"Deal with Priština closer than it seems“

BELGRADE Foreign Policy Center Director Aleksandra Joksimovic has stated that a solution in the dialogue with Pristina is closer than the public believes. “We are closer to a solution than the public is led to believe. It is necessary to prepare the public for what will be finally announced. The fact that there was a joint press conference shows that there is progress in the negotiations,” she stressed. "Deal with Pristina closer than it seems“ Serbian and Kosovo Prime Ministers Ivica Dacic and Hashim Thaci and EU High Representative Catherine Ashton met on Thursday in Brussels as a part of the seventh round of the talks. The Serbian PM said at the joint press conference that “certain progress” had been made in the dialogue. Joksimovic stressed that the negotiations were difficult but that it was possible that a solution would be found soon. She added that it was obvious that the negotiations were aimed at finding a solution. She also believes that some “encouraging” signals could be seen and that some kind of a solution was in sight. The Foreign Policy Center director explained that it was not strange that the prime minster informed and consulted with First Deputy PM Aleksandar Vucic. “It is normal that there is such form of communication between the prime minister and Aleksandar Vucic bearing in mind that he (Vucic) is a leader of the biggest parliamentary party. The prime minister does not want to carry all the responsibility on his shoulders and it is very important that whatever is agreed is implemented. In order for such a chance to exist, everybody needs to be involved,” she said, adding that Ashton had recognized the important of the implementation since she had invited President Tomislav Nikolic and Vucic to come to Brussels together with Dacic. Joksimovic noted that everybody wanted the negotiations to be completed before the European Commission (EC) released its report on April 16 and that discouraging news had been coming from Germany for quite some time and that they had to do with the upcoming elections in the country. She believes that Serbia deserves to get a date for the start of the EU accession negotiations. “The Belgrade-Pristina negotiations are one of he key conditions. The work on the judicial reform is also underway, those are some elements that will be assessed. We have an empty chair at the negotiating table – the U.S. The outcome of the negotiations depends on its influence on Pristina. If we are talking about everything Serbia has done, Serbia deserves the date,“ Joksimovic concluded. B92

"Deal with Priština closer than it seems“

Serbian and Kosovo Prime Ministers Ivica Dačić and Hashim Thaci and EU High Representative Catherine Ashton met on Thursday in Brussels as a part of the seventh round of the talks.

The Serbian PM said at the joint press conference that “certain progress” had been made in the dialogue.

Joksimović stressed that the negotiations were difficult but that it was possible that a solution would be found soon.

She added that it was obvious that the negotiations were aimed at finding a solution. She also believes that some “encouraging” signals could be seen and that some kind of a solution was in sight.

The Foreign Policy Center director explained that it was not strange that the prime minster informed and consulted with First Deputy PM Aleksandar Vučić.

“It is normal that there is such form of communication between the prime minister and Aleksandar Vučić bearing in mind that he (Vučić) is a leader of the biggest parliamentary party. The prime minister does not want to carry all the responsibility on his shoulders and it is very important that whatever is agreed is implemented. In order for such a chance to exist, everybody needs to be involved,” she said, adding that Ashton had recognized the important of the implementation since she had invited President Tomislav Nikolić and Vučić to come to Brussels together with Dačić.

Joksimović noted that everybody wanted the negotiations to be completed before the European Commission (EC) released its report on April 16 and that discouraging news had been coming from Germany for quite some time and that they had to do with the upcoming elections in the country.

She believes that Serbia deserves to get a date for the start of the EU accession negotiations.

“The Belgrade-Priština negotiations are one of he key conditions. The work on the judicial reform is also underway, those are some elements that will be assessed. We have an empty chair at the negotiating table – the U.S. The outcome of the negotiations depends on its influence on Priština. If we are talking about everything Serbia has done, Serbia deserves the date,“ Joksimović concluded.