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Strenght of Serbian argumentation confirmed in New York

Belgrade/New York, 28 September 2007

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said in New York that today’s talks with the Pristina delegation clearly showed the strength of Serbian argumentation as regards to Kosovo-Metohija status issue, whereas Kosovo Albanians stood with their already known stance.

From left: Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, Boris Tadic and Vojislav Kostunica

Author: EPA

Kostunica pointed out that the Serbian delegation presented its position that the two sides should come up with a proposal of democratic solution and that there nothing more logical than that, but without changing Serbia’s borders.

He reiterated that a democratic solution excludes unilateral acts, violence and violation of international documents, such as the UN Charter and UN SC Resolution 1244.

Serbian President Boris Tadic expressed satisfaction with the results of the talks with representatives of Kosovo Albanians in New York and noted that the most important is that good will for a compromise has been confirmed.

Tadic told Russian news agency Itar-Tass that Serbia is satisfied with the results of the talks and noted that the plan of UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari envisioning “monitored independence” is unacceptable for Serbia and stressed that Ahtisaari’s plan has failed.

The first direct negotiations between Serbian and Kosovo Albanian delegations mediated by the Contact Group’s mediating “troika” took place today in the EU Office of the United Nations.

The Serbian state negotiating team was headed by Serbian President Boris Tadic and Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, while the Pristina delegation was led by President and Prime Minister of Kosovo Fatmir Sejdiu and Agim Ceku respectively.

The mediating “troika” announced that the next round of negotiations is scheduled to take place on October 14 in Brussels and also expressed satisfaction with the talks.

In a short statement for the press, they said that Belgrade presented its proposal on substantial autonomy for Kosovo-Metohija whilst Pristina spoke of good neighbourly relations with Serbia.

Russian representative in the “troika” Alexandar Bocan-Harchenko said that Belgrade and Pristina reached an agreement on regaining trust and cooperation in negotiations on the future negotiations on Kosovo status.

He said that there were noticeable changes in today’s meeting in the sense that the two sides expressed readiness to renew trust and cooperation, and Belgrade and Pristina stated that they will restrain themselves from steps that might jeopardise regional safety.

The mediating “troika” stated that participants of the New York meeting reached an agreement that violence, provocations and threats are serious risk for the process conducted by the “troika” as well as for stability and security in the region.

Both sides agreed with the request that the “troika” presented in Vienna on August 30 to abstain from violence and any activities or statements that might jeopardise the process but also the security in the region.

Both sides hailed the intention of the “troika” to intensify the programme of negotiations in expectation that an agreement will be reached before the end of its mandate on December 10, when the Contact Group is due to report to the UN Secretary-General on the results of negotiations.

Wolfgang Ischinger

Author: EPA

EU representative in the “troika” Wolfgang Ischinger said that the so-called New York Declaration has been adopted in the talks between Belgrade and Pristina today.

The New York Declaration, that both sides accepted, is based on the statement of the Contact Group after the meeting last night, stating that the principles of the Contact Group are valid and that the ongoing negotiating process will last until December 10.

Ischinger added that the general impression is that both sides wish to continue negotiations and stated that direct talks serve their purpose.

US representative in the “troika” Frank Wisner stated that the Contact Group insisted on the responsibility of both sides and that Belgrade and Pristina are the ones to find common space where they can reach a compromise.