Dacic: We have only one request

"We have only one request - either you give us the association of Serb municipalities which will have something to do, or let us not waste any more time," the prime minister told a press conference at the Serbian government building after returning from Brussels. As he put it, the basic powers of the association of Serb municipalities refer to who will take care of security. "There have to be some international guarantees that Kosovo's army will not come to this territory," Dacic said, and added that "it is out of the question for Pristina's tanks to be at the administrative line in Rudnica." He pointed out that the association of Serb municipalities has to have the decisive influence in the field of police, internal affairs, judiciary and personnel. This is an agreement that would guarantee not only the stability of Kosovo, but of the entire region as well, he said. "We do not bargain, we do not say we proposed something, so we will eventually accept less," Dacic added. According to him, Serbia' delegation informed EU High Representative Catherine Ashton that what Serbia can accept is an association of Serb municipalities which would not be "a citizens' or a hunting association," but that would rather have real executive powers. Dacic added that he cannot be optimistic that the agreement process will be successfully completed, because talks with Pristina still have not been held. The prime minister stressed that, after visiting Pristina, Ashton will most probably come to Belgrade, where talks will continue. Dacic: Serbia ready for agreement Serbia is ready for an agreement that cannot be within the Constitution and laws of Kosovo, but rather a political agreement with international guarantees as that would dismiss a possibility for conflict, Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said on Tuesday. Dacic announced at a press conference he held after returning from Brussels that the Serbian authorities would not return to Kosovo, but that at the same time (Kosovo Prime Minister) Hasim Taci “could reach the north (of Kosovo) only by arms.” That is the reason why a political agreement in which the international community would take part has to be reached. That agreement should entail international guarantees and a solution that would be possible to implement. According to Dacic, there is no time for the conflict to get frozen, as that would be more to the benefit of Pristina. Dacic underscores that Serbia has deserved to get a starting date for the entry talks, even if there would be no agreement on the north of Kosovo. He notes that Serbia's top officials talked with the EU's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton in Brussels on Monday about the progress achieved in the dialogue with Pristina, underlining that no Serb would agree to more than what has already been achieved in the dialogue. Dacic called on the EU member states such as France and Italy, with which Serbia has signed partnership agreements to assist in reaching a settlement, and urged the US “not to engage so much on the side of Albanians.” The Serbian prime minister underscores that it is evident from the statements given by US officials that they are against an association of Serb municipalities in Kosovo-Metohija being granted executive powers. He also points out that the EU is taking part in finding a solution for Kosovo-Metohija, but also the US as “whenever the dialogue is being held in Brussels, Philip Reeker appears by coincidence.” Dacic notes that Serbia has Vojvodina which has a high level of competencies, and that the country does not deem that a problem. “If Serbia can have Vojvodina, why then Kosovo cannot have this association of Serb municipalities with much lesser powers. This is not in line with Kosovo laws? Then, we should part!,” Dacic said. The question is being posed as to how the problem would be resolved, if no agreement were reached, the prime minister said. “Taci would try to enter the territory by force, we would have to react and we would then go back to the beginning,” Dacic warned, adding that Serbia is ready for compromise, but that there are “red lines” it cannot cross. He says that a solution for parallel institutions in northern Kosovo would be the basis for resolving all other issues. The Platform and Resolution for talks with Pristina offer a solution for parallel institutions, and that is the formation of a community of Serb municipalities, the Serbian prime minister concluded.