"EU facing consequeces of Thaci's actions"

Kosovo Ministry State Secretary Oliver Ivanovic says the EU is facing the consequences of Hashim Thaci's unilateral move for which a solution must be found. Ivanovic spoke for B92 this morning from northern Kosovska Mitrovica. "EU facing consequeces of Thaci's actions" He was referring to the crisis which broke out when the Kosovo Albanian government in Pristina tried to take over administrative line checkpoints in the Serb north and ban entry of goods produced in Serbia. Government representatives met on Monday in Raska with EU official Robert Cooper, and Ivanovic says Serbia put several solutions on the table, which he expects Cooper to present to the Kosovo Albanians today. "The outcome of those talks is uncertain, but it's certain we must meet again, talk again, there's no alternative for that," said Ivanovic. Asked what Cooper could put on the negotiating table that would be acceptable both to Belgrade and Pristina - considering that both sides are saying they will stick to their position - Ivanovic said that the EU is now facing he consequences of Hashim Thaci's unilateral move for which there must be a solution. "I am under the impression that Cooper and the EU did not approve what Thaci had done and are now dealing with the consequences. They are also aware that negotiations must be preserved after this, since they cannot slap him on the face and send him back to where he was without protection. That would destabilize Pristina and would also not be good, for us as well. He (Thaci) needs to be allowed to find some solution that will help him get out of this unpleasant situation, without in any way endangering our rights," according to Ivanovic. He repeated Serbia's demand for the situation at the Jarinje and Brnjak checkpoints in the Serb north to be "back to normal", and for Serbs to "feel safe, without being put in danger by any moves or interventions in the coming period". According to Ivanovic, the EU mediator must clearly let Thaci know that Serbs "will not back down just like that" - for the past 11 years, said the official, they became accustomed to living under difficult conditions in Kosovo, "and will not falter in front of Pristina's threats". In Pristina late on Monday, Hashim Thaci stated that he would not give up on his intention of "expanding" his rule to the Serb north, and that "nobody would talk him out of that". Oliver Ivanovic (Beta, file) "Crisis to last until demands have been met" Speaking for Tanjug late on Monday, Oliver Ivanovic said that a solution to the crisis in Kosovo, acceptable for both sides, should be sought through negotiation. The crisis in Kosovo will last as long as the demands of the Serbs are not fulfilled and things do not return to the way they were before the intervention of the Kosovo special police units Rosu, Ivanovic said. "For the time being, there are to be no Albanians and Kosovo customs at the crossings in northern Kosovo. Their presence there can be the result of the negotiations in Brussels, but as long as that does not happen, things have to remain the way they were before July 25," Ivanovic told Tanjug. He said that was the demand of the people standing on the barricades in northern Kosovo for eight nights in a row, as well as the demand of Belgrade's negotiating team, who last night spoke on the behalf of those people with EU mediator Robert Cooper. "There is no room for bargaining, and we have to be sure that special police units Rosu will not be harassing us in an attempt to forcefully change the situation on the ground," Ivanovic underlined.

"EU facing consequeces of Thaci's actions"

He was referring to the crisis which broke out when the Kosovo Albanian government in Priština tried to take over administrative line checkpoints in the Serb north and ban entry of goods produced in Serbia.

Government representatives met on Monday in Raška with EU official Robert Cooper, and Ivanović says Serbia put several solutions on the table, which he expects Cooper to present to the Kosovo Albanians today.

"The outcome of those talks is uncertain, but it's certain we must meet again, talk again, there's no alternative for that," said Ivanović.

Asked what Cooper could put on the negotiating table that would be acceptable both to Belgrade and Priština - considering that both sides are saying they will stick to their position - Ivanović said that the EU is now facing he consequences of Hashim Thaci's unilateral move for which there must be a solution.

"I am under the impression that Cooper and the EU did not approve what Thaci had done and are now dealing with the consequences. They are also aware that negotiations must be preserved after this, since they cannot slap him on the face and send him back to where he was without protection. That would destabilize Priština and would also not be good, for us as well. He (Thaci) needs to be allowed to find some solution that will help him get out of this unpleasant situation, without in any way endangering our rights," according to Ivanović.

He repeated Serbia's demand for the situation at the Jarinje and Brnjak checkpoints in the Serb north to be "back to normal", and for Serbs to "feel safe, without being put in danger by any moves or interventions in the coming period".

According to Ivanović, the EU mediator must clearly let Thaci know that Serbs "will not back down just like that" - for the past 11 years, said the official, they became accustomed to living under difficult conditions in Kosovo, "and will not falter in front of Priština's threats".

In Priština late on Monday, Hashim Thaci stated that he would not give up on his intention of "expanding" his rule to the Serb north, and that "nobody would talk him out of that".

"Crisis to last until demands have been met"

Speaking for Tanjug late on Monday, Oliver Ivanović said that a solution to the crisis in Kosovo, acceptable for both sides, should be sought through negotiation.

The crisis in Kosovo will last as long as the demands of the Serbs are not fulfilled and things do not return to the way they were before the intervention of the Kosovo special police units Rosu, Ivanović said.

"For the time being, there are to be no Albanians and Kosovo customs at the crossings in northern Kosovo. Their presence there can be the result of the negotiations in Brussels, but as long as that does not happen, things have to remain the way they were before July 25," Ivanović told Tanjug.

He said that was the demand of the people standing on the barricades in northern Kosovo for eight nights in a row, as well as the demand of Belgrade's negotiating team, who last night spoke on the behalf of those people with EU mediator Robert Cooper.

"There is no room for bargaining, and we have to be sure that special police units Rosu will not be harassing us in an attempt to forcefully change the situation on the ground," Ivanović underlined.