"Europe is only perspective for Balkans," says Dačić

VIENNA Prime Minister Ivica Dacic says that after the experience with the breakup of Yugoslavia, "Europe is the only perspective for the Balkans." "The disintegration of Yugoslavia was a bloody story. From it we should all learn a lesson. For us there is only one perspective, and it's called Europe. The future of the Balkans lies in the EU. And that is also a road. EU prevents nationalism and helps in overcoming problems and disagreements," Dacic told the Vienna daily Kurier. "Europe is only perspective for Balkans," says Dacic Speaking about the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, Dacic said that "the crimes were committed on all sides," while now was the time to heal the wounds of the past - but that "looking back helps no one, instead serving only to deepen the conflict." "I'm very pragmatic. If I talked about the past with Thaci, that would have ended in a heavy argument. There would be no agreement. Only the present and the future can be changed, not the past. That's our strategy," said Dacic. He then said that with the agreement with Pristina, Serbia did not recognize Kosovo, and noted that five EU member-stated also did not do that, while Kosovo "will find it very difficult to join the UN." "We are open to discussion on the status. It is about equal rights for all. Rights may not be valid only for certain groups," Dacic was quoted as saying. With the observation that "in Europe there has been almost no reaction" to the nationalistic tones coming from Albania, the Serbian prime minister said that country was calling for the creation of Greater Albania and that this represented "the awakening of the ghosts of the past, which would be very difficult to curb." When asked about his "suggestions for Kosovo," which included the possibility of a new drawing of borders, Dacic said that this was "his contribution to the debate on a just solving of problems." "The question of drawing the borders is a red rag in the EU, as many countries fear that this example could be copied. I understand the sensitivity of the issue, and do not insist on that discussion," the Serbian prime minister said, according to the Austrian newspaper. Dacic was on a visit to Austria on May 5 and 6. (Beta, file) Beta Kurier

"Europe is only perspective for Balkans," says Dačić

Speaking about the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, Dačić said that "the crimes were committed on all sides," while now was the time to heal the wounds of the past - but that "looking back helps no one, instead serving only to deepen the conflict."

"I'm very pragmatic. If I talked about the past with Thaci, that would have ended in a heavy argument. There would be no agreement. Only the present and the future can be changed, not the past. That's our strategy," said Dačić.

He then said that with the agreement with Priština, Serbia did not recognize Kosovo, and noted that five EU member-stated also did not do that, while Kosovo "will find it very difficult to join the UN."

"We are open to discussion on the status. It is about equal rights for all. Rights may not be valid only for certain groups," Dačić was quoted as saying.

With the observation that "in Europe there has been almost no reaction" to the nationalistic tones coming from Albania, the Serbian prime minister said that country was calling for the creation of Greater Albania and that this represented "the awakening of the ghosts of the past, which would be very difficult to curb."

When asked about his "suggestions for Kosovo," which included the possibility of a new drawing of borders, Dačić said that this was "his contribution to the debate on a just solving of problems."

"The question of drawing the borders is a red rag in the EU, as many countries fear that this example could be copied. I understand the sensitivity of the issue, and do not insist on that discussion," the Serbian prime minister said, according to the Austrian newspaper.

Dačić was on a visit to Austria on May 5 and 6.