Nikolic: Serbia Entering New Phase of Relations with NATO
President Tomislav Nikolic on Sept. 26 said Serbia was entering a new phase in its relations with NATO, noting that he will try to make Serbs in Kosovo's north understand that as they need NATO protection.
(KosovoCompromiseStuff) Thursday, September 27, 2012
Nikolic further said in a meeting with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in New York he had stressed that NATO should have a status neutral mandate in Kosovo.
In a statement to state broadcaster in New York where he is attending the U.N. General Assembly, Nikolic said should the government, which is in charge of conducting foreign policy, call on him to negotiate the dialog with Pristina, he will make himself available.
Asked whether he would also talk with Kosovo Premier Hashim Thaci, Nikolic replied negatively explaining that it will not happen as long as Thaci is suspected of being involved in crimes against Serbs. The president added, should an investigation prove Thaci was innocent, he would then talk with him.
Nikolic further said that all are aware there is no unilateral solution and that he cannot be a president in Pristina, nor can Kosovo president make any decisions in Kosovska Mitrovica.
Asked what he would say should EU High Representative Catherine Ashton table a sort of agreement on good neighborly ties with Pristina at the meeting on Sept. 27, Nikolic said Ashton knows well that he is not the one for negotiating good neighborly ties with Kosovo as a state.
In a statement to state broadcaster in New York where he is attending the U.N. General Assembly, Nikolic said should the government, which is in charge of conducting foreign policy, call on him to negotiate the dialog with Pristina, he will make himself available.
Asked whether he would also talk with Kosovo Premier Hashim Thaci, Nikolic replied negatively explaining that it will not happen as long as Thaci is suspected of being involved in crimes against Serbs. The president added, should an investigation prove Thaci was innocent, he would then talk with him.
Nikolic further said that all are aware there is no unilateral solution and that he cannot be a president in Pristina, nor can Kosovo president make any decisions in Kosovska Mitrovica.
Asked what he would say should EU High Representative Catherine Ashton table a sort of agreement on good neighborly ties with Pristina at the meeting on Sept. 27, Nikolic said Ashton knows well that he is not the one for negotiating good neighborly ties with Kosovo as a state.
