FM: World will not reject Kosovo Resolution

BELGRADE Belgrade will do its best in negotiations that as many ideas as possible from the Kosovo Resolution are accepted, preferably all of them, Ivan Mrkic has said. The Serbian foreign minister added that he did not pay much attention to Pristina’s reactions to the document adopted by the Serbian parliament. FM: World will not reject Kosovo Resolution “We have just shown the world how we see a solution of the Kosovo issue. We will fight at the negotiating table that as many of our ideas as possible are accepted, preferably all of them,” Mrkic told daily Vecernje novosti. He noted that one could not expect Pristina to suddenly become rational and accept to talk about the Resolution. “They did something that was contrary to the international law by unilaterally declaring independence, which is pure secessionism. I cannot expect them to become rational all of a sudden,” the foreign minister was quoted as saying. According to him, the agreement on the number one national issue gives strength to parliament and the government to continue the talks. Mrkic assessed that the adoption of the document was remarkable because “the state after many years has a clear political position and courage to present it, not only to the domestic public but to the world as well”. He added that there were no “winners” after the adoption of the platform because it had been a joint project of the government and the Serbian president from the very start. “We wanted to have a draft that will be overwhelmingly accepted, which would help us achieve our interest and I think we have succeeded,” said the minister when asked if the final version of the resolution was a proof of victory of PM Ivica Dacic’s “Kosovo policy” over President Tomislav Nikolic’s. When asked about Brussels’ stance on the Resolution, he said that he had not heard any negative comments. “There are objections, praises, wishes to improve some formulations but there is no rejection. This is the first time that a Serbian government has managed to make something like this in the international circles,” he said. Mrkic reiterated that Pristina “would like to be a member in all kinds of institutions” but that “Albanians need to offer something in return”. “If they request a seat in the UN or to be an associate member or even just an observer status, our reaction will be negative,” the minister underscored. When asked if Serbia could get a date for the beginning of the EU accession talks in June, he said that there were reasons for optimism bearing in mind everything that had been done. Mrkic noted that “Serbia will not back down a single millimeter from its position that it will not recognize Kosovo” should new conditions appear. He reiterated that Serbia would say no to the EU if it was requested to recognize Kosovo’s independence at the end of its EU accession process. “If a condition appeared to recognize this state which is not a state, we would not do it. End of story. This is not a phrase we repeat in order to encourage ourselves, but a firm position we will not back down from by a single millimeter,” Mrkic pointed out. He said that both the EU and Kosovo policy was completely sustainable. “We cannot and will not renounce any of those two things. If we do good and make wise political moves, we will protect both our interests in Kosovo and become an EU member some day,” the foreign minister concluded. Ivan Mrkic (Tanjug, file) Beta Vecernje novosti

FM: World will not reject Kosovo Resolution

“We have just shown the world how we see a solution of the Kosovo issue. We will fight at the negotiating table that as many of our ideas as possible are accepted, preferably all of them,” Mrkić told daily Večernje novosti.

He noted that one could not expect Priština to suddenly become rational and accept to talk about the Resolution.

“They did something that was contrary to the international law by unilaterally declaring independence, which is pure secessionism. I cannot expect them to become rational all of a sudden,” the foreign minister was quoted as saying.

According to him, the agreement on the number one national issue gives strength to parliament and the government to continue the talks.

Mrkić assessed that the adoption of the document was remarkable because “the state after many years has a clear political position and courage to present it, not only to the domestic public but to the world as well”.

He added that there were no “winners” after the adoption of the platform because it had been a joint project of the government and the Serbian president from the very start.

“We wanted to have a draft that will be overwhelmingly accepted, which would help us achieve our interest and I think we have succeeded,” said the minister when asked if the final version of the resolution was a proof of victory of PM Ivica Dačić’s “Kosovo policy” over President Tomislav Nikolić’s.

When asked about Brussels’ stance on the Resolution, he said that he had not heard any negative comments.

“There are objections, praises, wishes to improve some formulations but there is no rejection. This is the first time that a Serbian government has managed to make something like this in the international circles,” he said.

Mrkić reiterated that Priština “would like to be a member in all kinds of institutions” but that “Albanians need to offer something in return”.

“If they request a seat in the UN or to be an associate member or even just an observer status, our reaction will be negative,” the minister underscored.

When asked if Serbia could get a date for the beginning of the EU accession talks in June, he said that there were reasons for optimism bearing in mind everything that had been done.

Mrkić noted that “Serbia will not back down a single millimeter from its position that it will not recognize Kosovo” should new conditions appear.

He reiterated that Serbia would say no to the EU if it was requested to recognize Kosovo’s independence at the end of its EU accession process.

“If a condition appeared to recognize this state which is not a state, we would not do it. End of story. This is not a phrase we repeat in order to encourage ourselves, but a firm position we will not back down from by a single millimeter,” Mrkić pointed out.

He said that both the EU and Kosovo policy was completely sustainable.

“We cannot and will not renounce any of those two things. If we do good and make wise political moves, we will protect both our interests in Kosovo and become an EU member some day,” the foreign minister concluded.