Some progress made in Brussels, PM Dačić says

BRUSSELS Serbia's Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said late on Wednesday that certain progress was made in the latest round of the talks with Pristina. He added that he could not say “the two sides were either close or far from an agreement at the moment”. Some progress made in Brussels, PM Dacic says "As time goes by, the optimism for finding a solution could grow bigger," Dacic said in Brussels after an hours-long meeting with Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and EU High Representative Catherine Ashton. “Serbia wants an agreement for the sake of the stability of the entire region and the benefit of the people, and not to get a start date for the accession talks with the EU,” he stressed. "We advocate a comprehensive and long-term solution, and a lot of effort and respect for the interest of both sides is required to reach that solution. I cannot say we are either close or far from an agreement, because the opinion on where we are changes from one moment to the next," Dacic remarked. He stated that the EU did not give any ultimatums or offered documents and that it was urging the two sides to reach a solution. “If we want a solution, we need to reach a compromise,” the Serbian prime minister said. Thaci also said that “certain progress” had been made and agreed that Belgrade and Pristina were neither close nor far from a solution, adding that the talks were “constructive”. “We expect to reach a solution on normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, primarily in northern (Kosovska) Mitrovica. We also want freedom of movement, rule of law and development of a democratic society,” Thaci said, adding that Serbia and Kosovo were on the right track when it came to “good neighborly relations”. “An agreement between Kosovo and Serbia means stability in the region,” he said and noted that Pristina was committed to the dialogue, stability, peace and its EU pathway. Ahton’s Spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said on her Twitter profile that the “press conference ended with Dacic and Thaci shaking hands”. Ashton said at the start of the conference that she expected a solution in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue to be reached at a final meeting on April 2. “The EU gives full support to Belgrade and Pristina and welcomes the prime ministers’ openness and decisiveness to reach a final solution,” she stressed. She believes that the two sides “have come very close to a solution and it is now time for consultations”. Ashton added that difficult issues regarding northern Kosovo had been discussed. Hashim Thaci, Catherine Ashton and Ivica Dacic are seen at the press conference (Tanjug) B92 Tanjug

Some progress made in Brussels, PM Dačić says

"As time goes by, the optimism for finding a solution could grow bigger," Dačić said in Brussels after an hours-long meeting with Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and EU High Representative Catherine Ashton.

“Serbia wants an agreement for the sake of the stability of the entire region and the benefit of the people, and not to get a start date for the accession talks with the EU,” he stressed.

"We advocate a comprehensive and long-term solution, and a lot of effort and respect for the interest of both sides is required to reach that solution. I cannot say we are either close or far from an agreement, because the opinion on where we are changes from one moment to the next," Dačić remarked.

He stated that the EU did not give any ultimatums or offered documents and that it was urging the two sides to reach a solution.

“If we want a solution, we need to reach a compromise,” the Serbian prime minister said.

Thaci also said that “certain progress” had been made and agreed that Belgrade and Priština were neither close nor far from a solution, adding that the talks were “constructive”.

“We expect to reach a solution on normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, primarily in northern (Kosovska) Mitrovica. We also want freedom of movement, rule of law and development of a democratic society,” Thaci said, adding that Serbia and Kosovo were on the right track when it came to “good neighborly relations”.

“An agreement between Kosovo and Serbia means stability in the region,” he said and noted that Priština was committed to the dialogue, stability, peace and its EU pathway.

Ahton’s Spokeswoman Maja Kocijančič said on her Twitter profile that the “press conference ended with Dačić and Thaci shaking hands”.

Ashton said at the start of the conference that she expected a solution in the Belgrade-Priština dialogue to be reached at a final meeting on April 2.

“The EU gives full support to Belgrade and Priština and welcomes the prime ministers’ openness and decisiveness to reach a final solution,” she stressed.

She believes that the two sides “have come very close to a solution and it is now time for consultations”.

Ashton added that difficult issues regarding northern Kosovo had been discussed.