Belgrade, Priština expect certain issues to be closed

Head of Belgrade's negotiating team Borislav Stefanovic and his Pristina counterpart Edita Tahiri have expressed expectation that certain issues will be closed. “We will try to find solutions for some of the issues we previously opened, and we are optimistic regarding this matter,” Stefanovic said ahead of the beginning of the dialogue in the European Council, under the leadership by high EU diplomat Robert Cooper. Belgrade, Pristina expect certain issues to be closed He also noted that Serbia's propositions were well-prepared and in keeping with the European practice. “It is realistic for us to reach an agreement on the issues of cadastre books, birth registries and freedom of movement,” he said and added that these were topics that seemed to be closest to their resolution, but that Pristina had imposed one more obstacle for each of these topics. However, the head of the Belgrade negotiating team expressed hope that a compromise solution would be found. Tahiri expects considerable progress to be made in several important fields such as freedom of movement, freedom of trade and energy. She expressed expectation that a frame-agreement on the three subjects would be reached within the two days of the fourth round of talks, while negotiations would continue regarding other matters which were opened in the past and that some new fields, such as the missing persons' issue, cultural heritage and education, would soon be opened. Stefanovic said that he felt encouraged by the support of the EU regarding the continuation of the dialogue at the same pace or further intensification, both by more frequent meetings in Brussels and in other places, since by sending its delegation to Pristina, Belgrade had already shown that this was also a possibility. When asked whether the Serbian team insists on the status issue, he said that Belgrade was not the one trying to impose this matter within each and every given subject in the dialogue. “We consider the status issue solved and rooted in our Constitution, but the real state of things is quite different, since Pristina insists on this point and brings up the status issue in every topic of talks,” the Belgrade team head pointed out. “If everything could be turned into a political issue, if they see the necessity to mention their so-called independence in everything, then you will understand that this is a problematic and complex process,” he stressed and added that the Serbian side did not insist on this and simply wanted to find tangible answers. The fourth round of Belgrade-Pristina talks, which started early in May, should end on Wednesday afternoon. Belgrade, Pristina teams meet in Brussels (Tanjug, file)

Belgrade, Priština expect certain issues to be closed

He also noted that Serbia's propositions were well-prepared and in keeping with the European practice.

“It is realistic for us to reach an agreement on the issues of cadastre books, birth registries and freedom of movement,” he said and added that these were topics that seemed to be closest to their resolution, but that Priština had imposed one more obstacle for each of these topics. However, the head of the Belgrade negotiating team expressed hope that a compromise solution would be found.

Tahiri expects considerable progress to be made in several important fields such as freedom of movement, freedom of trade and energy.

She expressed expectation that a frame-agreement on the three subjects would be reached within the two days of the fourth round of talks, while negotiations would continue regarding other matters which were opened in the past and that some new fields, such as the missing persons' issue, cultural heritage and education, would soon be opened.

Stefanović said that he felt encouraged by the support of the EU regarding the continuation of the dialogue at the same pace or further intensification, both by more frequent meetings in Brussels and in other places, since by sending its delegation to Priština, Belgrade had already shown that this was also a possibility.

When asked whether the Serbian team insists on the status issue, he said that Belgrade was not the one trying to impose this matter within each and every given subject in the dialogue.

“We consider the status issue solved and rooted in our Constitution, but the real state of things is quite different, since Priština insists on this point and brings up the status issue in every topic of talks,” the Belgrade team head pointed out.

“If everything could be turned into a political issue, if they see the necessity to mention their so-called independence in everything, then you will understand that this is a problematic and complex process,” he stressed and added that the Serbian side did not insist on this and simply wanted to find tangible answers.

The fourth round of Belgrade-Priština talks, which started early in May, should end on Wednesday afternoon.