Consensus regarding resumption of talks

The goal is to establish a community of municipalities that would give the Serbs in Kosovo the rights that befit the citizens of 21st century Europe, Djuric noted.

There is consensus within the government on all important issues expected to be discussed, and Belgrade expects the other sides to display at least a minimum of willingness to compromise, he stated.
"In order to reach a compromise, it is necessary that one side is not always confident it can achieve absolutely everything and allowed to maintain its starting views," Djuric pointed out.

Serbia offers a hand and a compromise to those who wish to listen, he added.

The Serbian authorities do not expect the EU to demand that the parallel institutions in Kosovo be dismantled, but for Brussels to remain neutral, he remarked.
"We cannot expect such a demand from EU officials, but simply for them to be a neutral mediator in the talks. However, we can expect Pristina to insist on various concessions that are not based on willingness to compromise. The minute they show they are willing to discuss a compromise, we can expect visible progress," Djuric stated.

The next round of the talks in Brussels is important, but not crucial, because "there has been plenty of crucial meetings, and real progress is needed now."

Everyone in the international community should be clear that, unlike the talks from the previous decade and before Kosovo declared independence, Serbia now has a defined goal that leaves room for compromise and allows both sides to protect their dignity and basic national interest, Djuric stressed.
"It is important to us for the other side to see that the future for all who live in Kosovo lies in compromising. It cannot be allowed for one side to get everything and the other lose it all," he said.

Commenting on EU integration, Djuric stated Serbia expected to get the start date for the accession talks seeing as it had met a large number of the requirements and conducted a thorough institutional reform, while achieving great progress in the dialogue with Pristina.

Djuric: Jahjaga's views taken negatively

Serbian president's adviser Marko Djuric said on Wednesday the impression was that the rigid views stated by Kosovo President Atifeta Jahjaga during a recent meeting with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic were seen negatively by a part of the international community.

"President Nikolic stated the basic elements from the platform, which allow for a compromise, while the other side insisted on already known views that are inflexible, and my impression is that they were taken negatively by the part of the international community that wants an acceptable compromise as a solution," he told reporters after a meeting between Serbia's top officials.

Vucic's visit to Berlin of immense importance

Marko Djuric, the foreign policy advisor to the Serbian president, estimated on Wednesday that the forthcoming visit of First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic to Berlin is of immense importance for Serbia and EU integration process, and underscored that Serbia expects to be granted a starting date for the EU entry talks in June.

That is a very significant visit aimed at agreeing with German officials on certain issues related to Serbia's further EU integration, Djuric told reporters after a meeting of the state leadership that was held at the Presidency building.
He stressed that Serbia has met a great number of conditions, carried out thorough institutional reforms and achieved great progress in the dialogue, and voiced expectation that a starting date would be set.
"We have strong arguments for the stand that our country should get a starting date for the EU accession talks and we are ready to change our country in the interest of citizens, and not only in order to achieve formal, bureaucratic goals. That ambition and wish is our internal political issue, but at some point, you need to get an encouragement and confirmation for what you are doing," Djuric said.

Vucic will head a Serbian delegation on a visit to Berlin on February 20.