Novosti: Exchange of liaison officers postponed
Another deadline for the exchange of liaison officers between Belgrade and Pristina agreed on by Ivica Dacic and Hasim Taci in Brussel, will be missed, since a level of protection the officers will enjoy has not been determined yet, Belgrade-based daily Vecernje novosti wrote Thursday.
(kosovocompromisestuff) Thursday, February 28, 2013
Belgrade and Pristina's liaison officers, Dejan Pavicevic and Lulzim Peci respectively, were supposed to start working on March 1, but the exchange has been postponed.
Kosovo Albanians insist that their representative in Belgrade is given "diplomatic status," claiming this is an "interstate exchange of ambassadors." On the other hand, Belgrade adheres to the Brussels agreement that envisages that the liaison officers perform their work as a part of the EU missions in Belgrade and Pristina and have no diplomatic markings.
Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic told the daily that the liaison officers will definitely not have a diplomatic status.
"The fact is that an agreement on a way to formally protect the liaison officers needs to be reached because they have a delicate role. We are ready to talk within that framework. Of course, no diplomatic relations will be established," he stressed.
