PM says "nobody wants border with Kosovo"

BELGRADE Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic has said that "nobody wishes to establish any kind of border between Serbia and Kosovo". Instead, said Dacic during his news conference with visiting Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias, there is desire to find "a practical solution, based on the (Kosovo) resolution of the Serbian parliament". PM says "nobody wants border with Kosovo" He then added: "I see no other solution. If somebody is aware of a more efficient solution, they should suggest it." Commenting on a protest rally staged by Serbs in northern Kosovo, who called for all previous agreements reached in the EU-sponsored Kosovo dialogue to be rejected and for Belgrade to abandon the talks, Dacic said that the Serbian parliament had adopted its resolution "which clearly states that Serbia will respect all the agreements reached so far, and that the dialogue must continue, as well as that there is no other way to solve the problem." He reiterated that dialogue was "the only way to solve problems in the province". The two officials addressed reporters in the Palace of Serbia in New Belgrade, as part of the first Serbia-Cyprus summit, during which visiting Cypriot officials reaffirmed their support for Serbia's policy, saying earlier in the day that their country will "never recognize Kosovo", and also offering support for Serbia's EU integration efforts. Dacic and Christofias pointed out during their joint news conference that the friendship between the two states will be reflected in Cyprus supporting Serbia's European integration, and as the Cypriot president said, in Cyprus being Serbia's ambassador in the EU. “We do not have better friends in the EU than Cyprus and it is thanks to the EU countries that have not recognized Kosovo's independence that Serbia is able to more or less maintain the balance on this issue in the EU,” Dacic said. Under the Memorandum of Understanding between the two governments on the development of improved partnership that was signed Wednesday, Serbia and Cyprus will hold the summits of the two governments once every year, and the next one will take place in Nicosia in the first half of 2014. “It is very important for us to translate our traditional friendship into entrenched institutional forms to further develop our relations. We share the same views on fundamental regional and international issues, we know that Cyprus will always support in principle our views on the protection of territorial integrity when it comes to Kosovo, just as Cyprus knows that Serbia will always support in principle a fair resolution of the Cyprus issue,” Dacic said. Christofias stressed that his country supports the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina in hope of it leading to a mutually acceptable solution, as that will undoubtedly help Serbia's European perspective. Dacic said that the aim of the new institutional framework of cooperation between the two governments is to have the good political relations reflected on the plane of economic cooperation. The Cypriot president said that the cooperation between the two governments will lead to a better insight into the quality of relationships in different areas, which should create more space for the promotion of cooperation. Dacic and Christofias expressed satisfaction about the participation of a Serbian contingent in the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus, stating that it is of great importance to know that “friends among friends” are participating in the mission. Christofias and Dacic are seen in Belgrade on Wednesday (Beta) Serbia and Cyprus sign three agreements During the first summit of the Serbian and Cypriot governments held in Belgrade on Wednesday, the two countries signed three agreements: a memorandum of understanding on the development of improved partnership, a protocol on the implementation of a readmission agreement between Serbia and the EU, and an agreement between the two governments on cooperation in the field of maritime transportation. Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and President of Cyprus Dimitris Christofias signed a memorandum of understanding between the two governments on the development of improved partnership, while Dacic and Cypriot Minister of Justice and Public Order Loukas Louka signed a protocol on the implementation of a readmission agreement between Serbia and the EU. The agreement between the two governments on cooperation in the field of maritime transportation was signed by ministers of transportation Milutin Mrkonjic and Efthymios Flourendzos. Earlier in the day, Dacic met with Christofias, Serbia's Finance and Economy Minister Mladjan Dinkic sat down with Cypriot Minister of Transportation Efthymios Flourendzos, and members of the two governments held a plenary meeting. At the end of the summit, Ivica Dacic, in his role as interior minister, will confer with Cypriot Minister of Justice and Public Order Loukas Louka. Beta Tanjug

PM says "nobody wants border with Kosovo"

He then added:

"I see no other solution. If somebody is aware of a more efficient solution, they should suggest it."

Commenting on a protest rally staged by Serbs in northern Kosovo, who called for all previous agreements reached in the EU-sponsored Kosovo dialogue to be rejected and for Belgrade to abandon the talks, Dačić said that the Serbian parliament had adopted its resolution "which clearly states that Serbia will respect all the agreements reached so far, and that the dialogue must continue, as well as that there is no other way to solve the problem."

He reiterated that dialogue was "the only way to solve problems in the province".

The two officials addressed reporters in the Palace of Serbia in New Belgrade, as part of the first Serbia-Cyprus summit, during which visiting Cypriot officials reaffirmed their support for Serbia's policy, saying earlier in the day that their country will "never recognize Kosovo", and also offering support for Serbia's EU integration efforts.

Dačić and Christofias pointed out during their joint news conference that the friendship between the two states will be reflected in Cyprus supporting Serbia's European integration, and as the Cypriot president said, in Cyprus being Serbia's ambassador in the EU.

“We do not have better friends in the EU than Cyprus and it is thanks to the EU countries that have not recognized Kosovo's independence that Serbia is able to more or less maintain the balance on this issue in the EU,” Dačić said.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding between the two governments on the development of improved partnership that was signed Wednesday, Serbia and Cyprus will hold the summits of the two governments once every year, and the next one will take place in Nicosia in the first half of 2014.

“It is very important for us to translate our traditional friendship into entrenched institutional forms to further develop our relations. We share the same views on fundamental regional and international issues, we know that Cyprus will always support in principle our views on the protection of territorial integrity when it comes to Kosovo, just as Cyprus knows that Serbia will always support in principle a fair resolution of the Cyprus issue,” Dačić said.

Christofias stressed that his country supports the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština in hope of it leading to a mutually acceptable solution, as that will undoubtedly help Serbia's European perspective.

Dačić said that the aim of the new institutional framework of cooperation between the two governments is to have the good political relations reflected on the plane of economic cooperation.

The Cypriot president said that the cooperation between the two governments will lead to a better insight into the quality of relationships in different areas, which should create more space for the promotion of cooperation.

Dačić and Christofias expressed satisfaction about the participation of a Serbian contingent in the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus, stating that it is of great importance to know that “friends among friends” are participating in the mission.

Serbia and Cyprus sign three agreements

During the first summit of the Serbian and Cypriot governments held in Belgrade on Wednesday, the two countries signed three agreements: a memorandum of understanding on the development of improved partnership, a protocol on the implementation of a readmission agreement between Serbia and the EU, and an agreement between the two governments on cooperation in the field of maritime transportation.

Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dačić and President of Cyprus Dimitris Christofias signed a memorandum of understanding between the two governments on the development of improved partnership, while Dačić and Cypriot Minister of Justice and Public Order Loukas Louka signed a protocol on the implementation of a readmission agreement between Serbia and the EU.

The agreement between the two governments on cooperation in the field of maritime transportation was signed by ministers of transportation Milutin Mrkonjić and Efthymios Flourendzos.

Earlier in the day, Dačić met with Christofias, Serbia's Finance and Economy Minister Mlađan Dinkić sat down with Cypriot Minister of Transportation Efthymios Flourendzos, and members of the two governments held a plenary meeting.

At the end of the summit, Ivica Dačić, in his role as interior minister, will confer with Cypriot Minister of Justice and Public Order Loukas Louka.