EU mediator to visit Belgrade next week

EU mediator in the Kosovo talks Robert Cooper should visit Serbia next week, to discuss "a solution to Pristina's regional representation", said Belgrade negotiator Borislav Stefanovic.

(KosovoCompromise Staff) Wednesday, January 18, 2012

The two parties are not even close to the final solution for regional representation, which is one of the preconditions for Serbia's EU candidate status in March, Stefanovic said, but added that the issue is constantly being worked on.

"We are working on it. I invited Cooper to come to Belgrade, and in the coming days we are to confer with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Philip Reeker. At the moment, it is clear that the talks are very dynamic even though we do not hold formal meetings in Brussels," said Stefanovic, who expects that the talks will continue in late January or early February.

The continuation of the talks is conditioned by an agreement on Priština's regional representation, which should be in line with Resolution 1244, he added.

Stefanovic discussed the topic with Cooper through a video link on Tuesday, when they presented different proposals.

"We discussed the issue of Pristina's regional representation, presented different proposals, but reiterated full commitment to Resolution 1244. Moreover, we spoke about the problem of implementation of the agreements reached in Brussels, the dynamics of the implementation, and particularly about the abolishment of insurance taxes at the administrative crossings," Stefanovic said.