UNMIK on role in Kosovo talks

UNMIK and other international officials in Kosovo will participate in dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina regarding technical questions. UNMIK spokesman Alexander Ivanko said on Sunday in Pristina that before these talks begin, UNMIK must define its role in the dialogue, since authority in the three fields of discussion—courts, police and customs—have already been transferred to EULEX. UNMIK on role in Kosovo talks “The UN and UNMIK will have a role in these talks, but it must be defined what kind of role it will have exactly, because the authority in the three main fields has been transferred to EULEX,” Ivanko told Radio Free Europe. He added that it looks as if a number of international factors will participate in the talks, because EULEX is responsible for police, courts and customs. Pristina continues to reject the UN six-point plan and states that Serbia can only discuss issues that are in the interest of "both countries". Last fall at the UN, Belgrade greenlighted the deployment of EULEX, saying that a condition for this was implementation of the plan. Spokesman for the Kosovo president Dzavit Beqiri told Radio Free Europe that the six-point plan is "dead, and rejected for good by Pristina and the Kosovo institutions", which have "no obligation" to respect it. Beqiri said that UNMIK has no business in the talks between Pristina and Belgrade, adding that "only the Kosovo institutions" had the authority for that. UNMIK Chief Lamberto Zannier returned to Kosovo several days ago from New York, where he also talked to Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic at the UN. Ivanko said that Zannier plans on informing the Kosovo government on the contents of his meeting with Jeremic. BBC: Proposal for high-level meeting UNMIK Chief Lamberto Zannier, European Union High Representative in Kosovo Pieter Feith and EULEX Chief Yves de Kermabon will propose to the Serbian authorities to hold a high-level meeting to discuss issues of mutual interest for Kosovo and Serbia, the BBC Albanian language service reported on Monday. The international officials said that the meeting might be held this month. Right after his return from New York, where he attended regular consultations, the UNMIK chief met wit Feith and informed him about the details of the meeting, including his meeting with Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, who had invited Zannier to Belgrade in order to start talks on the realization of the six-point plan drafted by the UN. Under the plan, the Kosovo Serbs will be granted broader autonomy in the areas of justice, police and customs.

UNMIK on role in Kosovo talks

“The UN and UNMIK will have a role in these talks, but it must be defined what kind of role it will have exactly, because the authority in the three main fields has been transferred to EULEX,” Ivanko told Radio Free Europe.

He added that it looks as if a number of international factors will participate in the talks, because EULEX is responsible for police, courts and customs.

Priština continues to reject the UN six-point plan and states that Serbia can only discuss issues that are in the interest of "both countries".

Last fall at the UN, Belgrade greenlighted the deployment of EULEX, saying that a condition for this was implementation of the plan.

Spokesman for the Kosovo president Dzavit Beqiri told Radio Free Europe that the six-point plan is "dead, and rejected for good by Priština and the Kosovo institutions", which have "no obligation" to respect it.

Beqiri said that UNMIK has no business in the talks between Priština and Belgrade, adding that "only the Kosovo institutions" had the authority for that.

UNMIK Chief Lamberto Zannier returned to Kosovo several days ago from New York, where he also talked to Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić at the UN.

Ivanko said that Zannier plans on informing the Kosovo government on the contents of his meeting with Jeremić.

BBC: Proposal for high-level meeting

UNMIK Chief Lamberto Zannier, European Union High Representative in Kosovo Pieter Feith and EULEX Chief Yves de Kermabon will propose to the Serbian authorities to hold a high-level meeting to discuss issues of mutual interest for Kosovo and Serbia, the BBC Albanian language service reported on Monday.

The international officials said that the meeting might be held this month.

Right after his return from New York, where he attended regular consultations, the UNMIK chief met wit Feith and informed him about the details of the meeting, including his meeting with Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić, who had invited Zannier to Belgrade in order to start talks on the realization of the six-point plan drafted by the UN.

Under the plan, the Kosovo Serbs will be granted broader autonomy in the areas of justice, police and customs.