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Belgrade, Pristina representatives discuss decentralisation in Kosovo-Metohija

Belgrade/Vienna, 16 September 2005

Serbian Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government Zoran Loncar said today following a meeting with representatives of Kosovo Albanians held at the Austrian Foreign Ministry in Vienna, that the talks on decentralisation in Kosovo-Metohija were constructive and that both sides expressed their view of that process.

Author: Fonet

The Serbian side proposed the preparation of joint document containing elements of the letter that representatives of the Serbian list from Kosovo submitted to UNMIK chief Soren Jessen-Petersen. The letter was based completely on the principles of the Serbian government's plan for the solution to the political situation in Kosovo, which was prepared last year and unanimously adopted by the Serbian parliament, Loncar told the Tanjug news agency.

The participants in the talks voiced readiness to continue the dialogue in the near future, Loncar said after this first informal working meeting held behind closed doors and consisting of Serbian government representatives and political leaders of Kosovo Albanians, led by Kosovo Minister for Local Self-Government Ljutfij Haziri.

The meeting was presided over by the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for assessment of the implementation of standards in Kosovo Kai Eide.

Eide welcomed the constructive atmosphere at today's meeting and added that he would meet UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on September 17 in New York.

Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ursula Plassnik said that it is important that representatives of Belgrade and Pristina met again in Vienna after two years to discuss important political issues in the direct dialogue.

Plassnik said that the talks on the main issue, decentralisation of authority in the province, are very important for the establishment of a lasting multiethnic society.

The aim of the international community's efforts is to secure for all citizens of Kosovo the ability to live a free, safe and dignified life, Plassnik stressed, adding that Austria, as a neighbouring country is especially interested in the peace and stability of southeastern Europe.