"Political arbitration may be necessary for Brussels deal"

BELGRADE Vincent Degert says there is "not much time left" to define and harmonize a clear and credible plan to implement the Brussels agreement. "It's hard to make any prognosis at this time about the outcome of the debate in the European Council at the end of June on (giving Serbia) a date, but the time is running out and both sides should make maximum efforts to reach a compromise as soon as possible," the head of the EU delegation to Serbia told Belgrade's Vecernje Novosti daily. "Political arbitration may be necessary for Brussels deal" Deger added that he believed an agreement on how to implement the Kosovo deal would be reached, but added that if these attempts failed, "additional arbitration on a higher, political level may be necessary." He then noted that all the previous agreements reached in the (Kosovo) dialogue arrived at problems when the implementation came up on the agenda. Degert told the newspaper that there was "no concrete" contentious article, but that instead, "all questions related to the agreement are very complex." "Of course, the devil is always in the details and we are aware that it will be complicated to harmonize an implementation plan easily and quickly. What's most important now is that the two sides go back to the table as soon as possible. We will see what the outcome will be in the coming days," the EU diplomat was quoted as saying. Asked whether Serbia could be given a date for the start of its membership talks with the EU in June even if there was no agreement on how to implement the Brussels deal, Degert said that the European Commission's report, presented by Catherine Ashton, stressed the importance of the agreement's implementation. "EU members who are making the decision on a date are also expecting implementation to at least start, and as soon as possible. It is also necessary to reach agreements on electrical power and telecommunications," he stated. Degert added he "expected positive debates in (EU) member-states' parliaments" if all elements were fulfilled, but could not predict what decisions would be made on this issue by the 27 governments and parliaments. (Beta, file) Beta Vecernje novosti

"Political arbitration may be necessary for Brussels deal"

Deger added that he believed an agreement on how to implement the Kosovo deal would be reached, but added that if these attempts failed, "additional arbitration on a higher, political level may be necessary."

He then noted that all the previous agreements reached in the (Kosovo) dialogue arrived at problems when the implementation came up on the agenda. Degert told the newspaper that there was "no concrete" contentious article, but that instead, "all questions related to the agreement are very complex."

"Of course, the devil is always in the details and we are aware that it will be complicated to harmonize an implementation plan easily and quickly. What's most important now is that the two sides go back to the table as soon as possible. We will see what the outcome will be in the coming days," the EU diplomat was quoted as saying.

Asked whether Serbia could be given a date for the start of its membership talks with the EU in June even if there was no agreement on how to implement the Brussels deal, Degert said that the European Commission's report, presented by Catherine Ashton, stressed the importance of the agreement's implementation.

"EU members who are making the decision on a date are also expecting implementation to at least start, and as soon as possible. It is also necessary to reach agreements on electrical power and telecommunications," he stated.

Degert added he "expected positive debates in (EU) member-states' parliaments" if all elements were fulfilled, but could not predict what decisions would be made on this issue by the 27 governments and parliaments.