"EU offers eight principles for Belgrade-Priština talks"

BELGRADE Diplomatic sources say that Catherine Ashton has informed Serbian president Tomislav Nikolic about principles for the continuation of the talks with Pristina. Political analyst Dusan Janjic says that Brussels is offering eight principles that were drafted by former International Civilian Representative in Kosovo Pieter Feith ahead of declaration of Kosovo’s “full independence”. "EU offers eight principles for Belgrade-Pristina talks" Some political circles see the main cause of “verbal slowing down” of Serbia on the EU pathway in the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy’s principles. Janjic and former Belgrade team chief Borislav Stefanovic agree that Brussels’ negotiating concept will contain the four-point plan for Kosovo to some extent. The four-point plan was launched by then Serbian President Boris Tadic ahead of the May election. “Ashton has informed Nikolic about eight principles for the negotiations, general dynamics and the format of the negotiations. Belgrade should be ready for the dialogue by October 20 because everything needs to be done before the U.S. presidential election. It is unfavorable for Belgrade that the technical dialogue will be raised to a political level and that all issues, including northern Kosovo that Ashton says should be discussed by Pristina and northern Kosovo Serbs, will be put there. In the end, agreements will be verified, including the one on normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina. At the same time, Nikolic realized at a meeting with Ashton that nobody is forcing him into the EU but that the crucial issue is ‘NATO or nothing’,” Janjic told daily Danas. He expects that not only institutions in the north, that would work in accordance with the Kosovo laws, but also “compensation for investments in ore exploitation and energy” will be discussed during the technical talks. The analyst believes this is the reason why the Serbian president is “forcing (Serbian PM) Ivica Dacic to lead the negotiations that the prime minister could pass on to some of his ministers.” According to Janjic, the Brussels principles, among other things, envisage that “there will be no change of Kosovo’s current territory, i.e. no partition, no pressure to accept the solution on violence as a response to disagreement with the reached solution”. The negotiations should improve the Serbian community’s position with respect of human and minority rights, according to the eight principles. The Serbian presidency has not commented on whether Belgrade’s latest restraint in actions is a consequence of Nikolic and Ashton’s meeting and the principles she allegedly offered. Ahston’s Spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic has denied that the continuation of the negotiations with Pristina has anything to do with the U.S. election. “Details about the continuation of the dialogue are still being defined,” she told the daily. Kocijancic did not want to say whether the Serbian president and Ashton had discussed the alleged eight principles during their meeting in New York. According to her, the dialogue could continue by the end of the year and “Ashton is in contact with both sides in order to ensure the continuation of the talks as soon as possible”. Stefanovic told Danas that “Tadic's four-point plan should be a part of the future Belgrade-Pristina talks because it is based on realistic parameters”. He also hopes that the new government’s platform for Kosovo will be concrete and realistic. “However, state officials’ public appearances do not instill confidence. Nikolic says that the negotiations will be political, (Office for Kosovo Director Aleksandar) Vulin claims they will be technical and talks about UNMIK customs that was abolished in 2008. It seems that the meeting with Ashton was a double disappointment for Nikolic – he thought that there would be no new pressures from the EU but he learnt that Brussels will make further steps toward normalization of relations with Pristina,” Stefanovic was quoted as saying. Catherine Ashton (Beta, file) Danas

"EU offers eight principles for Belgrade-Priština talks"

Some political circles see the main cause of “verbal slowing down” of Serbia on the EU pathway in the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy’s principles.

Janjić and former Belgrade team chief Borislav Stefanović agree that Brussels’ negotiating concept will contain the four-point plan for Kosovo to some extent. The four-point plan was launched by then Serbian President Boris Tadić ahead of the May election.

“Ashton has informed Nikolić about eight principles for the negotiations, general dynamics and the format of the negotiations. Belgrade should be ready for the dialogue by October 20 because everything needs to be done before the U.S. presidential election. It is unfavorable for Belgrade that the technical dialogue will be raised to a political level and that all issues, including northern Kosovo that Ashton says should be discussed by Priština and northern Kosovo Serbs, will be put there. In the end, agreements will be verified, including the one on normalization of relations between Belgrade and Priština. At the same time, Nikolić realized at a meeting with Ashton that nobody is forcing him into the EU but that the crucial issue is ‘NATO or nothing’,” Janjić told daily Danas.

He expects that not only institutions in the north, that would work in accordance with the Kosovo laws, but also “compensation for investments in ore exploitation and energy” will be discussed during the technical talks.

The analyst believes this is the reason why the Serbian president is “forcing (Serbian PM) Ivica Dačić to lead the negotiations that the prime minister could pass on to some of his ministers.”

According to Janjić, the Brussels principles, among other things, envisage that “there will be no change of Kosovo’s current territory, i.e. no partition, no pressure to accept the solution on violence as a response to disagreement with the reached solution”.

The negotiations should improve the Serbian community’s position with respect of human and minority rights, according to the eight principles.

The Serbian presidency has not commented on whether Belgrade’s latest restraint in actions is a consequence of Nikolić and Ashton’s meeting and the principles she allegedly offered.

Ahston’s Spokeswoman Maja Kocijančić has denied that the continuation of the negotiations with Priština has anything to do with the U.S. election.

“Details about the continuation of the dialogue are still being defined,” she told the daily. Kocijančić did not want to say whether the Serbian president and Ashton had discussed the alleged eight principles during their meeting in New York.

According to her, the dialogue could continue by the end of the year and “Ashton is in contact with both sides in order to ensure the continuation of the talks as soon as possible”.

Stefanović told Danas that “Tadić's four-point plan should be a part of the future Belgrade-Priština talks because it is based on realistic parameters”.

He also hopes that the new government’s platform for Kosovo will be concrete and realistic.

“However, state officials’ public appearances do not instill confidence. Nikolić says that the negotiations will be political, (Office for Kosovo Director Aleksandar) Vulin claims they will be technical and talks about UNMIK customs that was abolished in 2008. It seems that the meeting with Ashton was a double disappointment for Nikolić – he thought that there would be no new pressures from the EU but he learnt that Brussels will make further steps toward normalization of relations with Priština,” Stefanović was quoted as saying.