Negotiator: Biggest national interests come before EU

BELGRADE Dejan Pavicevic said late on Monday that Serbia would continue to pursue its European policy but not at the cost of some of the biggest national interests. In a statement for Tanjug, he added were certain issues that were not even negotiable. Negotiator: Biggest national interests come before EU Pavicevic was recently appointed to head the Serbian government team in the currently stalled, EU-sponsored Kosovo dialogue. “The decision on the date for the (start of EU accession) negotiations is certainly with the European Union. Serbia will continue to pursue its European policy, but, as the president (Tomislav Nikolic) and prime minister (Ivica Dacic) said, not at the cost of some of the biggest national interests,” Pavicevic told Tanjug in a statement. Pavicevic said that Serbia wanted talks with Pristina and Belgrade wanted to continue to negotiate and discuss essential issues, such as the issue of daily life of people who live in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija. “However, there are certain things we cannot and do not want to talk about and I hope that the EU will take that into account and it is a precondition for further talks. Serbia will not do anything, in any way, that would mean recognizing the so-called independent Republic of Kosovo,” said Pavicevic. Pavicevic said that Serbia had a national goal and integrity and stressed once again that by no move would it either implicitly or explicitly recognize Kosovo's independence. When asked if the relations between Serbia and the EU had become colder after the recent statements concerning Kosovo made by the Serbian president and other administration officials, Pavicevic said the relations were the same as before. “We just urge a partnership type of relations with the EU. We want European integration, a better future for the citizens of Serbia. We do not want to be anybody's little brother,” said Pavicevic. The head of the negotiating team added that the team was soon to be on a visit to Brussels. “The working group will be composed of experts in all fields related to the issue of integrated control of the administrative line who will work out a strategy and framework to be followed by all the members of the delegation traveling to Brussels to talk about the issue. This means that we will soon get a platform for technical negotiations when it comes to the control of administrative crossings,” said Pavicevic. He expects a “global platform” for Kosovo and Metohija to be made public soon. Dejan Pavicevic (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

Negotiator: Biggest national interests come before EU

Pavićević was recently appointed to head the Serbian government team in the currently stalled, EU-sponsored Kosovo dialogue.

“The decision on the date for the (start of EU accession) negotiations is certainly with the European Union. Serbia will continue to pursue its European policy, but, as the president (Tomislav Nikolic) and prime minister (Ivica Dačić) said, not at the cost of some of the biggest national interests,” Pavićević told Tanjug in a statement.

Pavićević said that Serbia wanted talks with Priština and Belgrade wanted to continue to negotiate and discuss essential issues, such as the issue of daily life of people who live in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija.

“However, there are certain things we cannot and do not want to talk about and I hope that the EU will take that into account and it is a precondition for further talks. Serbia will not do anything, in any way, that would mean recognizing the so-called independent Republic of Kosovo,” said Pavićević.

Pavićević said that Serbia had a national goal and integrity and stressed once again that by no move would it either implicitly or explicitly recognize Kosovo's independence.

When asked if the relations between Serbia and the EU had become colder after the recent statements concerning Kosovo made by the Serbian president and other administration officials, Pavićević said the relations were the same as before.

“We just urge a partnership type of relations with the EU. We want European integration, a better future for the citizens of Serbia. We do not want to be anybody's little brother,” said Pavićević.

The head of the negotiating team added that the team was soon to be on a visit to Brussels.

“The working group will be composed of experts in all fields related to the issue of integrated control of the administrative line who will work out a strategy and framework to be followed by all the members of the delegation traveling to Brussels to talk about the issue. This means that we will soon get a platform for technical negotiations when it comes to the control of administrative crossings,” said Pavićević.

He expects a “global platform” for Kosovo and Metohija to be made public soon.