Tadić: Kosovo compromise has no alternative

President Boris Tadic says statements on Kosovo independence are counterproductive. Commenting on U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s statement that Europe should join the United States in backing independence for the Serbian province, Tadic said on Tuesday in New York that these words put the Albanian side in a situation where they only had to wait for December 10 to unilaterally declare independence and look forward to its recognition. Tadic: Kosovo compromise has no alternative According to him, the United States, the European Union and Russia, along with Belgrade and Pristina, must encourage the negotiating process, in order to reach a compromise. “If a unilateral solution is being pushed forward, the chances of the talks being successful are slim. We must find a compromise solution acceptable to both sides, as that sort of solution has absolutely no alternative,” stressed Tadic. After meeting with representatives from Belgium, Panama, Slovakia, and Italy at the United Nations Headquarters in New York yesterday, Tadic again stressed that the status of Kosovo had to be decided by the UN Security Council. "I told them that Serbia would play a constructive role in the negotiating process in the hope of achieving a compromise and avoiding a dangerous outcome, such as a forced solution or unilateral recognition of independence," he told a news conference. The president also met with NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, whom he asked to provide full protection to Serbs in Kosovo, as well as to Serbian Orthodox Church buildings and property. He emphasized the importance of adhering to international law and UN Security Council Resolution 1244 on Kosovo, as well as asking Scheffer to keep NATO out of the political debate over Kosovo, which Scheffer reportedly pledged to do. Additionally, Tadic highlighted talks on economic cooperation with EU countries, saying that accelerated economic development and EU membership were a national priority. Tadic, who is on a visit to New York, will address the UN General Assembly on Thursday and take part in negotiations on the Kosovo status question a day later. Tadic, Prodi meet in New York Tuesday (Tanjug) Plassnik: Talks need to be more dynamic It is time Belgrade and Pristina introduced more dynamics to the Kosovo talks, says Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik. She stated that in order to finally resolve the matter it was necessary to get away from insistence on basic postions or unilateral moves, as this was not a recipe for success and did not move the process forward. "What’s important is content, not packaging. The most important thing is that there’s a general goal in mind – Serbia’s EU integration. Together, we have to work out how we’re going to achieve it," said Plassnik. In a statement following a meeting with President Tadic and Foreign Minister Jeremic in New York, she said that the people of the region needed tangible prospects, not castles in the sky, adding that moderation and realism were required.

Tadić: Kosovo compromise has no alternative

According to him, the United States, the European Union and Russia, along with Belgrade and Priština, must encourage the negotiating process, in order to reach a compromise.

“If a unilateral solution is being pushed forward, the chances of the talks being successful are slim. We must find a compromise solution acceptable to both sides, as that sort of solution has absolutely no alternative,” stressed Tadić.

After meeting with representatives from Belgium, Panama, Slovakia, and Italy at the United Nations Headquarters in New York yesterday, Tadić again stressed that the status of Kosovo had to be decided by the UN Security Council.

"I told them that Serbia would play a constructive role in the negotiating process in the hope of achieving a compromise and avoiding a dangerous outcome, such as a forced solution or unilateral recognition of independence," he told a news conference.

The president also met with NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, whom he asked to provide full protection to Serbs in Kosovo, as well as to Serbian Orthodox Church buildings and property.

He emphasized the importance of adhering to international law and UN Security Council Resolution 1244 on Kosovo, as well as asking Scheffer to keep NATO out of the political debate over Kosovo, which Scheffer reportedly pledged to do.

Additionally, Tadić highlighted talks on economic cooperation with EU countries, saying that accelerated economic development and EU membership were a national priority.

Tadić, who is on a visit to New York, will address the UN General Assembly on Thursday and take part in negotiations on the Kosovo status question a day later.

Plassnik: Talks need to be more dynamic

It is time Belgrade and Priština introduced more dynamics to the Kosovo talks, says Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik.

She stated that in order to finally resolve the matter it was necessary to get away from insistence on basic postions or unilateral moves, as this was not a recipe for success and did not move the process forward.

"What’s important is content, not packaging. The most important thing is that there’s a general goal in mind – Serbia’s EU integration. Together, we have to work out how we’re going to achieve it," said Plassnik.

In a statement following a meeting with President Tadić and Foreign Minister Jeremić in New York, she said that the people of the region needed tangible prospects, not castles in the sky, adding that moderation and realism were required.