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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Community of Serbian municipalities must have key competencies

Belgrade, 12 March 2013

Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said upon return from Brussels that Serbia insists that the community of Serbian municipalities in Kosovo is formed, having some key competencies and its own organs.

Author: Fonet

Dacic said at a press conference held in the Serbian government that the community of Serbian municipalities should have its own parliament, chair, vice chair and council.

Those authorities may be elected directly or indirectly, which is less significant than its competences, he said.

According to him, the primary authority of the community of Serbian municipalities relates to who will be in charge of security.

Also, the community must have a decisive impact on policing, interior, justice and human resources, he noted.

It would be an agreement that would guarantee the stability not only in Kosovo but also in the region, said Dacic.

The Prime Minister said that yesterday he conveyed this position to EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, noting that there will be no loosening about such issues.

According to him, the actual situation is that Serbia in one part of the territory of Kosovo has no authority, whilst Pristina has no authority in the north of Kosovo.

Dacic reiterated that dialogue is the only option for solving the problem of Kosovo-Metohija.

The Prime Minister said that Serbia is ready for an agreement, but noted that it cannot be based on the constitution and the laws of Kosovo.

It has to be a political agreement which involves the international community in order to remove the possibility of conflict.

Progress in dialogue with Pristina is a prerequisite for getting a date for the start of negotiations with the EU, and it was the main topic of discussion with Ashton, he noted.

We have earned a date even without an agreement because we have made it clear that we are willing to make a deal, but the deal has to be of the kind that can be implemented on the ground, he said.

The Prime Minister said that the Serbian delegation presented a unified position that Serbia wants to continue on the path of European integration, and in the interest of its citizens to become members of the EU, but it cannot exceed its red lines.

At the same time, he expressed hope that it is not only the interest of Serbia, but also the strategic interest of the EU.

Dacic said that he cannot be optimistic that the process will be completed successfully because it was not discussed with Pristina.

According to him, after Ashton visits Pristina on 14 March, she will probably come to Belgrade, where the talks will be resumed.

Dacic said that if Serbia’s concept regarding the powers of the community of Serbian municipalities is accepted, the adoption of a constitutional law would then follow.

The Serbian Platform clearly states that part of the responsibility is to be transferred to the Kosovo authorities and thus they will become a part of our legal system, and therefore the community of Serbian municipalities will be part of that system, he said.

For this, it is necessary to get international guarantees and if Pristina accepts this solution, we will make a constitutional law, which will not be an easy task, the Prime Minister explained.

He said that Pristina has relented but not on some substantive issues, noting that this will be discussed at the upcoming meetings.

The agreement does not depend on us. Serbia has done everything and therefore we should no longer be pressurised as this is our bottom line, concluded Dacic.