Ljajic: Draft platform on Kosovo is just one option
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Rasim Ljajic has said that the government's draft platform for Kosovo is only one of the models offering options to resolve the difficult political and national issue, and the document is subject to changes.
(KosovoCompromiseStuff) Thursday, December 20, 2012
"We opened a debate with the international community and opposition politicians in order to come to a balanced text that can gain a broad support both in the country and across the world," Ljajic has told Belgrade-based daily Vecernje Novosti, stressing that no platform will be able to be realized if rejected by the international community.
"It is clear that our negotiating position is difficult because of the factual situation on the ground. We are striving to make sure a future solution respects two key principles, without which there is no lasting and stable outcome - the principle of justice and the principle of reality. If we fail to achieve this, fresh problems will arise in the future," Ljajic said.
He said that the fate of the majority Serb north Kosovo population was a crucial issue in the platform.
"It is now important that our thoughts, formulated in the platform, are checked with international actors so that we could arrive at a solution acceptable to all parties. Of course, a recognition of Kosovo is out of the question," Ljajic said.
He explained that the platform also deals with the position of the Serbs in the enclaves in southern Kosovo.
"The institutional solutions for them will differ from those concerning the (Kosovo) north, but there will also be a body of questions common to the two issues. It would be a great mistake to completely separate the problems of the Serbs in the north from those in the south. We are also tackling the issue of Serbia's property in Kosovo, the protection of Serbian cultural heritage and the problem of missing and displaced persons," said Ljajic.
He said that a permanent solution for Kosovo had to include the issue of political status.
"In addition to the technical dialogue conducted in Brussels, political negotiations will kick off that should lead to a normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina. This is inevitable and we are preparing for it," said Lajic.
"It is clear that our negotiating position is difficult because of the factual situation on the ground. We are striving to make sure a future solution respects two key principles, without which there is no lasting and stable outcome - the principle of justice and the principle of reality. If we fail to achieve this, fresh problems will arise in the future," Ljajic said.
He said that the fate of the majority Serb north Kosovo population was a crucial issue in the platform.
"It is now important that our thoughts, formulated in the platform, are checked with international actors so that we could arrive at a solution acceptable to all parties. Of course, a recognition of Kosovo is out of the question," Ljajic said.
He explained that the platform also deals with the position of the Serbs in the enclaves in southern Kosovo.
"The institutional solutions for them will differ from those concerning the (Kosovo) north, but there will also be a body of questions common to the two issues. It would be a great mistake to completely separate the problems of the Serbs in the north from those in the south. We are also tackling the issue of Serbia's property in Kosovo, the protection of Serbian cultural heritage and the problem of missing and displaced persons," said Ljajic.
He said that a permanent solution for Kosovo had to include the issue of political status.
"In addition to the technical dialogue conducted in Brussels, political negotiations will kick off that should lead to a normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina. This is inevitable and we are preparing for it," said Lajic.
