"North won't secede, but neither will Kosovo"

BELGRADE Former official in the Kosovo Ministry Oliver Ivanovic says that "nobody from Pristina" will be able to rule the northern, Serb part of Kosovo. That part of the province "will always be special", he told Serbia public broadcaster RTS. "North won't secede, but neither will Kosovo" "That must simply be accepted, and a legal formula must be found into which the north can fit. There will be no secession of the north from the rest of Kosovo, but there will also be no secession of Kosovo from Serbia," Ivanovic, who is mentioned as the most serious candidate for Belgrade's future liaison officer in Pristina, noted. According to him, "it is legitimate for the Kosovo Albanians to seek a UN chair during the negotiations - but it's also legitimate for Serbia not to allow it." "Kosovo is an integral part of Serbia and I don't even see any indications of any changes there any time soon," Ivanovic told RTS. He also advised against expectations that the problem of the final status of Kosovo might be solved soon, noting that the Cypriot issue was "considerably easier than Kosovo, and has been lasting for almost 50 years": "Although everyone in Europe is saying they do not wish to import a new problem, I think Serbia could easily join the EU with an unresolved Kosovo issue. Only once we join the EU, the conditions will be right to talk about a final solution acceptable to both sides." Ivanovic stressed that Kosovo's status will be determined when Serbia agreed with it, and that Serbia was "a factor that has to be talked with". He did not wish to comment on the rumors that he may be named as Belgrade's liaison, but said that the person who will be appointed to that position "will have to establish good relations with representatives of Pristina", while he expects that the bulk of their work will concern continued negotiations and implementation of previous agreements. "What's important for us is for the position not to enjoy a diplomatic status, because we do not need a diplomatic status in our own country," Ivanovic stated. Commenting on the problem that arose when ethnic Albanians in southern Serbia put up a memorial dedicated to a disbanded group that Serbia considers a terrorist organization, he urged Albanian political leaders to show maturity and remove the structure themselves, in order to avoid a conflict. However, Ivanovic sounded a pessimistic note when he said that "a conflict will occur", and explained: "There are people who are already indoctrinated and they will oppose the removal of the monument, while the monument must be removed, because it is illegal." Oliver Ivanovic (Tanjug, file) Beta RTS

"North won't secede, but neither will Kosovo"

"That must simply be accepted, and a legal formula must be found into which the north can fit. There will be no secession of the north from the rest of Kosovo, but there will also be no secession of Kosovo from Serbia," Ivanović, who is mentioned as the most serious candidate for Belgrade's future liaison officer in Priština, noted.

According to him, "it is legitimate for the Kosovo Albanians to seek a UN chair during the negotiations - but it's also legitimate for Serbia not to allow it."

"Kosovo is an integral part of Serbia and I don't even see any indications of any changes there any time soon," Ivanović told RTS.

He also advised against expectations that the problem of the final status of Kosovo might be solved soon, noting that the Cypriot issue was "considerably easier than Kosovo, and has been lasting for almost 50 years":

"Although everyone in Europe is saying they do not wish to import a new problem, I think Serbia could easily join the EU with an unresolved Kosovo issue. Only once we join the EU, the conditions will be right to talk about a final solution acceptable to both sides."

Ivanović stressed that Kosovo's status will be determined when Serbia agreed with it, and that Serbia was "a factor that has to be talked with".

He did not wish to comment on the rumors that he may be named as Belgrade's liaison, but said that the person who will be appointed to that position "will have to establish good relations with representatives of Priština", while he expects that the bulk of their work will concern continued negotiations and implementation of previous agreements.

"What's important for us is for the position not to enjoy a diplomatic status, because we do not need a diplomatic status in our own country," Ivanović stated.

Commenting on the problem that arose when ethnic Albanians in southern Serbia put up a memorial dedicated to a disbanded group that Serbia considers a terrorist organization, he urged Albanian political leaders to show maturity and remove the structure themselves, in order to avoid a conflict.

However, Ivanović sounded a pessimistic note when he said that "a conflict will occur", and explained:

"There are people who are already indoctrinated and they will oppose the removal of the monument, while the monument must be removed, because it is illegal."