What would Serbia sacrifice for Kosovo?

What would Serbia sacrifice for Kosovo?

“Serbia is prepared to consider the possibility of letting go of several characteristics of sovereignty."

"In that way, Kosovo would be able to have access to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund and other international financial institutions. We are ready to give up a lot, but they have to be ready to give up some things as well,” Jeremić told BBC.

“We arrive at the negotiations through the principled support of Russia, rather, its principled support of the norms of international law.

"At the same time, no one should suspect that there is a strategic orientation for Serbia's EU membership,” Jeremić said.

Jeremić also gave an interview to daily Glas Javnosti, and said that the U.S. could help in the new Kosovo talks by “not publicly stating what the end result should be.”

He told the newspaper that the U.S. will never get Belgrade's support for proposing Kosovo independence as the fastest path towards peace and stability in the Balkans.

Jeremić spoke of his recent visit to the U.S., stating that Serbia is a country that America should support in all of its security, political and economic criteria.

He said that high level discussions between Belgrade and Washington were at one point relegated to nothing but quotes through the media, adding that this was a dangerous situation.

“We agreed that the Kosovo talks should be held with the goal of trying to find a solution through compromise,”  Jeremić said, adding that this stance is better than that adopted by the U.S. until recently.

Jeremić said that the form of the talks is still unclear, as it is not known yet whether the Contact Group will receive the support of the United Nations Security Council in the same way that the UN's Kosovo Envoy Martti Ahtisaari did.

He said that “the doors are open” for getting Washington and Belgrade closer to one another and that Washington will wait to see Serbia's proposals for the status solution.

“This time I think that it will be in their best interest to listen to what we have to offer.”

“That does not mean that they will approve of it, but this is a good step in our relations in comparison to the situation we were in earlier,”  Jeremić  said.

Ban supports compromise

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said that he hopes the Kosovo negotiations will lead to an agreement.

The international community must find the right solution which will be in the interest of all communities in Kosovo and will clearly define the status ofthe province, Ban said, adding that the status quo is not sustainable.

He met with officials of the Contact Group to discuss Kosovo yesterday.

“I support the initiative of the Contact Group for further Kosovo negotiations,” Ban said.