to reporters, Đurić underlined that the other side is also in the dialogue, and if it wants to reach a compromise, it has to be ready to talk about the things it can do for us, and not only concessions that Serbia should make.

Đurić said that Serbia is required to make concessions that are extremely difficult, and put our country in an impossible position.

At such a difficult moment, Serbian representatives have come here today to demonstrate unity and solidarity with its people, said Đurić, who attended Students' Day celebrations in Kosovska Mitrovica.

“We are sending a message of national unity from Kosovo. Serbia is present in Kosovo-Metohija, and even at a difficult moment such as this one, we are making it clear that the best way to build the future of our entire country is to invest in youth and education,” he said.

In the same vein, he added that there is no better place for supporting young people in Serbia than Kosovo and Metohija, where that may be the most needed.

Đurić said he also discussed the Brussels talks with the students of the University of Priština University the seat of which had been temporarily relocated to Kosovska Mitrovica.