Kosovo status yet to be discussed, state secretary says

Serbian Ministry for Kosovo State Secretary Oliver Ivanovic stated on Friday that the issue of the Kosovo status was yet to be discussed. He added that ethnic Albanians were slowly coming round to the idea that they would have to conduct talks with Serbia. Kosovo status yet to be discussed, state secretary says “It should be clear to everyone, including Kosovo Albanians, that the issue of the Kosovo status has not been solved yet,” Ivanovic told Tanjug and added that with all due respect to the U.S. and other influential and powerful countries that have recognized Kosovo's independence, it was clear that until Serbia did so there would be a serious obstacle to Kosovo promoting itself as independent. The state secretary noted that the negotiations on the status of Kosovo should not be rushed and that Albanians were slowly coming round to the fact that Serbia had all the keys, which was why they would need to negotiate with it about this matter sooner or later. He stressed that Serbia was not in the best position to discuss such a sensitive issue ahead of the parliamentary elections, but that on the other hand Pristina was also facing considerable political instability, accompanied by a constant threat of the government toppling. “Such a government cannot discuss difficult strategic issues,” Ivanovic explained. He underscored that the talks on issue of Kosovo's status would not be completely separate from the current talks on technical issues. “The status issue and technical issues are intertwined,” Ivanovic pointed out and noted that by the pace of solving technical issues, the competent bodies also defined the moment when the big crucial issue would need to be opened, that is Serbia's final stand toward this part of its territory and the attitude of Kosovo Albanians toward Belgrade. He expressed belief that the Cypriot model was the only right solution for the Kosovo issue. Speaking about the status of northern Kosovo, the state secretary pointed out that this issue would certainly be opened, together with the status of entire Kosovo. He added that northern Kosovo was specific because it turned out that, unlike in other parts of the province, it was not possible for Pristina to implement its laws or carry out the Ahtisaari Plan in the north. Ivanovic underscored that this feature needed to be taken into consideration when competent bodies met to discuss the status issue, but that this matter should not be resolved to the detriment of the Serb population in southern Kosovo. Oliver Ivanovic (Tanjug, file)

Kosovo status yet to be discussed, state secretary says

“It should be clear to everyone, including Kosovo Albanians, that the issue of the Kosovo status has not been solved yet,” Ivanović told Tanjug and added that with all due respect to the U.S. and other influential and powerful countries that have recognized Kosovo's independence, it was clear that until Serbia did so there would be a serious obstacle to Kosovo promoting itself as independent.

The state secretary noted that the negotiations on the status of Kosovo should not be rushed and that Albanians were slowly coming round to the fact that Serbia had all the keys, which was why they would need to negotiate with it about this matter sooner or later.

He stressed that Serbia was not in the best position to discuss such a sensitive issue ahead of the parliamentary elections, but that on the other hand Priština was also facing considerable political instability, accompanied by a constant threat of the government toppling.

“Such a government cannot discuss difficult strategic issues,” Ivanović explained.

He underscored that the talks on issue of Kosovo's status would not be completely separate from the current talks on technical issues.

“The status issue and technical issues are intertwined,” Ivanović pointed out and noted that by the pace of solving technical issues, the competent bodies also defined the moment when the big crucial issue would need to be opened, that is Serbia's final stand toward this part of its territory and the attitude of Kosovo Albanians toward Belgrade.

He expressed belief that the Cypriot model was the only right solution for the Kosovo issue.

Speaking about the status of northern Kosovo, the state secretary pointed out that this issue would certainly be opened, together with the status of entire Kosovo.

He added that northern Kosovo was specific because it turned out that, unlike in other parts of the province, it was not possible for Priština to implement its laws or carry out the Ahtisaari Plan in the north.

Ivanović underscored that this feature needed to be taken into consideration when competent bodies met to discuss the status issue, but that this matter should not be resolved to the detriment of the Serb population in southern Kosovo.