PM: Government will not implement agreement by force

BELGRADE PM Ivica Dacic has said that the government does not want to impose and implement the Brussels agreement by force. Speaking after a meeting with heads of Kosovo districts, he added that it was in the interest of both Serbia and Kosovo Serbs that the agreement be implemented. PM: Government will not implement agreement by force "We do not want to impose and implement the Brussels agreement by force," Dacic told a news conference. According to Dacic, implementing the agreement without the involvement of Kosovo Serb representatives could have negative consequences. "If we do this without the involvement of Kosovo Serbs, it would lead to negative consequences, and we do not want that to happen, considering above all the interests of ordinary people who have jobs and lives in Kosovo," said Dacic. He said the government stands behind its decision on the Brussels agreement and added it is in the interest of both Serbia and Kosovo Serbs that the agreement be implemented. The prime minister said the conversation with the heads of Kosovo districts was very civil, just like previous meetings with representatives of Kosovo Serbs. Dacic said talks with Kosovo Serbs will continue and recalled that Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic will visit the southern Serbian province soon. (Tanjug, file) "Stances converged" Jovica Buduric, head of the District of Prizren, stated on Tuesday that the meeting between heads of Kosovo districts and Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic resulted "in progress and convergence of stances," according to a Tanjug report. He was also quoted as saying that he "cannot say whether the implementation of the Brussels agreement has been accepted." Buduric told reporters after a two-hour meeting with Dacic and Vucic that the details on the implementation of the Brussels deal will be specified during Vucic's visit to Kosovo. “It is the first time that progress was made in terms of the north and the south,” Buduric said, adding that the officials have presented specific problems of their districts. They were assured that there will be no deadlines or conditions for the implementation of the Brussels agreement, but that it would be good to implement it, or at least a part of it, as soon as possible, he said. Buduric said that Vucic will on Sunday visit northern Kosovska Mitrovica, and confer with municipal presidents in the north, local officials, and employees in Serb institutions. "We will visit almost all Serb-dominated municipalities, and agree on the spot about the implementation, how to conduct actions and keep people in these areas," Buduric said, adding that a comprehensive project on people's return to Kosovo and Metohija is underway. The details of Vucic's visit will be determined during the week, he said. Buduric said that Vucic "promised them that he will fight for both the north and the south to get the best possible statuses before the Kosovo elections." “It has been promised that the community of Serb municipalities will be quite functional, and that besides four north Kosovo municipalities it can be joined by other Serb-dominated municipalities,” Buduric explained. Asked whether those Serbs who are already heading "municipalities according to the Ahtisaari plan" will also be talked to, Buduric said this would not happen, because they "stood for everything that was negative in Brussels." Jovica Buduric Beta Tanjug

PM: Government will not implement agreement by force

"We do not want to impose and implement the Brussels agreement by force," Dačić told a news conference.

According to Dačić, implementing the agreement without the involvement of Kosovo Serb representatives could have negative consequences.

"If we do this without the involvement of Kosovo Serbs, it would lead to negative consequences, and we do not want that to happen, considering above all the interests of ordinary people who have jobs and lives in Kosovo," said Dačić.

He said the government stands behind its decision on the Brussels agreement and added it is in the interest of both Serbia and Kosovo Serbs that the agreement be implemented.

The prime minister said the conversation with the heads of Kosovo districts was very civil, just like previous meetings with representatives of Kosovo Serbs.

Dačić said talks with Kosovo Serbs will continue and recalled that Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić will visit the southern Serbian province soon.

"Stances converged"

Jovica Budurić, head of the District of Prizren, stated on Tuesday that the meeting between heads of Kosovo districts and Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dačić and Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić resulted "in progress and convergence of stances," according to a Tanjug report.

He was also quoted as saying that he "cannot say whether the implementation of the Brussels agreement has been accepted."

Budurić told reporters after a two-hour meeting with Dačić and Vucic that the details on the implementation of the Brussels deal will be specified during Vučić's visit to Kosovo.

“It is the first time that progress was made in terms of the north and the south,” Budurić said, adding that the officials have presented specific problems of their districts.

They were assured that there will be no deadlines or conditions for the implementation of the Brussels agreement, but that it would be good to implement it, or at least a part of it, as soon as possible, he said.

Budurić said that Vučić will on Sunday visit northern Kosovska Mitrovica, and confer with municipal presidents in the north, local officials, and employees in Serb institutions.

"We will visit almost all Serb-dominated municipalities, and agree on the spot about the implementation, how to conduct actions and keep people in these areas," Budurić said, adding that a comprehensive project on people's return to Kosovo and Metohija is underway.

The details of Vučić's visit will be determined during the week, he said.

Budurić said that Vucic "promised them that he will fight for both the north and the south to get the best possible statuses before the Kosovo elections."

“It has been promised that the community of Serb municipalities will be quite functional, and that besides four north Kosovo municipalities it can be joined by other Serb-dominated municipalities,” Budurić explained.

Asked whether those Serbs who are already heading "municipalities according to the Ahtisaari plan" will also be talked to, Budurić said this would not happen, because they "stood for everything that was negative in Brussels."