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Serbian delegation presents proposal regarding Kosovo status in Vienna

Vienna, 30 August 2007

The international troika of envoys comprising EU representative Wolfgang Ischinger, Russia Aleksandar Bocan Harchenko and the US Frank Wisner, and the delegation of the state negotiating team for talks on the future status of Kosovo-Metohija, held a meeting today in Vienna, within the framework of preparations for the new round of negotiations on the future status of Kosovo-Metohija.

Slobodan Samardzic and Vuk Jeremic

Author: Tanjug

The Serbian delegation, led by Serbian Minister for Kosovo-Metohija Slobodan Samardzic and Serbian Minister of Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, presented the plan for substantial autonomy for Kosovo-Metohija to the international mediators, in the premises of the Austrian Federal Ministry of European and International Affairs.

Jeremic said that agreement was reached with the troika of envoys that direct talks between Serbia and representatives of Kosovo Albanians should begin as soon as possible, and that they should be held in the margins of the UN General Assembly session in New York.

Jeremic said that it is very important that Belgrade and Pristina as well as the troika of envoys have agreed that peace should be the priority, and any threats of violence and statements pointing to that are not acceptable.

We are entering a delicate phase. We will try to find a solution based on compromise which will secure peace and a stable future for the West Balkans. Violence and threats of violence do not lead to that, stressed Jeremic.

Samardzic said that Serbia’s view of the future status of Kosovo-Metohija was presented to the mediators.

We presented only the concept which is complex and which aims to find a solution to this problem. According to our plan Kosovo-Metohija would have wider jurisdiction than it had in former Yugoslavia, during the time of Slobodan Milosevic, and in the present constitutional framework, said Samardzic.

He said that Serbia’s proposal is open to discussion. It is not in the form of “take it or leave it”, rather Serbia will welcome the other side’s participation in the negotiations.

We hope that our two principles, which we presented to the troika of envoys will be accepted. Firstly that we talk directly with Pristina, secondly that the subject of talks should be status and not other issues, which are also important, such as protection of cultural and religious heritage, said Samardzic.

EU representative Wolfgang Ischinger said that the atmosphere at the meetings with the Serbian delegation and Kosovo Albanians was constructive and friendly. He announced that the troika of envoys will meet with representatives of Belgrade and Pristina once again by the end of September, in the margins of the UN General Assembly session in New York.

Ischinger said that both sides reiterated that they will be dedicated to the process, which will conclude with a report by the troika of envoys to the UN Secretary General on December 10.

Earlier, the troika of envoys also met with the delegation of Kosovo Albanians in the premises of the Austrian Federal Ministry of European and International Affairs.