“Chances for Belgrade-Priština talks”

The visit of top European and U.S. officials has prompted the beginning of talks between Pristina and Belgrade, the BBC in Albanian said. The radio quoted unnamed international diplomats as the source of its story. “Chances for Belgrade-Pristina talks” The sources also claim that the international officials want Serbia to give up insisting on opening the question of Kosovo's status. Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini reported that those talks would begin right after the Western Balkans conference in Sarajevo at the beginning of June. BBC reported that the Belgrade-Pristina talks will cover three main topics - decentralization, cultural heritage and northern Kosovo. The BBC sources said that Pristina may form eight working groups which would assist in the technical preparations for the talks. The same sources stated that the talks will be made "easier" through European diplomats in Kosovo, most of all Italian Ambassador in Kosovo Michael Giffoni, who is the EU envoy for northern Kosovo, and the head of the Greek Liaison Office in Pristina, Dimitris Moschopoulos, EU envoy for cultural heritage. It is believed that the preparatory period will be conducted in August, so as to open a path afterward for the technical level of the talks, which are expected to be raised to the ministerial level later. The diplomatic sources said that opening the talks about certain questions, excluding the status issue, may happen as soon as the International Court of Justice renders its advisory opinion on the legitimacy of the Kosovo Albanian decision to unilaterally proclaim independence.

“Chances for Belgrade-Priština talks”

The sources also claim that the international officials want Serbia to give up insisting on opening the question of Kosovo's status.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini reported that those talks would begin right after the Western Balkans conference in Sarajevo at the beginning of June.

BBC reported that the Belgrade-Priština talks will cover three main topics - decentralization, cultural heritage and northern Kosovo.

The BBC sources said that Priština may form eight working groups which would assist in the technical preparations for the talks.

The same sources stated that the talks will be made "easier" through European diplomats in Kosovo, most of all Italian Ambassador in Kosovo Michael Giffoni, who is the EU envoy for northern Kosovo, and the head of the Greek Liaison Office in Pristina, Dimitris Moschopoulos, EU envoy for cultural heritage.

It is believed that the preparatory period will be conducted in August, so as to open a path afterward for the technical level of the talks, which are expected to be raised to the ministerial level later.

The diplomatic sources said that opening the talks about certain questions, excluding the status issue, may happen as soon as the International Court of Justice renders its advisory opinion on the legitimacy of the Kosovo Albanian decision to unilaterally proclaim independence.