MPs to discuss declaration next week

Serbian government's Media Office Chief Milivoje Mihajlovic voiced belief on Friday that a declaration on Kosovo would be put before parliament early next week. “I expect the session in the beginning of next week. We are working on a draft that should be supported by as many parties as possible,” he explained. MPs to discuss declaration next week Mihajlovic stressed that the government was unison on the declaration. According to him, the Serbian government will never renounce the dialogue with the Pristina authorities or support to the Serbs who are protesting in northern Kosovo. However, according to daily Politika, there is unofficial information that the ruling coalition once again failed to reach consensus and make sure that its proposal will be voted in by MPs. The daily has learned that Belgrade team chief Borislav Stefanovic presented an oral report on the negotiation results at the session and insisted that the government should confirm the solutions that have been reached as soon as possible and approve their implementation. He also insisted that it was necessary for the government to urgently note his report. Some members of the government believed that such rush was unjustified and Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic calmed the situation down by saying that Kosovo was not on the agenda. The government, however, did discuss the incident in Kosovska Mitrovica when one Serb was killed and two other were injured and made a conclusion to request from EULEX to launch an investigation and punish the perpetrators. Serbian parliament speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic has stated that she expects the government to forward the draft declaration on Kosovo to parliament today but that she will probably schedule a session in order to debate the government report on activities aimed at stabilizing the situation in the province if the document was not forwarded. “I expect the Serbian government to send the draft declaration on Kosovo and Metohija to parliament during the day,” she stressed. Serbian President Boris Tadic said earlier he was convinced that it was possible to reach consent on the draft declaration because the document would recognize the interest to solve the crisis in Kosovo and to increase the state’s capacity to defend the state and national interests in the province through the EU integration process. “Consent is possible. If politicians in Serbia are responsible enough, bearing in mind necessity to solve the challenges in Kosovo and Metohija and necessity to increase our capacities to fight for our interests in the province through the integration process, then they will vote in favor of the declaration,” Tadic stated. He explained that “both interests” were taken into account while the declaration was being prepared.

MPs to discuss declaration next week

Mihajlović stressed that the government was unison on the declaration. According to him, the Serbian government will never renounce the dialogue with the Priština authorities or support to the Serbs who are protesting in northern Kosovo.

However, according to daily Politika, there is unofficial information that the ruling coalition once again failed to reach consensus and make sure that its proposal will be voted in by MPs.

The daily has learned that Belgrade team chief Borislav Stefanović presented an oral report on the negotiation results at the session and insisted that the government should confirm the solutions that have been reached as soon as possible and approve their implementation. He also insisted that it was necessary for the government to urgently note his report.

Some members of the government believed that such rush was unjustified and Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković calmed the situation down by saying that Kosovo was not on the agenda. The government, however, did discuss the incident in Kosovska Mitrovica when one Serb was killed and two other were injured and made a conclusion to request from EULEX to launch an investigation and punish the perpetrators.

Serbian parliament speaker Slavica Đukić-Dejanović has stated that she expects the government to forward the draft declaration on Kosovo to parliament today but that she will probably schedule a session in order to debate the government report on activities aimed at stabilizing the situation in the province if the document was not forwarded.

“I expect the Serbian government to send the draft declaration on Kosovo and Metohija to parliament during the day,” she stressed.

Serbian President Boris Tadić said earlier he was convinced that it was possible to reach consent on the draft declaration because the document would recognize the interest to solve the crisis in Kosovo and to increase the state’s capacity to defend the state and national interests in the province through the EU integration process.

“Consent is possible. If politicians in Serbia are responsible enough, bearing in mind necessity to solve the challenges in Kosovo and Metohija and necessity to increase our capacities to fight for our interests in the province through the integration process, then they will vote in favor of the declaration,” Tadić stated.

He explained that “both interests” were taken into account while the declaration was being prepared.