Serbia proved it is not causing problems, PM says

BRUSSELS Serbia's PM Ivica Dacic has said that his meeting with Catherine Ashton and Kosovo PM Hashim Thaci was not a deviation from the state policy on Kosovo. He added that the agreed talks were a status neutral process. Serbia proved it is not causing problems, PM says “Serbia proved by taking part in the meeting that it is not a problem,” Dacic pointed out. “The most important thing achieved in the talks with the EU high representative for foreign affairs and the Kosovo prime minister is the agreement not to make unilateral moves on either side,” Dacic told reporters in Brussels. "I suggested it and Thaci immediately accepted," he stated. "We believe the dialogue is status neutral, but we do not avoid talks on status, even though the other side does not accept that topic. We, however, think that in the future, it will be necessary to discuss it," the Serbian prime minister said. Dacic stressed that Belgrade was willing to discuss all issues and not just the topics related to northern Kosovo and the parallel institutions that the EU insisted on. "The talks should also include Serb property in Kosovo, cultural heritage, Serbs in the south, return of refugees, but also war crimes, including organ trafficking. The talks to come will not be easy," he explained. Concerning parallel structures, I told Thaci that not so long ago, he was part of a parallel structure, that is formation," the PM added. Dacic also underscored that the meeting on Friday was in line with Serbia's policy, and that dialogues about Kosovo had been conducted before, in Rambouillet, for example. "We must not be short of memory," he said. "I told Thaci: 'Kosovo is yours as much as mine.' I was born in Kosovo," he pointed out. Dacic said that it was time for a historic agreement between the Serbs and Albanians, adding that he had suggested joint economic projects to Thaci. "The Pristina-Tirana motorway cannot really be the only project interesting to Kosovo," the prime minister stated. He reiterated that no one should criticize him for taking part in the dialogue on Friday, because, when it was needed, he also waged war against Thaci. "Now it is time to talk and look for solutions that are in mutual interest," Dacic emphasized. Commenting on the atmosphere during the meeting, Dacic said that for the first time there were no orders issued, but that the views of both sides were accepted with a lot of respect. When asked if he had shaken hands with Thaci, Dacic said "it was not part of the protocol," stressing that there were no national insignia at the meeting. Ivica Dacic (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

Serbia proved it is not causing problems, PM says

“Serbia proved by taking part in the meeting that it is not a problem,” Dačić pointed out.

“The most important thing achieved in the talks with the EU high representative for foreign affairs and the Kosovo prime minister is the agreement not to make unilateral moves on either side,” Dačić told reporters in Brussels.

"I suggested it and Thaci immediately accepted," he stated.

"We believe the dialogue is status neutral, but we do not avoid talks on status, even though the other side does not accept that topic. We, however, think that in the future, it will be necessary to discuss it," the Serbian prime minister said.

Dačić stressed that Belgrade was willing to discuss all issues and not just the topics related to northern Kosovo and the parallel institutions that the EU insisted on.

"The talks should also include Serb property in Kosovo, cultural heritage, Serbs in the south, return of refugees, but also war crimes, including organ trafficking. The talks to come will not be easy," he explained.

Concerning parallel structures, I told Thaci that not so long ago, he was part of a parallel structure, that is formation," the PM added.

Dačić also underscored that the meeting on Friday was in line with Serbia's policy, and that dialogues about Kosovo had been conducted before, in Rambouillet, for example.

"We must not be short of memory," he said.

"I told Thaci: 'Kosovo is yours as much as mine.' I was born in Kosovo," he pointed out.

Dačić said that it was time for a historic agreement between the Serbs and Albanians, adding that he had suggested joint economic projects to Thaci.

"The Priština-Tirana motorway cannot really be the only project interesting to Kosovo," the prime minister stated.

He reiterated that no one should criticize him for taking part in the dialogue on Friday, because, when it was needed, he also waged war against Thaci.

"Now it is time to talk and look for solutions that are in mutual interest," Dačić emphasized.

Commenting on the atmosphere during the meeting, Dačić said that for the first time there were no orders issued, but that the views of both sides were accepted with a lot of respect.

When asked if he had shaken hands with Thaci, Dacic said "it was not part of the protocol," stressing that there were no national insignia at the meeting.