DSS: Feith author of Kosovo debt story

The Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) yesteday said it will "not pay attention" to initiatives coming from Pieter Feith. Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's adviser and Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) official Branislav Rustivojevic told reporters in Kosovoska Mitrovica Monday that the head of the EU mission in Kosovo is the "author of the idea" that Serbia should stop paying back the Kosovo part of its foreing debt. DSS: Feith author of Kosovo debt story G17 Plus leader Mladjan Dinkic has strongly advocated this, both in a cabinet session last week and in the media. "Mr. Feith's intentions are more than clear and he is sending a message in a most direct manner that Serbia would in fact, by ceasing to pay the debt, recognize the false state that is made according to the Ahtisaari plan," Ristivojevic said. He added that Feith's very presence in the province is illegal, and that for this reason, his initiatives have no significance. "We will not pay attention to them," Ristivojevic said. Earlier in the day, Feith told Kontakt Plus Radio in Kosovska Mitrovica that Serbia "should stop paying off Kosovo's foreign debt, so that the institutions in Pristina can take responsibility for the economy". "Serbia must stop the payments in the foreseeable future, and one part of the Ahtisaari plan deals with this problem," the Dutch diplomat said. In Belgrade, Dinkic's initiative has met with the silence of President Boris Tadic's Democrats (DS), although the economy minister told B92 Sunday that he had support from that party. Sasa Djogovic of the Institute for Market Research said yesterday that, "at this point, repayment of the Kosovo and Metohija foreign debt should not be discontinued as it could be interpreted as indirect recognition of independence of the southern Serbian province." "If you do not wish to repay the Kosovo foreign debt you are indirectly sending a signal that you are ready to come to terms with the fact that Kosovo, if not now, will one day be independent," he said explaining the Institute's position. Djogovic pointed out that it should be taken into account that the majority of the Paris Club creditor states had recognized the unilateral independence of Kosovo, "so we would be in denial to think that repayment of the Kosovo and Metohija foreign debt is without political weight and certain repercussions for Serbia". The Institute believes that Kosovo's debt was at this point more a political than economic issue and that the topic was premature, "as it literally has one internal political dimension", Djogovic told a news conference.

DSS: Feith author of Kosovo debt story

G17 Plus leader Mlađan Dinkić has strongly advocated this, both in a cabinet session last week and in the media.

"Mr. Feith's intentions are more than clear and he is sending a message in a most direct manner that Serbia would in fact, by ceasing to pay the debt, recognize the false state that is made according to the Ahtisaari plan," Ristivojević said.

He added that Feith's very presence in the province is illegal, and that for this reason, his initiatives have no significance.

"We will not pay attention to them," Ristivojević said.

Earlier in the day, Feith told Kontakt Plus Radio in Kosovska Mitrovica that Serbia "should stop paying off Kosovo's foreign debt, so that the institutions in Priština can take responsibility for the economy".

"Serbia must stop the payments in the foreseeable future, and one part of the Ahtisaari plan deals with this problem," the Dutch diplomat said.

In Belgrade, Dinkić's initiative has met with the silence of President Boris Tadić's Democrats (DS), although the economy minister told B92 Sunday that he had support from that party.

Saša Đogović of the Institute for Market Research said yesterday that, "at this point, repayment of the Kosovo and Metohija foreign debt should not be discontinued as it could be interpreted as indirect recognition of independence of the southern Serbian province."

"If you do not wish to repay the Kosovo foreign debt you are indirectly sending a signal that you are ready to come to terms with the fact that Kosovo, if not now, will one day be independent," he said explaining the Institute's position.

Đogović pointed out that it should be taken into account that the majority of the Paris Club creditor states had recognized the unilateral independence of Kosovo, "so we would be in denial to think that repayment of the Kosovo and Metohija foreign debt is without political weight and certain repercussions for Serbia".

The Institute believes that Kosovo's debt was at this point more a political than economic issue and that the topic was premature, "as it literally has one internal political dimension", Đogović told a news conference.