Ljajic:Belgrade cannot lose in talks with Pristina
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Rasim Ljajic stated that Belgrade has nothing to lose in the talks with Pristina and that it can only win since Pristina will have to agree to some painful compromises because otherwise the talks will fail.
(KosovoCompromiseStuff) Wednesday, November 14, 2012
The primary goal is to meet the conditions so as to win the date of the beginning of talks with the EU and EU membership is a goal with a slightly longer term, said Ljajic who will also be a member of Belgrade's negotiating team in the dialogue with Pristina, and added that so far nobody asked Belgrade to recognise Kosovo or renounce it. It is best to focus on the first task, he added.
In an interview for the Belgrade-based daily Vecernje Novosti, Ljajic underscored that the EU attitude toward Serbia has now changed considerably because the Union kept accusing the country for years on end that it is obstructing the dialogue and that its requests are non-realistic.
He underscored that Belgrade is now demonstrating the willingness to conduct a political dialogue and is offering solutions, and it will implement all agreements. We aim to resolve all remaining issues so as to win the date of the talks with the EU, he added.
He underscored that it is in Serbia's interest to improve the life of Serbs in Kosovo.
Ljajic underscored that it would be useless to conduct talks in the way in which one side would give all and get nothing in return because these are not talks then.
We need to know what we can get and what our realistic requests are, Ljajic said and added that now that Belgrade has no influence in Kosovo, living conditions of the local Serb population in the province are awful and cultural heritage is not protected.
He noted that the talks about Kosovo's status have not begun which means that a platform is not necessary yet.
The talks on the implementation of previous agreements and continuation of the technical dialogue are currently underway, Ljajic said and added that the talks on the status will be opened in the continuation of the process.
In an interview for the Belgrade-based daily Vecernje Novosti, Ljajic underscored that the EU attitude toward Serbia has now changed considerably because the Union kept accusing the country for years on end that it is obstructing the dialogue and that its requests are non-realistic.
He underscored that Belgrade is now demonstrating the willingness to conduct a political dialogue and is offering solutions, and it will implement all agreements. We aim to resolve all remaining issues so as to win the date of the talks with the EU, he added.
He underscored that it is in Serbia's interest to improve the life of Serbs in Kosovo.
Ljajic underscored that it would be useless to conduct talks in the way in which one side would give all and get nothing in return because these are not talks then.
We need to know what we can get and what our realistic requests are, Ljajic said and added that now that Belgrade has no influence in Kosovo, living conditions of the local Serb population in the province are awful and cultural heritage is not protected.
He noted that the talks about Kosovo's status have not begun which means that a platform is not necessary yet.
The talks on the implementation of previous agreements and continuation of the technical dialogue are currently underway, Ljajic said and added that the talks on the status will be opened in the continuation of the process.
