FM: Serbia against artificial deadlines

Vuk Jeremic says Belgrade opposes insistence on "artificial deadlines" for the conclusion of the Kosovo status talks. Jeremic addressed the Council of Europe (CoE) Parliamentary Assembly as chairman of the CoE Committee of Ministers. FM: Serbia against artificial deadlines "The danger is there. With a set time and a default position that amounts to their ‘maximalist demands’, what interest could the Kosovo Albanians have in negotiating in good faith?" he said and added: "As paradoxical as it may seem, without a deadline, minds in Belgrade as well as Pristina will focus on the means to reach a negotiated solution." "Certain members of the international community have told Belgrade and Pristina that they will impose the province's independence on Serbia and the region if we do not reach agreement by December 10," Jeremic said. Frank Wisner, the U.S. representative in the Contact Group's mediating troika, recently told the Voice of America that it is unlikely that the status of Kosovo will be resolved in 2007 since there is not enough time. Jeremic said he is satisfied with the pace at which Serbia has been handling its priorities as chair of the Committee of Ministers, repeating that the country's priorities are consolidating regional cooperation and good-neighborly relations, European integration, respect for human rights, and democracy. Parliamentary Assembly President Rene van der Linden lauded Serbia's achievements as chair of the Committee of Ministers. Another country will take over the chairmanship in November. Earlier Van der Linden had a meeting with Jeremic. According to what they told reporters afterward, they discussed the situation in Serbia and Kosovo, as well as Serbia's results as the head of the Committee of Ministers. Vuk Jeremic (Beta, archive)

FM: Serbia against artificial deadlines

"The danger is there. With a set time and a default position that amounts to their ‘maximalist demands’, what interest could the Kosovo Albanians have in negotiating in good faith?" he said and added: "As paradoxical as it may seem, without a deadline, minds in Belgrade as well as Priština will focus on the means to reach a negotiated solution."

"Certain members of the international community have told Belgrade and Priština that they will impose the province's independence on Serbia and the region if we do not reach agreement by December 10," Jeremić said.

Frank Wisner, the U.S. representative in the Contact Group's mediating troika, recently told the Voice of America that it is unlikely that the status of Kosovo will be resolved in 2007 since there is not enough time.

Jeremić said he is satisfied with the pace at which Serbia has been handling its priorities as chair of the Committee of Ministers, repeating that the country's priorities are consolidating regional cooperation and good-neighborly relations, European integration, respect for human rights, and democracy.

Parliamentary Assembly President Rene van der Linden lauded Serbia's achievements as chair of the Committee of Ministers. Another country will take over the chairmanship in November.

Earlier Van der Linden had a meeting with Jeremić. According to what they told reporters afterward, they discussed the situation in Serbia and Kosovo, as well as Serbia's results as the head of the Committee of Ministers.