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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Only direct talks can produce solution for Kosovo

Belgrade, 25 September 2006

Coordinator of the state team for negotiations on the future status of Kosovo-Metohija Slobodan Samardzic said yesterday that in the continuation of talks between Belgrade and Pristina, international intermediary Martti Ahtisaari will insist on shuttle diplomacy in reaching a solution for Kosovo.

Samardzic told the Tanjug news agency that he believes that international intermediaries should insist on direct talks between the opposing sides if they want to achieve success in the negotiations, ie to find a compromising solution.

According to Samardzic, that means that representatives of Belgrade and Pristina should negotiate directly, whether in case of talks at the highest level or in case of working groups and delegations that discuss practical and technical issues.

"However, my impression is that as long as Ahtisaari is at the head the negotiating process, he will insist more on shuttle diplomacy. He will probably draw up a proposal of recommendations for the solution of the status and then go with his team between Belgrade and Pristina and test the opinions on his proposal," Samardzic said.

He explained that that is a poor negotiating method because instead of enabling the sides involved to gradually reach a common stance, Ahtisaari will come up with an abstract proposal which has not come from the opposing sides but is intended to bring them closer.

According to Samardzic, Belgrade and Pristina can come to a solution much more quickly if pressures are not made. But, if a time ultimatum is set then shuttle diplomacy is technically a better solution. However, shuttle diplomacy has never brought good results so it will not now either.

He said that it is necessary that someone with a different mandate and different style of mediation and conducting negotiations from that of Ahtisaari take over the issue after the expiry of his mandate and then to set to a more intensive, direct and serious negotiation process.

Samardzic said that in order to make a progress in the negotiations with Pristina it is necessary that international intermediaries led by Martti Ahtisaari "change the method of mediation as well". That means that they should remove the time pressure and insist on the clear goals of reaching a compromising solution for Kosovo based on the agreement of both sides, as it is laid down in the statement of the Contract Group, Samardzic said.