Government rejects plan for northern Kosovo

The Serbian government and its minsitry in charge of Kosovo have rejected the so-called strategy for north Kosovo and do not consider it valid. This is according to Kosovo Ministry State Secretary Oliver Ivanovic. Government rejects plan for northern Kosovo "The sole link between the EU and this document is that there are actually two functions hiding in (Pieter) Feith's person – Feith is envoy of the EU high commissioner for foreign policy and security (in Kosovo), and on the other hand he is chief of the International Civilian Office (ICO) in Pristina which is supposed to carry out Martti Ahtisaari’s rejected plan,” he stressed. Ivanovic told International Radio Serbia that the ICO chief did not inform the EU or any other instance about that document. Stressing that the ICO consists of representatives of 24 countries, of which 22 are EU members, along with Switzerland and the U.S., have recognized unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, he said that they “do not represent interlocutors for Serbia”. According to Ivanovic, “the assumption is that Feith created the mentioned plan based on the agreement with the Kosovo Albanians in order to allow them to infiltrate the north of Kosovo and establish full control”. “That would be fatal for the remaining Serbs in the north. I cannot say that it is much easier for those who live south of Ibar River, but strong Serbian institutions that haven’t ceased working have existed in the north since 1999,” Ivanovic emphasized. “In any case, the Serbian government will continue to support its institutions regardless of whether they are in the north or in the south, and Pieter Feith must realize that such adventures, as we calrefer to his plan, can only bring tensions to the north and then some reckless reaction, too,” he warned. The controversial plan was announced earlier this year by the ICO and the Kosovo Albanian government in Pristina. It has met with rejection from the Serbs living in the northern municipalities of the province, but was also criticizes by Belgrade, and Moscow.

Government rejects plan for northern Kosovo

"The sole link between the EU and this document is that there are actually two functions hiding in (Pieter) Feith's person – Feith is envoy of the EU high commissioner for foreign policy and security (in Kosovo), and on the other hand he is chief of the International Civilian Office (ICO) in Priština which is supposed to carry out Martti Ahtisaari’s rejected plan,” he stressed.

Ivanović told International Radio Serbia that the ICO chief did not inform the EU or any other instance about that document.

Stressing that the ICO consists of representatives of 24 countries, of which 22 are EU members, along with Switzerland and the U.S., have recognized unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, he said that they “do not represent interlocutors for Serbia”.

According to Ivanović, “the assumption is that Feith created the mentioned plan based on the agreement with the Kosovo Albanians in order to allow them to infiltrate the north of Kosovo and establish full control”.

“That would be fatal for the remaining Serbs in the north. I cannot say that it is much easier for those who live south of Ibar River, but strong Serbian institutions that haven’t ceased working have existed in the north since 1999,” Ivanović emphasized.

“In any case, the Serbian government will continue to support its institutions regardless of whether they are in the north or in the south, and Pieter Feith must realize that such adventures, as we calrefer to his plan, can only bring tensions to the north and then some reckless reaction, too,” he warned.

The controversial plan was announced earlier this year by the ICO and the Kosovo Albanian government in Priština. It has met with rejection from the Serbs living in the northern municipalities of the province, but was also criticizes by Belgrade, and Moscow.