Belgrade, Priština reach agreement on representation

The Belgrade and Pristina negotiating teams in the latest round of Kosovo talks, have reached an agreement in Brussels on Thursday. Kosovo is to be represented at regional forums under the title Kosovo accompanied by the footnote citing UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and the opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Kosovo's declaration. Belgrade, Pristina reach agreement on representation Pristina’s request to include the declaration of independence into the footnote was not accepted. Ethnic Albanians unilaterally proclaimed independence in early 2008, but Serbia rejected it. The teams today also reached an agreement on integrated management of administrative crossings. Sources from the European Commission told Tanjug earlier on Friday that an agreement on the international representation of Kosovo was practically reached.y also said the only thing left was to agree on certain points concerning the issue of integrated control of administrative line crossings. “We were very close to an acceptable solution last night,” said a European official closely informed about the dialogue development, expressing his expectations that an agreement would be reached over the next few hours. The heads of delegations did not want to give statements to media this morning. The dialogue was interrupted last night without any tangible results after sixteen hours of talks. Borislav Stefanovic and Edita Tahiri (Tanjug, file) Talks held in “difficult atmosphere” Belgrade team chief Borislav Stefanovic told Tanjug that the Thursday’s talks were held in a “difficult atmosphere” caused by the Pristina delegation. “Pristina took negative, rebuffing stances which were completely irrational at times. We are trying to find a solution in a constructive and rational manner, of course while sticking to the (UN Security Council) Resolution 1244,” he explained. The Belgrade lead negotiator stressed that his team was still prepared to do everything in order to come closer to a solution in the continuation of the talks on Friday morning. “There was a partial convergence of stances today in the sense of definition of a footnote that will be written next to Kosovo’s name. This is still the biggest point of contention,” he noted. He assessed that reaching of the agreement on Friday largely depended on whether or not Pristina would realize that the international circumstances had changed when it came to fulfillment of their requests. “Another day of talks awaits us tomorrow and we hope it won’t be long,” Stefanovic said late on Thursday. The latest round of the Belgrade-Pristina talks started on Wednesday and it was continued on Thursday. A decision on Serbia’s EU candidate status in March greatly depends on the outcome of the talks. B92 Beta Tanjug

Belgrade, Priština reach agreement on representation

Priština’s request to include the declaration of independence into the footnote was not accepted.

Ethnic Albanians unilaterally proclaimed independence in early 2008, but Serbia rejected it.

The teams today also reached an agreement on integrated management of administrative crossings.

Sources from the European Commission told Tanjug earlier on Friday that an agreement on the international representation of Kosovo was practically reached.y also said the only thing left was to agree on certain points concerning the issue of integrated control of administrative line crossings.

“We were very close to an acceptable solution last night,” said a European official closely informed about the dialogue development, expressing his expectations that an agreement would be reached over the next few hours.

The heads of delegations did not want to give statements to media this morning.

The dialogue was interrupted last night without any tangible results after sixteen hours of talks.

Talks held in “difficult atmosphere”

Belgrade team chief Borislav Stefanović told Tanjug that the Thursday’s talks were held in a “difficult atmosphere” caused by the Priština delegation.

“Priština took negative, rebuffing stances which were completely irrational at times. We are trying to find a solution in a constructive and rational manner, of course while sticking to the (UN Security Council) Resolution 1244,” he explained.

The Belgrade lead negotiator stressed that his team was still prepared to do everything in order to come closer to a solution in the continuation of the talks on Friday morning.

“There was a partial convergence of stances today in the sense of definition of a footnote that will be written next to Kosovo’s name. This is still the biggest point of contention,” he noted.

He assessed that reaching of the agreement on Friday largely depended on whether or not Priština would realize that the international circumstances had changed when it came to fulfillment of their requests.

“Another day of talks awaits us tomorrow and we hope it won’t be long,” Stefanović said late on Thursday.

The latest round of the Belgrade-Priština talks started on Wednesday and it was continued on Thursday.

A decision on Serbia’s EU candidate status in March greatly depends on the outcome of the talks.