Vulin: Non-paper unacceptable for Serbia

Appearing on B92 television, Vulin explained it is not an official document but a letter of intent, similar to what was published by the Belgrade daily Politika. "This is something an independent country cannot accept," said Vulin, noting that Serbia can accept none of what was offered, because the idea is to implement Kosovo laws and not allow Serbs to decide anything, although they would still be represented in an advisory body in the Kosovo president's office. Vulin said there is no secret plan and what was offered is a proposal rather than conditions, but it is not something that can be discussed further because it contains none of the things Belgrade is asking for. "We will not stick to the Ahtisaari plan, because we have to have special status, which will stem from our constitutional law on essential autonomy," said Vulin. "We cannot accept less than control over the police, judiciary, direct financing from Serbia, and spatial planning. Spatial planning is the only way to keep the ethnic structure from changing," he said. Vulin confirmed that the plan was to end the talks completely, which would mark Serbia as someone deliberately and systematically undermining the idea of a dialogue. "This would be bad for us. Prime Minister (Ivica Dacic) managed to prevent this in the hope we will get a better paper, something we will at least be able to talk about," said Vulin. Vulin stressed that talks are hard if the two sides are not on equal footing and the fate of hundreds of thousands of people is at stake. It would be irresponsible to change PM now Director of the Serbian government's Office for Kosovo-Metohija (KiM) Aleksandar Vulin said late Sunday, commenting on the speculations on a possible rotation at the top of Government, that it would be irresponsible to change the prime minister while negotiations with Pristina are underway. Vulin said that First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic reacted to these speculations immediately, and that, when he conferred with Prime Minister Ivica Dacic about the negotiations, he said that he will not be the head of Government until he is elected one. According to Vulin, Vucic also told Dacic that he supports him and does not have any objection to his work. Vucic is a good and decent collaborator, Vulin told B92 TV. When it comes to statements made by officials of the Serbian Progressive Party that Vucic, who is also the leader of the party, should be the prime minister, Vulin said it is natural they want that and voiced belief that this will indeed happen after the next elections.