| Author (Person) | Beatty, Andrew |
|---|---|
| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.12, No.14, 13.4.06 |
| Publication Date | 13/04/2006 |
| Content Type | News |
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By Andrew Beatty Date: 13/04/06 Serb leaders have ruled out a return of representatives of the Serbs to Kosovo's institutions, despite strong diplomatic pressure from the EU. Speaking in Brussels on Tuesday (11 April) the Serbian government's co-ordinator for Kosovo, Sanda Raskovic-Ivic, said that Belgrade would first need to see an agreement on autonomy for Serb areas and fresh elections before co-operating with the Albanian-dominated institutions. "The reality in Kosovo is very difficult. If we don't create an environment that will protect the Serbs then they will vanish," she said. "What we need first is decentralisation and then elections, or we have to have very secure proof from the international community that decentralisation as we see it - and as it is agreed - is going to take place." Kosovo's Serbs have not participated in the Kosovo assembly or government for the last two years, alleging that their opinions were not adequately taken into account. But the EU, along with the UN's envoy in Kosovo Søren Jessen-Petersen, has pressed hard for Kosovo's Serbs to co-operate with the province's institutions ahead of a final status agreement, expected before the end of the year. Speaking after a meeting with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso in Brussels on Wednesday (12 April), chief UN negotiator Martti Ahtisaari said that the talks would continue as planned, despite Belgrade's calls to discuss final status issues in parallel with decentralisation. One European diplomat this week described Serb participation as "indispensable". "The fact that they do not participate in the government and the assembly does not send a positive signal," the diplomat said. But for the moment Raskovic-Ivic remains unconvinced. "If [Serbs] participate again they will be just décor - a proof given by the international community that they are participating, that things are progressing and that we have now a multi-ethnic Kosovo," she said. Raskovic-Ivic said that Belgrade would like to see elections before Kosovo's estimated 100,000 Serbs co-operate with the institutions in Pristina. She added that the 230,000 Serbs who fled Kosovo and currently live in Serbia and Montenegro should be allowed to take part in the election. "If only people who remain in Kosovo have the right to vote then that would not be fair, it would be like blessing the ethnic cleansing that took place seven years ago," said Raskovic-Ivic. Other estimates put the number of internally displaced at just under 65,000. But there are signs that the Serbian government may be willing to do a deal, as it is increasingly accused of putting territorial interests ahead of the welfare of the Kosovo-Serb minority. "We are struggling for Kosovo's Serbs," said Raskovic-Ivic, adding: "Belgrade is ready to talk in a direct manner on status-related issues." Article on the negotiations on the final status of Kosovo. Speaking in Brussels on 11 April 2006 the Serbian government's co-ordinator for Kosovo, Sanda Raskovic-Ivic, said that Belgrade would first need to see an agreement on autonomy for Serb areas and fresh elections before co-operating with the Albanian-dominated institutions. |
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| Source Link | http://www.european-voice.com/ |
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| Countries / Regions | Serbia |
