Belgrade, Priština teams meet in Brussels

BELGRADE Belgrade and Pristina’s teams for the implementation of an agreement, which was initialed last week, have met in Brussels. The teams will present their plans for the implementation of the agreement. Belgrade, Pristina teams meet in Brussels "The teams have started the talks with support of the European Commission," EU High Representative Catherine Ashton's Spokewoman Maja Kocijancic has said. Tanjug has learned that today’s meetings will be held according to previous scenarios – each team will first meet separately with Ashton and a joint meeting will be held afterward. Ahead of the trip to Brussels, top Serbian officials said that their stance on the agreement would depend on whether there will be attempts to impose some implementation plans Belgrade would not suit. “Teams for the implementation of the Brussels agreement will talk about the order of the realization of agreed points and deadlines for their implementation,” Serbia’s Deputy PM for EU Integration Suzana Grubjesic has said. Serbian president’s advisor Marko Djuric, government’s Secretary Veljko Odalovic, Justice Minister Nikola Selakovic and Police Deputy Director Branislav Mitrovic are members of the Belgrade team. Kosovo’s delegation will be headed by Deputy PM Hajredin Kuci. Kosovo PM Hashim Thaci said in assembly that this was the first formal agreement on normalization of relations “between the two countries”. He added that he expected that the plan would be harmonized by April 26 so the implementation could begin. “Nobody should be afraid of the implementation of the agreement, including citizens in the north. Our plan is a plan of peace, understanding, tolerance and joint life in the future, a plan of development, employment, increase in social welfare, new life, a plan of democratic and European Kosovo and a joint plan of Kosovo and the whole democratic world,” Thaci explained. The top Serbian officials point out that they will not agree to any pressures or new conditions regarding the implementation of the agreement. Ashton told BBC ahead of the meeting that she hoped the EU would decide to grant Serbia a date for the start of the EU accession talks and stressed that Brussels had not asked Serbia to recognize Kosovo’s independence. (Beta/AP, file) B92 Tanjug

Belgrade, Priština teams meet in Brussels

"The teams have started the talks with support of the European Commission," EU High Representative Catherine Ashton's Spokewoman Maja Kocijančič has said.

Tanjug has learned that today’s meetings will be held according to previous scenarios – each team will first meet separately with Ashton and a joint meeting will be held afterward.

Ahead of the trip to Brussels, top Serbian officials said that their stance on the agreement would depend on whether there will be attempts to impose some implementation plans Belgrade would not suit.

“Teams for the implementation of the Brussels agreement will talk about the order of the realization of agreed points and deadlines for their implementation,” Serbia’s Deputy PM for EU Integration Suzana Grubješić has said.

Serbian president’s advisor Marko Đurić, government’s Secretary Veljko Odalović, Justice Minister Nikola Selaković and Police Deputy Director Branislav Mitrović are members of the Belgrade team.

Kosovo’s delegation will be headed by Deputy PM Hajredin Kuci.

Kosovo PM Hashim Thaci said in assembly that this was the first formal agreement on normalization of relations “between the two countries”.

He added that he expected that the plan would be harmonized by April 26 so the implementation could begin.

“Nobody should be afraid of the implementation of the agreement, including citizens in the north. Our plan is a plan of peace, understanding, tolerance and joint life in the future, a plan of development, employment, increase in social welfare, new life, a plan of democratic and European Kosovo and a joint plan of Kosovo and the whole democratic world,” Thaci explained.

The top Serbian officials point out that they will not agree to any pressures or new conditions regarding the implementation of the agreement.

Ashton told BBC ahead of the meeting that she hoped the EU would decide to grant Serbia a date for the start of the EU accession talks and stressed that Brussels had not asked Serbia to recognize Kosovo’s independence.