President optimist, PM says, "no deal yet"

BELGRADE After a meeting between top state officials and EU's Ashton it remains unclear whether any agreement has been reached in the Kosovo talks. President Tomislav Nikolic, PM Ivica Dacic, and his first deputy, Aleksandar Vucic, conferred in Belgrade on Thursday for nearly two hours with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who traveled here from Pristina. President optimist, PM says, "no deal yet" Addressing a news conference afterwards, where reporters were not allowed to ask questions, Nikolic and Dacic only made it clear that the Kosovo dialogue would continue for another round in Brussels on March 20. Nikolic said that Ashton was "a moderate optimist" after her discussions in Pristina earlier with Kosovo Albanian officials. "I am always hopeful that we can come to a solution, and so I am now saying that I am an optimist. We have never been closer to an agreement that would give the people in Kosovo a chance to live better, develop, for their children to live in peace and for Serbs to live within a community where they would regulate their lives and remain connected to Serbia so that it could help them if their lives get worse", Nikolic was quoted as saying. He also announced the possibility that between now and March 20, "a non-paper" could appear, that would be put together based on the opinions of Pristina, and the Serbian government. The prime minister, on the other hand, said it was "not a simple task to say whether there has been any progress in the dialogue at this moment". Dacic explained that Pristina agreed to the forming of an association of Serb municipalities, but that there has been no agreement on its powers, because the Albanian side believes that the municipalities, rather than their association, should have powers. "There are still differences. If there was a deal, Catherine Ashton would certainly be here to announce it. There is no deal, nor will there be one until our suggestions have been considered in an essential manner. We do not care to have the association of Serb municipalities out of defiance, but for it to truly be a way to overcome problems," Dacic said. He also rejected speculations that there was any discussion about "any kind of agreement on the normalization of relations" during the dialogue with Pristina. The prime minister identified three issues as being "of key importance": what is the association of municipalities, what are its powers, and the questions of police and judiciary. "If a solution is found for these three topics that is acceptable to both sides, we can go a step farther," he told journalists, and added that "nobody can say at this point whether there will be an agreement". "We are ready for a compromise, but we will not accept humiliation - and that is our message ahead of the March 20 negotiations," Dacic concluded. A statement from Ashton's office said that her meeting in Belgrade on Thursday was "useful and constructive", and that its goal was "to prepare the next round of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue". The EU high representative came to Belgrade from Pristina where she discussed the continuation of the dialogue with Kosovo PM Hashim Thaci, President Atifete Jahjaga and leaders of political parties. Ashton did not give any statements after the meetings in Pristina. Thaci, however, said after the meeting that the defining of an agreement on the normalization of relations with Belgrade was “in its final stages” and that he was optimistic. Ashton conferred with Nikolic, Dacic and Vucic on March 11 in Brussels and her visit to Belgrade depended on results of her talks in Pristina. Dacic told a press conference two days ago that Ashton could come to Belgrade, stressing that no agreement had been reached because Pristina was not willing to make compromises. He added that Belgrade offered a maximal compromise but that it could not cross certain lines – powers that the community of Serb municipalities must have. On the other hand, Thaci said on Thursday that a community of Serb municipalities in Kosovo would have “neither legislative nor executive powers”. Belgrade-based daily Blic has reported that Belgrade and Pristina have reached an agreement on the community of Serb municipalities but that neither Serbs nor Albanians will be satisfied with the solution. Nikolic said on Monday that Pristina had given in and that the two sides were close to reaching an agreement but Thaci denied the information. Ivica Dacic (R), Tomislav Nikolic address reporters (Tanjug) B92 Tanjug

President optimist, PM says, "no deal yet"

Addressing a news conference afterwards, where reporters were not allowed to ask questions, Nikolić and Dačić only made it clear that the Kosovo dialogue would continue for another round in Brussels on March 20.

Nikolić said that Ashton was "a moderate optimist" after her discussions in Priština earlier with Kosovo Albanian officials.

"I am always hopeful that we can come to a solution, and so I am now saying that I am an optimist. We have never been closer to an agreement that would give the people in Kosovo a chance to live better, develop, for their children to live in peace and for Serbs to live within a community where they would regulate their lives and remain connected to Serbia so that it could help them if their lives get worse", Nikolić was quoted as saying.

He also announced the possibility that between now and March 20, "a non-paper" could appear, that would be put together based on the opinions of Priština, and the Serbian government.

The prime minister, on the other hand, said it was "not a simple task to say whether there has been any progress in the dialogue at this moment". Dačić explained that Priština agreed to the forming of an association of Serb municipalities, but that there has been no agreement on its powers, because the Albanian side believes that the municipalities, rather than their association, should have powers.

"There are still differences. If there was a deal, Catherine Ashton would certainly be here to announce it. There is no deal, nor will there be one until our suggestions have been considered in an essential manner. We do not care to have the association of Serb municipalities out of defiance, but for it to truly be a way to overcome problems," Dačić said.

He also rejected speculations that there was any discussion about "any kind of agreement on the normalization of relations" during the dialogue with Priština. The prime minister identified three issues as being "of key importance": what is the association of municipalities, what are its powers, and the questions of police and judiciary.

"If a solution is found for these three topics that is acceptable to both sides, we can go a step farther," he told journalists, and added that "nobody can say at this point whether there will be an agreement".

"We are ready for a compromise, but we will not accept humiliation - and that is our message ahead of the March 20 negotiations," Dačić concluded.

A statement from Ashton's office said that her meeting in Belgrade on Thursday was "useful and constructive", and that its goal was "to prepare the next round of the Belgrade-Priština dialogue".

The EU high representative came to Belgrade from Priština where she discussed the continuation of the dialogue with Kosovo PM Hashim Thaci, President Atifete Jahjaga and leaders of political parties.

Ashton did not give any statements after the meetings in Priština.

Thaci, however, said after the meeting that the defining of an agreement on the normalization of relations with Belgrade was “in its final stages” and that he was optimistic.

Ashton conferred with Nikolić, Dačić and Vučić on March 11 in Brussels and her visit to Belgrade depended on results of her talks in Priština.

Dačić told a press conference two days ago that Ashton could come to Belgrade, stressing that no agreement had been reached because Priština was not willing to make compromises.

He added that Belgrade offered a maximal compromise but that it could not cross certain lines – powers that the community of Serb municipalities must have.

On the other hand, Thaci said on Thursday that a community of Serb municipalities in Kosovo would have “neither legislative nor executive powers”.

Belgrade-based daily Blic has reported that Belgrade and Priština have reached an agreement on the community of Serb municipalities but that neither Serbs nor Albanians will be satisfied with the solution.

Nikolić said on Monday that Priština had given in and that the two sides were close to reaching an agreement but Thaci denied the information.