Dialogue, normalization do not imply recognition

This dialogue does not mean that we are asking from Serbia to recognize Kosovo, Ashton told reporters in Belgrade.

She encouraged the Serbian president and prime minister to speed up the reforms.

Serbia's future is in the European Union, Ashton said after a meeting, which she and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had with the Serbian president and prime minister.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated in Belgrade on Tuesday that she expects Belgrade and Pristina to take concrete measures towards normalization of relations, stressing that the dialogue does not require Serbia to recognize Kosovo.

Clinton told reporters that she supports the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, and urged all parties to implement the agreements which have been reached to date.

We support the goal of a united and democratic Europe with Serbia and the entire region as members, Clinton said after a meeting, which she and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton had with the Serbian president and prime minister.

Clinton said at a joint press briefing at the Palace of Serbia that the U.S. views Kosovo as an independent state, whose boundaries will not change, but added that there is a great deal that can be accomplished in the relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

Clinton said that she understands that this is difficult, but yet in line with the needs of Serbs and Serbia.

Serbs in Kosovo should have full support within Kosovo, and maintain their relations with Serbia, she said.

We are not here to impose some kind of control and set conditions, as we do not have any. The future of Serbia is in the hands of Serbia, but the U.S. is concerned about this future, the future of young and intelligent people, Clinton said.

Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said Tuesday evening that the dialogue with Pristina will resume in November and that the Serbian government will have all the outstanding issues resolved by the end of its term.
"The Serbian government took over the responsibility to implement the agreements from the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and to continue the dialogue at the highest level," Dacic said after a meeting between senior representatives of Serbia, the US and the EU in Belgrade Tuesday.

During the meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, he said, nobody mentioned any specific dates and I am satisfied that neither the EU nor the US wants Serbia to do what it cannot do - to recognize the independence of Kosovo.
"Serbia will not accept an independent Kosovo, but it is ready for an agreement, and we think that Serbs from Kosovo should also take part in these talks," Dacic said.
"By the end of this government's term, I wish to see Serbia turning to the future, us placing trust in each other, and standing behind our word(...) In all that, Serbia stands ready to be the strongest, the most reliable partner, as the largest country in the Balkans," the Serbian prime minister said.

Clinton and Ashton did not come to Belgrade with ultimatums and new conditions, but rather to discuss the topics of vital importance for Serbia's future - the continuation and acceleration of the EU integration process, and fulfillment of the criteria for obtaining a start date for the EU entry talks, Dacic added.

Dacic specified that the political criteria that Serbia has to meet include the issue of internal reforms and establishment of visible and sustainable relations between Belgrade and Pristina.
He said that the Serbian government has shown in the first 100 days of work that that the goals could be successfully achieved by pursuing a policy that would go towards the resolution of problems, and not be the source of problems.
"We are firmly committed to resolving the issue of Kosovo and all other outstanding issues by the end of the government's term, as the coming generations do not deserve to be left with that problem," Dacic said.

Dialogue for common European future

The dialogue and normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina does not require Serbia to recognize Kosovo's independence, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said in Belgrade Tuesday.

It is very important for Serbia to have heard Clinton and Ashton send such a message to our country's senior officials, Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said, adding that they confirmed that neither the United States nor the EU would seek from Serbia to meet any demands that it cannot meet.
"We will not recognize Kosovo independence declared in such a way (unilaterally), but we will do everything to normalize relations with Pristina for the sake of a joint integration in the European Union," Dacic said after the meeting that he and Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic had with Clinton and Ashton in Belgrade Tuesday evening.

Ashton and Clinton told journalists that a normalization of relations with Pristina does not mean recognition of Kosovo independence.

Ashton encouraged Serbia's president and prime minister to step up the country's reforms, stressing that the future of Serbia was in the EU.

Clinton said that the United States strongly supported the goal of the united and democratic Europe to include Serbia and all the countries of the region in its membership.

There is a great deal that can be accomplished by Belgrade and Pristina working together, Clinton said, adding that the United States sees Kosovo as an independent nation and that the boundaries of Europe in this respect would not change.

According to Clinton, Kosovo Serbs should be given the reassurance and support they are seeking within Kosovo and still be able to maintain their ties with Serbia.
"We did not come here to set conditions, we did not come to exercise any control, because we have none. The future of Serbia is up to Serbia," said Clinton, adding that "the United States cares deeply about that future, and particularly, as I have said, for the smart, young people, here in this country."

"The Serbian government took the responsibility to implement the agreements reached in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina to date and to continue the dialogue at the highest level," Prime Minister Dacic said at a press conference at the Palace of Serbia, stressing that Serbia is ready to achieve further vital agreements.

Dacic said that the dialogue would continue in November, expressing the opinion that it should also be attended by the Kosovo Serbs' representatives.