Belgrade dismisses ISG conclusions, criticizes Feith

In his statement for news agency Tanjug, Bogdanovic said that the International Civil Office (ICO) in Kosovo Head Pieter Feith "has been trying from the very beginning to implement Ahtisaari's plan", which Serbia had rejected and which the United Nations had failed to accept.

He evaluated that Feith's double function, that of the ICO head, and special representative of the European Union in Kosovo, "is the main obstacle for the cooperation in the field".

According to Bogdanovic, Feith's work may best be described by the fact that he had continuously been trying to create a conflict among the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija to the benefit of Pristina, i.e., Kosovo's ethnic Albanians.

Bogdanovic said that the plan for integration of northern, Serb areas of Kosovo was the latest in the series of ill-considered steps made by Feith, evaluating that it was directed at changing the reality in the field, creating tension, confusion and it posed a threat to stability in the region.

The minister also said that Feith and those who support his plan "must be aware of the fact that they will not find anyone among the Serbs in northern Kosovo and Metohija who will help them realize this dangerous plan, and that they will suffer the consequences that would derive from an attempt to implement the plan".

"The implementation of Ahtisaari (plan) is not and never will be acceptable to Belgrade," concluded Bogdanovic. 

The International Steering Group for Kosovo yesterday backed a plan of Pieter Feith to integrate northern Kosovo into Pristina institutions, Beta reports.

At a session in Vienna, ICO urged all sides, including Serbia, to play a constructive role in this important process so as to ensure better living conditions in northern Kosovo.

Expanded regional cooperation is in the best interest of the Western Balkans and its European perspective. In that aim, the International Steering Group invites Serbia, Kosovo and neighboring countries to become involved in a pragmatic dialogue on issues of common interest, including constructive participation in regional forums, the press release read.

The group said Kosovo should urgently expedite further progress in fighting corruption, organized crime, improving administrative capacity and establishing the rule of law, including northern Kosovo.

Pieter Feith recently confirmed the existence of a plan to integrate northern Kosovo, whose population has a large Serbian majority, into institutions of the government of Kosovo. Serbian officials rejected the plan and described it as dangerous for regional stability.