Another round of Kosovo talks ends without agreement

BRUSSELS Wednesday's negotiations between the delegations of Pristina and Belgrade, under the mediation of the European Union, have ended in Brussels. Another round of Kosovo talks ends without agreement Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci first addressed reporters to say that "Serbia rejected the proposal." According to Tanjug, he added that "Serbia might change its mind in the coming days." Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic then addressed journalists to say that during today's negotiations - which lasted almost 14 hours - Thaci attempted to impose the topic of Kosovo's membership in international institutions. However, our reporter in Brussels says that both he and Thaci noted that "a solution can be found." Dacic explained that the membership of Kosovo in international organizations was not a subject of today's talks, but that Thaci attempted to set that as a condition for the resolution of the topics concerning police and judicial powers that should be given to a future community of Serb municipalities. According to Dacic, "Belgrade was ready to accept an agreement on jurisdictions for the community of Serb municipalities, but Thaci undermined it by linking this to the problem of membership in international organizations, including the United Nations - which our delegation could not accept." Kosovo's ethnic Albanians in early 2008 unilaterally proclaimed independence, which Serbia rejected as illegal. The EU sponsored talks have been ongoing in a number of rounds since March 2011, with most recent ones focusing on northern Kosovo, where Serbs are the majority population and reject the authority of the government in Pristina. Speaking shortly after midnight on Thursday, Dacic also told reporters that Thaci's interpretation of the outcome of Wednesday's round - that Serbia rejected the agreement - was "utterly unfair." The Serbian prime minister added that the Belgrade delegation was ready to continue negotiations until all issues have been resolved. Thaci, on the other hand, said that EU's Catherine Ashton "rejected all suggestions tabled by Serbia", that there was no desire to go back to negotiations "such as Rambouillet", and that, "in 2013, solutions cannot be sought with the head of Vojislav Seselj." President Tomislav Nikolic's adviser Marko Djuric spoke for Tanjug to say that negotiations could continue but that no date has been determined. He accused Thaci of obstructing the talks on Wednesday concerning "the already suggested formulations of EU's high representative Catherine Ashton, which regarded the issues of police". Djuric also said that Thaci engaged "in open threats of violence." "Belgrade is ready to talk, but not using the logic of terrorists," Djuric concluded. Ashton is optimistic that an agreement can be reached. “Today has been a very long and intensive day. We wanted to collect all ideas that have been discussed in the previous months, to distill them and ask delegations from Pristina and Belgrade to consider them and see if it is possible to reach an agreement,” she said after the last night's round. "I said last time that an agreement was close, that the differences were narrow, but deep. I can say with real confidence today that the differences are narrow and very shallow. There are still a few hours until I submit a report to the Council of Europe on Monday. I hope the both delegations will until then reflect on whether they can take the final steps necessary to finish this agreement and to move their people forward into the future.” Ashton added. (EU) B92 Tanjug

Another round of Kosovo talks ends without agreement

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci first addressed reporters to say that "Serbia rejected the proposal."

According to Tanjug, he added that "Serbia might change its mind in the coming days."

Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dačić then addressed journalists to say that during today's negotiations - which lasted almost 14 hours - Thaci attempted to impose the topic of Kosovo's membership in international institutions.

However, our reporter in Brussels says that both he and Thaci noted that "a solution can be found."

Dačić explained that the membership of Kosovo in international organizations was not a subject of today's talks, but that Thaci attempted to set that as a condition for the resolution of the topics concerning police and judicial powers that should be given to a future community of Serb municipalities.

According to Dačić, "Belgrade was ready to accept an agreement on jurisdictions for the community of Serb municipalities, but Thaci undermined it by linking this to the problem of membership in international organizations, including the United Nations - which our delegation could not accept."

Kosovo's ethnic Albanians in early 2008 unilaterally proclaimed independence, which Serbia rejected as illegal. The EU sponsored talks have been ongoing in a number of rounds since March 2011, with most recent ones focusing on northern Kosovo, where Serbs are the majority population and reject the authority of the government in Priština.

Speaking shortly after midnight on Thursday, Dačić also told reporters that Thaci's interpretation of the outcome of Wednesday's round - that Serbia rejected the agreement - was "utterly unfair."

The Serbian prime minister added that the Belgrade delegation was ready to continue negotiations until all issues have been resolved.

Thaci, on the other hand, said that EU's Catherine Ashton "rejected all suggestions tabled by Serbia", that there was no desire to go back to negotiations "such as Rambouillet", and that, "in 2013, solutions cannot be sought with the head of Vojislav Šešelj."

President Tomislav Nikolić's adviser Marko Đurić spoke for Tanjug to say that negotiations could continue but that no date has been determined.

He accused Thaci of obstructing the talks on Wednesday concerning "the already suggested formulations of EU's high representative Catherine Ashton, which regarded the issues of police".

Đurić also said that Thaci engaged "in open threats of violence."

"Belgrade is ready to talk, but not using the logic of terrorists," Đurić concluded.

Ashton is optimistic that an agreement can be reached.

“Today has been a very long and intensive day. We wanted to collect all ideas that have been discussed in the previous months, to distill them and ask delegations from Priština and Belgrade to consider them and see if it is possible to reach an agreement,” she said after the last night's round.

"I said last time that an agreement was close, that the differences were narrow, but deep. I can say with real confidence today that the differences are narrow and very shallow. There are still a few hours until I submit a report to the Council of Europe on Monday. I hope the both delegations will until then reflect on whether they can take the final steps necessary to finish this agreement and to move their people forward into the future.” Ashton added.