Deputy PM on EU integration, Kosovo platform

BELGRADE German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s harsh messages about the suspension of the EU enlargement are logical because of the upcoming elections in Germany. This is according to Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Rasim Ljajic. Deputy PM on EU integration, Kosovo platform He exlained that most of the voters were opposed to the EU’s further enlargement. “This is why we are racing against time and this is why it is important to get a positive report and a date (for the start of the EU accession talks) in June. The closer the elections are, the harsher messages would be coming from this country,” Ljajic noted. The deputy PM said it was not good “to cry over statements of Angela Merkel or anyone else but to find solutions”. Rasim Ljajic (Tanjug, file) "Kosovo platform only one solution" Ljajic said that the government's draft platform for Kosovo was only one of the models offering options to resolve the difficult political and national issue, and the document is subject to changes. “We opened a debate with the international community and opposition politicians in order to come to a balanced text that can gain a broad support both in the country and across the world,” he said, stressing that no platform would be able to be realized if rejected by the international community. “It is clear that our negotiating position is difficult because of the factual situation on the ground. We are striving to make sure a future solution respects two key principles, without which there is no lasting and stable outcome - the principle of justice and the principle of reality. If we fail to achieve this, fresh problems will arise in the future,” Ljajic was quoted saying. He noted that the fate of the majority Serb north Kosovo population was a crucial issue in the platform. “It is now important that our thoughts, formulated in the platform, are checked with international actors so that we could arrive at a solution acceptable to all parties. Of course, a recognition of Kosovo is out of the question,” Ljajic pointed out. He explained that the platform also dealt with the position of the Serbs in the enclaves in southern Kosovo. “The institutional solutions for them will differ from those concerning the (Kosovo) north, but there will also be a body of questions common to the two issues. It would be a great mistake to completely separate the problems of the Serbs in the north from those in the south. We are also tackling the issue of Serbia's property in Kosovo, the protection of Serbian cultural heritage and the problem of missing and displaced persons,” said Ljajic. He added that a permanent solution for Kosovo had to include the issue of political status. “In addition to the technical dialogue conducted in Brussels, political negotiations will kick off that should lead to a normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina. This is inevitable and we are preparing for it,” the deputy PM concluded. Tanjug Vecernje novosti

Deputy PM on EU integration, Kosovo platform

He exlained that most of the voters were opposed to the EU’s further enlargement.

“This is why we are racing against time and this is why it is important to get a positive report and a date (for the start of the EU accession talks) in June. The closer the elections are, the harsher messages would be coming from this country,” Ljajić noted.

The deputy PM said it was not good “to cry over statements of Angela Merkel or anyone else but to find solutions”.

"Kosovo platform only one solution"

Ljajić said that the government's draft platform for Kosovo was only one of the models offering options to resolve the difficult political and national issue, and the document is subject to changes.

“We opened a debate with the international community and opposition politicians in order to come to a balanced text that can gain a broad support both in the country and across the world,” he said, stressing that no platform would be able to be realized if rejected by the international community.

“It is clear that our negotiating position is difficult because of the factual situation on the ground. We are striving to make sure a future solution respects two key principles, without which there is no lasting and stable outcome - the principle of justice and the principle of reality. If we fail to achieve this, fresh problems will arise in the future,” Ljajić was quoted saying.

He noted that the fate of the majority Serb north Kosovo population was a crucial issue in the platform.

“It is now important that our thoughts, formulated in the platform, are checked with international actors so that we could arrive at a solution acceptable to all parties. Of course, a recognition of Kosovo is out of the question,” Ljajić pointed out.

He explained that the platform also dealt with the position of the Serbs in the enclaves in southern Kosovo.

“The institutional solutions for them will differ from those concerning the (Kosovo) north, but there will also be a body of questions common to the two issues. It would be a great mistake to completely separate the problems of the Serbs in the north from those in the south. We are also tackling the issue of Serbia's property in Kosovo, the protection of Serbian cultural heritage and the problem of missing and displaced persons,” said Ljajić.

He added that a permanent solution for Kosovo had to include the issue of political status.

“In addition to the technical dialogue conducted in Brussels, political negotiations will kick off that should lead to a normalization of relations between Belgrade and Priština. This is inevitable and we are preparing for it,” the deputy PM concluded.