"Question of status burdens Kosovo talks"

"These three rounds of talk between Belgrade and Prisitina have shown that compromise is possible, even if the topics discussed are very sensitive and difficult," he said, and added that this was one of the reasons why it was "an illusion to expect concrete results to be visible right away".

"Perhaps my only objection to all that is that we have opened up many topics - electricity, telecommunications, freedom of movement, personal documents, license plates, land books, customs seals - without bringing any to a close, however, I think we will soon start reaching results. We have long held opposing positions and compromise seemed impossible, but these three rounds (of talks) have shown that it can be reached," asserted the minister.

Bogdanovic stated that the political crisis in the province was one of the reasons why "it will take time for results to be visible", and said that other reasons for this included "Pristina's attempts to push Belgrade out of Kosovo", as well as that "every topic is burdened by the status".

Bogdanovic now says that the ongoing dialogue "will obviously have Kosovo's status as a subject, since all the problems touch on the status".

He also believes that the "international community" will become aware that the status is yet to be resolved.

"If we wish to have not only a European future, if we wish to move toward Europe, we must solve some problems, and in order to solve them we must resolve the status of Kosovo, which will not be solved unless Serbia accepts it, too," the minister was quoted as saying, and adding that the talks were a chance for "Serbs and Albanians and all of the Western Balkans to achieve historic reconciliation".

In reference to the Serb-dominated north and the southern parts of the province where they live in isolated enclaves, he went on to say that there were in fact "two realities in Kosovo - one south, and another north of the Ibar River".

"We are witnessing all sorts of strategies... which are attempting to impose a solution for the Serbs of Kosovo, especially those in the north," said he.

"Our position is clear: any solution that would not agreed to by Serbs and Belgrade would be an utopia," Bogdanovic asserted.

Asked to comment on recent statements that Belgrade was also ready to talk about a partition of Kosovo, he told the news agency that this was perhaps possible in the context of the "two realities that exist north and south of the Ibar".

"Partitioning is not our position not only because of the Constitution, but also because we believe that is not the way to solve problems", said Bogdanovic, and added that it was "clear that Belgrade is fighting for the entire territory of Kosovo".

But the minister noted that some in the international community - which holds different views on Kosovo - "think that a partition is the solution".

"The position of Belgrade is completely clear, we are ready to talk about everything, including that topic, if it is put forward, but that does not mean that we will put it forward and initiate it," Bogdanovic concluded.