Dačić: Significant progress on issue of elections

BRUSSELS Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said that one of the main topics of Wednesday's meeting in Brussels was organizing local elections in Kosovo. This round of the Kosovo dialogue also concerned "creating conditions for Kosovo Serbs to take part," he said. Dacic: Significant progress on issue of elections "We made significant progress on this issue, and we defined once again what we think is important for our people in Kosovo," Dacic told reporters after a meeting with Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, who is acting as facilitator in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. First of all, we confirmed that Serbs will be allowed to vote using the personal documents they currently possess and agreed that we need to find mechanisms and organize voting for internally displaced persons and for all those born in Kosovo, he said. "When I say this I also mean the people living in central Serbia. They will also have the right to vote," said Dacic. We agreed that a place will be reserved in the central electoral commission and other electoral bodies for a representative of the Serb list, he said. "We once again reaffirmed the role of the OSCE in organizing, carrying out and monitoring the election and verifying the results," said Dacic. It is in Belgrade's interest that Kosovo Serbs take part in the election not so they would help in the implementation of the Brussels agreement or make Pristina's independence complete "but so that we would help ourselves," he said. "For the first time Serbia would get legal and legitimate, internationally recognized representatives that have until now been called illegal institutions by many in the world," said Dacic. The prime minister noted that understanding and a desire to continue successful implementation of the Brussels agreement was evident during the meeting. "We have not and will not accept anything that would confirm Kosovo's independence, because we consider these talks status-neutral," said Dacic. The police was also discussed during the meeting, he said. "We agreed that former members of the Serbian police will not be asked for Kosovo-issued documents, citizenship papers or ID when applying for a job," said Dacic. We also agreed that they will not have to take the oath, he said. One of the issues discussed was full operational capability of the regional police commander in northern Kosovo, who is of Serb nationality, and who should set up a team over the next few days, Dacic said. At the moment, differences between the two sides are the most pronounced in judiciary issues, particularly when it comes to basic courts and prosecutor's offices - what needs to be done there and how they will operate in Serb communities, he said. Over the next few days, the working group teams will resume the talks on energy and telecommunications, Dacic said, adding that he believes an agreement on these issues may be reached in the next seven to ten days. "The meeting was useful as it dispelled our concerns that we will allow the so-called Kosovo independence to be encouraged or confirmed through the dialogue and participation of Serbs in local elections," Dacic said. It is very important that this time as well we had the principled support of the EU in viewing the agreement as status-neutral and that in this sense no elements of statehood should be a part of the implementation, Dacic concluded. Dacic said the next high-level meeting will take place on August 27, while working groups will continue their talks in the coming days. In addition to Dacic, the Serbian team taking part in the talks at the European External Action Service included Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, Head of the Office for Kosovo Aleksandar Vulin, advisor to the Serbian president Marko Djuric and Justice Minister Nikola Selakovic. (EU) "PMs agree massive turnout at elections is needed" EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said after a meeting she had with Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci that they agreed all should be done to ensure a good turnout at the local elections in Kosovo in November. "I met with Prime Ministers Dacic and Thaci today to discuss further steps in the implementation of the April 19 agreement to normalize relations between Belgrade and Pristina," Ashton said after the meeting in Brussels, which lasted about four hours. The two prime ministers discussed preparations for the local elections in Kosovo, scheduled for November 3, and agreed that concrete measures need be taken to ensure a good turnout at the elections. "We are doing everything to continue with the current good pace of implementation in the coming weeks," said Ashton. Tanjug

Dačić: Significant progress on issue of elections

"We made significant progress on this issue, and we defined once again what we think is important for our people in Kosovo," Dačić told reporters after a meeting with Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, who is acting as facilitator in the Belgrade-Priština dialogue.

First of all, we confirmed that Serbs will be allowed to vote using the personal documents they currently possess and agreed that we need to find mechanisms and organize voting for internally displaced persons and for all those born in Kosovo, he said.

"When I say this I also mean the people living in central Serbia. They will also have the right to vote," said Dačić.

We agreed that a place will be reserved in the central electoral commission and other electoral bodies for a representative of the Serb list, he said.

"We once again reaffirmed the role of the OSCE in organizing, carrying out and monitoring the election and verifying the results," said Dačić.

It is in Belgrade's interest that Kosovo Serbs take part in the election not so they would help in the implementation of the Brussels agreement or make Priština's independence complete "but so that we would help ourselves," he said.

"For the first time Serbia would get legal and legitimate, internationally recognized representatives that have until now been called illegal institutions by many in the world," said Dačić.

The prime minister noted that understanding and a desire to continue successful implementation of the Brussels agreement was evident during the meeting.

"We have not and will not accept anything that would confirm Kosovo's independence, because we consider these talks status-neutral," said Dačić.

The police was also discussed during the meeting, he said.

"We agreed that former members of the Serbian police will not be asked for Kosovo-issued documents, citizenship papers or ID when applying for a job," said Dačić.

We also agreed that they will not have to take the oath, he said.

One of the issues discussed was full operational capability of the regional police commander in northern Kosovo, who is of Serb nationality, and who should set up a team over the next few days, Dačić said.

At the moment, differences between the two sides are the most pronounced in judiciary issues, particularly when it comes to basic courts and prosecutor's offices - what needs to be done there and how they will operate in Serb communities, he said.

Over the next few days, the working group teams will resume the talks on energy and telecommunications, Dačić said, adding that he believes an agreement on these issues may be reached in the next seven to ten days.

"The meeting was useful as it dispelled our concerns that we will allow the so-called Kosovo independence to be encouraged or confirmed through the dialogue and participation of Serbs in local elections," Dačić said.

It is very important that this time as well we had the principled support of the EU in viewing the agreement as status-neutral and that in this sense no elements of statehood should be a part of the implementation, Dačić concluded.

Dačić said the next high-level meeting will take place on August 27, while working groups will continue their talks in the coming days.

In addition to Dačić, the Serbian team taking part in the talks at the European External Action Service included Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić, Head of the Office for Kosovo Aleksandar Vulin, advisor to the Serbian president Marko Đurić and Justice Minister Nikola Selaković.

"PMs agree massive turnout at elections is needed"

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said after a meeting she had with Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dačić and Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci that they agreed all should be done to ensure a good turnout at the local elections in Kosovo in November.

"I met with Prime Ministers Dačić and Thaci today to discuss further steps in the implementation of the April 19 agreement to normalize relations between Belgrade and Priština," Ashton said after the meeting in Brussels, which lasted about four hours.

The two prime ministers discussed preparations for the local elections in Kosovo, scheduled for November 3, and agreed that concrete measures need be taken to ensure a good turnout at the elections.

"We are doing everything to continue with the current good pace of implementation in the coming weeks," said Ashton.