Stefanović describes dialogue: Like talking to aliens

Borislav Stefanovic says the dialogue with the Kosovo Albanian representatives was "sometimes like talking to people from another planet". The head of the Belgrade team was describing the 5th round of the ongoing, EU-sponsored talks, and said the difficulties came "due to the completely opposed positions". Stefanovic describes dialogue: Like talking to aliens He told Belgrade-based daily Blic that the talks were "very difficult because every sentence and stance from our side was completely opposite to what the (ethnic) Albanian side was saying." "There is a huge wall between us and those solutions helped that it becomes a little smaller and allow us finally cooperate for the welfare of all people who live in Kosovo and Metohija and mainly Serbs". He added that "without those solutions most Serbs would slowly but certainly leave", and asserted that that was "what they are doing today". On Saturday, the sides agreed about freedom of movement and exchange of copies of birth certificate books, which met with criticism from the opposition parties "and even threats with criminal charges against Stefanovic for violation of the sovereignty of Serbia", writes the daily. But the Belgrade team chief rejected the accusations. "They (Kosovo Albanians) want and they attempted to get full confirmation of independence, confirmation that Serbia does not exist in Kosovo. We managed to oppose that," said he. "If we were speaking about the 1990s and condemning the war crimes, they were speaking about occupation and genocide. We have not agreed about what happened, let alone about what we want in the future," Stefanovic described the talks. He specified that the agreement related to "personal identity cards, traffic and driving licenses to be used in future but only with a certificate to be given by the Serbian Interior Ministry at the administrative line". According to him, the card would bear the date and place of entrance and would be used for administrative checks only. "Without it the documents shall be invalid. In the certificate there will also be written that that document does not prejudice the future Kosovo status. This is a legal confirmation for us that the documents will be used for transit only. This means that all people who have our citizenship will be allowed to move freely without affecting our position regarding the status. The so-called ‘Kosovo passports’ will not be valid." Asked what would affect the status, Stefanovic replied, "only if Pristina put a stamp on some of those documents." Borislav Stefanovic (Tanjug, file)

Stefanović describes dialogue: Like talking to aliens

He told Belgrade-based daily Blic that the talks were "very difficult because every sentence and stance from our side was completely opposite to what the (ethnic) Albanian side was saying."

"There is a huge wall between us and those solutions helped that it becomes a little smaller and allow us finally cooperate for the welfare of all people who live in Kosovo and Metohija and mainly Serbs".

He added that "without those solutions most Serbs would slowly but certainly leave", and asserted that that was "what they are doing today".

On Saturday, the sides agreed about freedom of movement and exchange of copies of birth certificate books, which met with criticism from the opposition parties "and even threats with criminal charges against Stefanović for violation of the sovereignty of Serbia", writes the daily.

But the Belgrade team chief rejected the accusations.

"They (Kosovo Albanians) want and they attempted to get full confirmation of independence, confirmation that Serbia does not exist in Kosovo. We managed to oppose that," said he.

"If we were speaking about the 1990s and condemning the war crimes, they were speaking about occupation and genocide. We have not agreed about what happened, let alone about what we want in the future," Stefanović described the talks.

He specified that the agreement related to "personal identity cards, traffic and driving licenses to be used in future but only with a certificate to be given by the Serbian Interior Ministry at the administrative line".

According to him, the card would bear the date and place of entrance and would be used for administrative checks only.

"Without it the documents shall be invalid. In the certificate there will also be written that that document does not prejudice the future Kosovo status. This is a legal confirmation for us that the documents will be used for transit only. This means that all people who have our citizenship will be allowed to move freely without affecting our position regarding the status. The so-called ‘Kosovo passports’ will not be valid."

Asked what would affect the status, Stefanović replied, "only if Priština put a stamp on some of those documents."