Future of talks “in hands of Priština, intl. community”

BELGRADE Serbian government’s Office for Kosovo Director Aleksandar Vulin said Tuesday the future of negotiations was now in the hands of the authorities in Pristina. He added that it was also in the hands of the international community which had the power to exert an influence on Pristiona so that they “accept what is good, not only for Serbs, but for all in the southern Serbian province”. Future of talks “in hands of Pristina, intl. community” Ahead of his departure for Brussels, where the talks between the Serbian and Kosovo prime ministers should be continued on Wednesday, Vulin underscored that Serbia would not give up on the stands presented in the parliamentary Resolution on Basic Principles for Political Talks with Interim Institutions of Self-Government in Kosovo. Vulin told Tanjug that Serbia would not accept anything that is contrary to its Constitution, while at the same time taking into account the interests of Serbs living in the entire territory of Kosovo. “Serbia is demanding that the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija have what any other people in the planet is entitled to, i.e. to independently decide on living conditions, its police, to administer the judiciary, to have a direct control over financial assistance that comes from Serbia,” he explained. “In addition to that, we are demanding the full control over spatial planning, as we would not like to see any changes made to the ethnic structure of the population,” Vulin said. He voiced hope that the authorities in Pristina would understand and accept the fact that the Serbs have the right to decide upon their own fate, or there would be no agreement. Vulin added that it would be bad and dangerous, primarily for the Serbs in the province, if the two sides failed to reach an agreement and the process aimed at eliminating Serbs from the province continued. “We have engaged in the political talks to ensure that Serbia stays in Kosovo and Metohija and increases its presence,” said the director of the government office. Commenting on the statement given by the German parliamentarians who made it clear once again on Tuesday at the end of their two-day visit to Belgrade that Serbia would have to regulate the good neighborly relations with Kosovo in a legally binding way, if it wants to secure a starting date for EU entry talks, Vulin said that was not possible under the Serbian Constitution and laws. "I am sure that German parliamentarians would regard with bewilderment anyone who would come to the Bundestag requesting that they should violate their Constitution and not hesitate to do that," Vulin noted. “We would thank them for taking care of Serbia, but we would have to say that all our actions will be governed by the Constitution of our state,” Vulin concluded. Aleksandar Vulin (Beta, file) Tanjug

Future of talks “in hands of Priština, intl. community”

Ahead of his departure for Brussels, where the talks between the Serbian and Kosovo prime ministers should be continued on Wednesday, Vulin underscored that Serbia would not give up on the stands presented in the parliamentary Resolution on Basic Principles for Political Talks with Interim Institutions of Self-Government in Kosovo.

Vulin told Tanjug that Serbia would not accept anything that is contrary to its Constitution, while at the same time taking into account the interests of Serbs living in the entire territory of Kosovo.

“Serbia is demanding that the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija have what any other people in the planet is entitled to, i.e. to independently decide on living conditions, its police, to administer the judiciary, to have a direct control over financial assistance that comes from Serbia,” he explained.

“In addition to that, we are demanding the full control over spatial planning, as we would not like to see any changes made to the ethnic structure of the population,” Vulin said.

He voiced hope that the authorities in Priština would understand and accept the fact that the Serbs have the right to decide upon their own fate, or there would be no agreement.

Vulin added that it would be bad and dangerous, primarily for the Serbs in the province, if the two sides failed to reach an agreement and the process aimed at eliminating Serbs from the province continued.

“We have engaged in the political talks to ensure that Serbia stays in Kosovo and Metohija and increases its presence,” said the director of the government office.

Commenting on the statement given by the German parliamentarians who made it clear once again on Tuesday at the end of their two-day visit to Belgrade that Serbia would have to regulate the good neighborly relations with Kosovo in a legally binding way, if it wants to secure a starting date for EU entry talks, Vulin said that was not possible under the Serbian Constitution and laws.

"I am sure that German parliamentarians would regard with bewilderment anyone who would come to the Bundestag requesting that they should violate their Constitution and not hesitate to do that," Vulin noted.

“We would thank them for taking care of Serbia, but we would have to say that all our actions will be governed by the Constitution of our state,” Vulin concluded.