“We will try to reach compromise in Brussels”

BELGRADE Serbia’s Prime Minister Ivica Dacic has confirmed for Belgrade-based tabloid Alo that senior Serbian officials will travel to Brussels on March 11. Daily Danas writes that it could not get an official confirmation from Brussels that Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, Dacic and First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic will got to Brussels on Monday. “We will try to reach compromise in Brussels” According to the daily, however, Brussels officials neither confirmed nor denied the information. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, her Spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic and the Serbian Presidency have not commented on the information. However, Dacic told Alo that they would travel to Brussels on March 11. “We are going to Brussels to try to reach some compromise in further Belgrade-Pristina negotiations because what we are asked to do is unacceptable to Serbia. Brussels needs to show a little understanding because only a compromise can lead to progress in further negotiations. As far as I know, we should meet with several EU officials, including EU High Representative Catherine Ashton,” the prime minister was quoted as saying. The sixth round of the dialogue, which was considered the most difficult, finished on March 4. Belgrade and Pristina discussed Serbia’s request to form a community of Serb municipalities. No agreement was reached at a several-hour long meeting between Dacic, Ashton and Kosovo PM Hashim Thaci. “We believe that Serbia should have higher authority than Pristina is ready to accept. On the other hand, Catherine Ashton says we are close to the agreement. We are, from the point of view of someone who does not know the details. We are close to the agreement because we have agreed that the community of Serb municipalities should exist and because we have agreed on organs that the community should have. But we still have no agreed on jurisdiction and it is very important. Because this is the only way to solve the parallelism of institutions,” the prime minister pointed out. He added that he would travel to the U.S. after his visit to Brussels and that the Kosovo issue would be the main topic. “A UN Security Council session is scheduled for March 22. I will then repeat, just like I have always done, that the solving of the final status of Kosovo is one of the most important priorities of the government I lead, that we are ready for compromises but that Serbia will never recognize the unilaterally declared independence,” Dacic concluded. Ivica Dacic (Tanjug, file) B92 Danas, Alo

“We will try to reach compromise in Brussels”

According to the daily, however, Brussels officials neither confirmed nor denied the information.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, her Spokeswoman Maja Kocijančić and the Serbian Presidency have not commented on the information.

However, Dačić told Alo that they would travel to Brussels on March 11.

“We are going to Brussels to try to reach some compromise in further Belgrade-Priština negotiations because what we are asked to do is unacceptable to Serbia. Brussels needs to show a little understanding because only a compromise can lead to progress in further negotiations. As far as I know, we should meet with several EU officials, including EU High Representative Catherine Ashton,” the prime minister was quoted as saying.

The sixth round of the dialogue, which was considered the most difficult, finished on March 4. Belgrade and Priština discussed Serbia’s request to form a community of Serb municipalities. No agreement was reached at a several-hour long meeting between Dačić, Ashton and Kosovo PM Hashim Thaci.

“We believe that Serbia should have higher authority than Priština is ready to accept. On the other hand, Catherine Ashton says we are close to the agreement. We are, from the point of view of someone who does not know the details. We are close to the agreement because we have agreed that the community of Serb municipalities should exist and because we have agreed on organs that the community should have. But we still have no agreed on jurisdiction and it is very important. Because this is the only way to solve the parallelism of institutions,” the prime minister pointed out.

He added that he would travel to the U.S. after his visit to Brussels and that the Kosovo issue would be the main topic.

“A UN Security Council session is scheduled for March 22. I will then repeat, just like I have always done, that the solving of the final status of Kosovo is one of the most important priorities of the government I lead, that we are ready for compromises but that Serbia will never recognize the unilaterally declared independence,” Dačić concluded.